Vapor-pressure-deficit-controlled temperature response of photosynthesis in tropical trees

Rising temperatures can affect stomatal and nonstomatal control over photosynthesis, through stomatal closure in response to increasing vapor pressure deficit (VPD), and biochemical limitations, respectively. To explore the independent effects of temperature and VPD, we conducted leaf-level temperature-response measurements while controlling VPD on three tropical tree species. Photosynthesis and stomatal conductance consistently decreased with increasing VPD, whereas photosynthesis typically responded weakly to changes in temperature when a stable VPD was maintained during measurements, resulting in wide parabolic temperature-response curves. We have shown that the negative effect of temperature on photosynthesis in tropical forests across ecologically important temperature ranges does not stem from direct warming effects on biochemical processes but from the indirect effect of warming, through changes in VPD. Understanding the acclimation potential of tropical trees to elevated VPD will be critical to anticipate the consequences of global warming for tropical forests.