Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 9, 2025
07:54
Field-Based Thermal Physiology Assay: Cold Shock Recovery under Ambient Conditions
Published on: March 9, 2021
3.1K
Rapid Climate Acclimation (Not Traits or Phylogeny) Drives Variation in Photosynthesis Temperature Response
Josef C Garen1,2,3, Sean T Michaletz1,2
1Department of Botany, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Global Change Biology
|September 2, 2025
Summary
Plant photosynthesis rapidly acclimates to local weather, not long-term climate or genetics. This thermal acclimation occurs within a day, impacting climate change models.
Area of Science:
- Plant physiology
- Climate change biology
- Ecology
Background:
- Understanding plant assimilation-temperature (AT) responses is crucial for climate change impact forecasts.
- Previous research focused on acclimation to weather or adaptation to climate of origin, neglecting traits and phylogeny.
- Relationships between AT response parameters, leaf traits, and phylogeny require investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the influence of climate, traits, and phylogeny on plant AT response parameters.
- To assess the relative importance of local environmental conditions versus climate of origin.
- To determine the timescale of thermal acclimation in photosynthesis.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Fast Assimilation-Temperature Response (FAsTeR) gas exchange method.
- Measured 243 AT response curves across 102 species from 96 families in a common garden.
- Quantified local climate variables, light intensity, leaf functional traits, and climate of origin.
Main Results:
- Local environmental conditions were the strongest predictors of AT response parameters.
- Optimal temperature for photosynthesis correlated positively with recent air temperature and light exposure.
- AT response parameters showed no significant phylogenetic structure and limited variation with traits or climate of origin.
Conclusions:
- Plant AT responses are primarily driven by rapid acclimation to local climate, not adaptation to climate of origin.
- Thermal acclimation of photosynthesis occurs on short timescales (≤1 day).
- Findings highlight the need to incorporate rapid acclimation into Earth system models and climate change forecasts.
Related Concept Videos
02:45Responses to Heat and Cold Stress
13.8K
Every organism has an optimum temperature range within which healthy growth and physiological functioning can occur. At the ends of this range, there will be a minimum and maximum temperature that interrupt biological processes.
13.8K
01:57Adaptations that Reduce Water Loss
26.3K
Though evaporation from plant leaves drives transpiration, it also results in loss of water. Because water is critical for photosynthetic reactions and other cellular processes, evolutionary pressures on plants in different environments have driven the acquisition of adaptations that reduce water loss.
26.3K
01:10Transcription
148.1K
Overview
Transcription is the process of synthesizing RNA from a DNA sequence by RNA polymerase. It is the first step in producing a protein from a gene sequence. Additionally, many other proteins and regulatory sequences are involved in the proper synthesis of messenger RNA (mRNA). Regulation of transcription is responsible for the differentiation of all the different types of cells and often for the proper cellular response to environmental signals.
Transcription Can Produce Different Kinds...
Transcription is the process of synthesizing RNA from a DNA sequence by RNA polymerase. It is the first step in producing a protein from a gene sequence. Additionally, many other proteins and regulatory sequences are involved in the proper synthesis of messenger RNA (mRNA). Regulation of transcription is responsible for the differentiation of all the different types of cells and often for the proper cellular response to environmental signals.
Transcription Can Produce Different Kinds...
148.1K
02:27Background and Environment Affect Phenotype
6.7K
Although the genetic makeup of an organism plays a major role in determining the phenotype, there are also several environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen availability, presence of mutagens, that can alter an organism’s phenotype.
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
6.7K
01:15Natural Selection and Adaptation
347
Natural selection, a fundamental concept in evolutionary biology, is the mechanism by which evolution is driven, favoring organisms that are best adapted to their environments. This process enhances their chances of survival and reproduction. Adaptation, a key outcome of this process, involves genetic modifications that optimize an organism's functionality under specific environmental challenges, such as extreme cold or thinner air at high altitudes.
Beyond physical adaptations,...
Beyond physical adaptations,...
347
02:45Biological Clocks and Seasonal Responses
38.0K
The circadian—or biological—clock is an intrinsic, timekeeping, molecular mechanism that allows plants to coordinate physiological activities over 24-hour cycles called circadian rhythms. Photoperiodism is a collective term for the biological responses of plants to variations in the relative lengths of dark and light periods. The period of light-exposure is called the photoperiod.
38.0K