Photosynthesis data belonging to publication 'In situ temperature response of photosynthesis of 42 tree and liana species in the canopy of two Panamanian lowland tropical forests with contrasting rainfall regimes'

Abstract

Abstract to the publication from this dataset: • Tropical forests contribute significantly to the global carbon cycle, but little is known about the temperature response of photosynthetic carbon uptake in tropical species, and how this varies within and across forests. • We determined in situ photosynthetic temperature-response curves for upper-canopy leaves of 42 tree and liana species from two tropical forests in Panama with contrasting rainfall regimes. Based on seedling studies we hypothesized that species with high photosynthetic capacity—light-demanding, fast-growing species—would have a higher temperature optimum of photosynthesis (TOpt) than species with low photosynthetic capacity—shade-tolerant, slow-growing species—and that, therefore, TOpt would scale with species’ position on the slow-fast continuum of plant functional traits. • TOpt was remarkably similar across species, regardless of species’ photosynthetic capacity and other plant functional traits. Community-average TOpt was almost identical to mean maximum daytime temperature, which was higher at the dry forest. Photosynthesis above TOpt appeared to be more strongly limited by stomatal conductance at the dry forest than at the wet forest. • The observation that all species in a community shared similar TOpt values suggests that photosynthetic performance is optimized under current temperature regimes. These results should facilitate scaling up photosynthesis in relation to temperature from leaf to stand level in species-rich tropical forests.

Abstract to the publication from this dataset:<br/>• Tropical forests contribute significantly to the global carbon cycle, but little is known about the temperature response of photosynthetic carbon uptake in tropical species, and how this varies within and across forests. <br/>• We determined in situ photosynthetic temperature-response curves for upper-canopy leaves of 42 tree and liana species from two tropical forests in Panama with contrasting rainfall regimes. Based on seedling studies we hypothesized that species with high photosynthetic capacity-light-demanding, fast-growing species-would have a higher temperature optimum of photosynthesis (TOpt) than species with low photosynthetic capacity-shade-tolerant, slow-growing species-and that, therefore, TOpt would scale with species' position on the slow-fast continuum of plant functional traits. <br/>• TOpt was remarkably similar across species, regardless of species' photosynthetic capacity and other plant functional traits. Community-average TOpt was almost identical to mean maximum daytime temperature, which was higher at the dry forest. Photosynthesis above TOpt appeared to be more strongly limited by stomatal conductance at the dry forest than at the wet forest.<br/>• The observation that all species in a community shared similar TOpt values suggests that photosynthetic performance is optimized under current temperature regimes. These results should facilitate scaling up photosynthesis in relation to temperature from leaf to stand level in species-rich tropical forests.