Increased photosynthesis during spring drought in energy-limited ecosystems

David L. Miller (), Sebastian Wolf (), Joshua B. Fisher, Benjamin F. Zaitchik, Jingfeng Xiao and Trevor F. Keenan ()
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David L. Miller: University of California
Sebastian Wolf: ETH Zurich
Joshua B. Fisher: Chapman University
Benjamin F. Zaitchik: The Johns Hopkins University
Jingfeng Xiao: University of New Hampshire
Trevor F. Keenan: University of California

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Drought is often thought to reduce ecosystem photosynthesis. However, theory suggests there is potential for increased photosynthesis during meteorological drought, especially in energy-limited ecosystems. Here, we examine the response of photosynthesis (gross primary productivity, GPP) to meteorological drought across the water-energy limitation spectrum. We find a consistent increase in eddy covariance GPP during spring drought in energy-limited ecosystems (83% of the energy-limited sites). Half of spring GPP sensitivity to precipitation was predicted solely from the wetness index (R2 = 0.47, p 30° N). We then compare these results to terrestrial biosphere model outputs and remote sensing products. In contrast to trends detected in eddy covariance data, model mean GPP always declined under spring precipitation deficits after controlling for air temperature and light availability. While remote sensing products captured the observed negative spring GPP sensitivity in energy-limited ecosystems, terrestrial biosphere models proved insufficiently sensitive to spring precipitation deficits.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43430-9

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