Researchers analyzed growth as well as ratios of carbon and oxygen isotopes for 30-year tree-rings from 12 tree species located in 8 North American forests, and found that forest water-use efficiency (WUE) has been increasing over time, but for different reasons depending on location and species; increases in photosynthesis were widespread, whereas stomatal conductance reduction was mostly restricted to forests with limited moisture, suggesting that trees use elevated CO2 to conserve water and maintain or increase growth.
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Article #19-05912: "Disentangling the role of photosynthesis and stomatal conductance on rising forest water-use efficiency," by Rossella Guerrieri et al.
MEDIA CONTACT: Robbin Ray, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH; email: < Robbin.Ray@unh.edu >
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences