{"id":2467,"date":"2025-05-29T20:13:07","date_gmt":"2025-05-29T19:13:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/lemontree\/?p=2467"},"modified":"2025-05-29T20:13:07","modified_gmt":"2025-05-29T19:13:07","slug":"thermal-acclimation-of-stem-respiration-weakens-the-carbon-climate-feedback","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/lemontree\/thermal-acclimation-of-stem-respiration-weakens-the-carbon-climate-feedback\/","title":{"rendered":"Thermal Acclimation of Stem Respiration Weakens the Carbon\u2013Climate Feedback: A New Study in Science\u00a0 \u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

A new study published in <\/span>Science<\/span><\/i><\/a> presents compelling evidence that the thermal acclimation of stem respiration plays a critical role in modulating the carbon\u2013climate feedback. Led by LEMONTREE\u2019s\u00a0 Zhang Han and Han Wang of Tsinghua University, it provides the first Eco-Evolutionary Optimality theory-based global analysis of how stem respiration acclimates to rising temperatures\u2014and how this effect could substantially reduce projected carbon losses from terrestrial ecosystems under future climate change scenarios.<\/span><\/p>\n

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While tree trunks may appear static, they are as vital and dynamic as leaves in a plant\u2019s lifecycle. Through ecological and evolutionary optimality theory, we hope to shed new light on trunk respiration\u2014unveiling its hidden significance in shaping plant function and survival. Trees are not just silent giants; every part, from canopy to core, plays a crucial role in nature\u2019s intricate balance.<\/em><\/p>\n

Zhang Han (Tsinghua University)<\/em><\/p>\n

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Respiration\u2014the process by which plants use oxygen to convert sugars into energy\u2014returns nearly half of all the carbon fixed by photosynthesis back to the atmosphere. While leaf respiration has been widely studied, the contribution of <\/span>woody stem respiration<\/span><\/b> has been less well understood, even though it represents a large portion of total plant respiration, particularly in forests.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Critically, most climate models assume that plant respiration increases sharply with temperature. While this is true in the short term, plants can <\/span>acclimate<\/span><\/b> to warming over longer timescales, adjusting their respiratory rates downward. However, the extent of this acclimation\u2014especially in woody stems\u2014has been poorly quantified, and current Earth system models largely overlook it.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The research team tackled this knowledge gap by developing a new <\/span>eco-evolutionary optimality (EEO) theory<\/span><\/b>, which links stem respiration to the costs of water transport. This model proposes that respiration is tied to the energetic demands of maintaining the water continuum through the stem, which decrease with temperature because warmer water flows more easily. This mechanistic basis allowed them to predict how stem respiration should adjust with warming across both space and time.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The theory yielded two key predictions:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n