The plants and the climate change

Since a few years ago, we have heard about the climate change. Nowadays, it is already evident and also a concern. This not only affects to us, the humans, but to all kind of life. It has been talked enough about the global warming, but perhaps, what happens to the vegetation has not been much diffused. There are many things affected by climate change and vegetation is also one of them. In addition, the changes in this also affect us. But, what are these changes? how can the vegetation regulate them? And how we can help to mitigate them through plants?

CHANGES ON PLANTS

Biomes distribution

In general, due to climate change, an increase of precipitations in some parts of the world are expected, while in others a decrease is awaited. A global temperature increment is also denoted. This leads to an alteration in the location of the biomes, large units of vegetation (e.g.: savannas, tropical forests, tundras, etc.).

Biome triangle classified by latitude, altitude and humidity (Author: Peter Halasaz).

On the other hand, there is an upward trend in the distribution of species in the high latitudes and a detriment in the lower latitudes. This has serious associated problems; the change in the species distribution affects their conservation and genetic diversity. Consequently, the marginal populations in lower latitudes, which have been considered very important for the long-term conservation of genetic diversity and due their evolutionary potential, are threatened by this diversity loss. And conversely, the populations in high latitudes would be affected by the arrival of other competing species that could displace those already present, being as invasive.

Species distribution

Within the scenario of climate change, species have some ability to adjust their distribution and to adapt to this.

But, what type of species may be responding more quickly to this change? It appears that those with a faster life cycle and a higher dispersion capacity will be showing more adaptability and a better response. This could lead to a loss of some plants with slower rates.

The Purple milk Thistle (Galactites tomentosa) is a plant with a fast life cycle and high distribution capacity  (Author: Ghislain118).

One factor that facilitates adjustment in the distribution is the presence of wildlife corridors: these are parts of the geographical area that enable connectivity and movement of species from one population to another. They are important because they prevent that some species can remain isolated and because they can also allow the movement to new regions.

Another factor is the altitudinal gradient, which provides shelter for many species, facilitates the presence of wildlife corridors and permits redistribution of species along altitude. Therefore, in those territories where there is greater altitudinal range, the conservation is favored.

In short, the ability of species to cope with climate change depends on the plant characteristics and the territory attributes. And, conversely, the species vulnerability to climate change occurs when the speed to displace their distribution or adapt their lives is less than the climate change velocity.

At internal level

Climate change also affects the plant as an organism, as it causes changes in their metabolism and phenology (periodic or seasonal rhythms of the plant).

One of the effects that pushes the climate change is the carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration increase in the atmosphere. This could produce a fertilization phenomenon of vegetation. Due the CO₂ increase in the atmosphere it also increases the uptake by plants, thus increasing the photosynthesis and allowing greater assimilation. But, this is not all advantages, because for this an important water loss occurs due that the stomata (structures that allow gas exchange and transpiration) remain open long time to incorporate CO₂. So, there are opposing effects and fertilization will depend on the plant itself, but the local climate will also determine this process. Many studies have shown that various plants react differently to the CO₂ increase, since the compound affects various physiological processes and therefore there are not unique responses. Then, we find a factor that alters the plant metabolism and we cannot predict what will be the effects. Furthermore, this fertilizer effect is limited by the nutrients amount and without them production slows.

Photosynthesis process (Author: At09kg).

On the other hand, we must not forget that climate change also alters the weather and that this affects the vegetation growth and its phenology. This can have even an impact on a global scale; for example, could produce an imbalance in the production of cultivated plants for food.

PLANTS AS CLIMATE REGULATORS

Although one cannot speak of plants as regulators of global climate, it is clear that there is a relationship between climate and vegetation. However, this relationship is somewhat complicated because the vegetation has both effects of cooling and heating the weather.

The vegetation decreases the albedo; dark colours absorb more solar radiation and, in consequence, less sunlight is reflected outward. And besides, as the plants surface is usually rough, the absorption is increased. Consequently, if there is more vegetation, local temperature (transmitted heat) intensifies.

But, on the other hand, by increasing vegetation there is more evapotranspiration (set of water evaporation from a surface and transpiration through the plant). So, the heat is spent on passing the liquid water to gas, leading to a cooling effect. In addition, evapotranspiration also helps increase local rainfall.

Biophysical effects of different land uses and its consequences on the local climate. (From Jackson et al. 2008. Environmental Research Letters.3: article 0440066).

Therefore, it is an ambiguous process and in certain environments the cooling effect outweighs, while in others the heating effect has more relevance.

MITIGATION

Nowadays, there are several proposals to reduce climate change, but, in which way can the plants cooperate?

Plant communities can act as a sinks, carbon reservoirs, because through CO₂ assimilation, they help to offset carbon emissions. Proper management of agricultural and forest ecosystems can stimulate capture and storage of carbon. On the other hand, if deforestation were reduced and protection of natural habitats and forests increased, emissions would be diminished and this would stimulate the sink effect. Still, there is a risk that these carbon sinks may become emission sources; for example, due to fire.

Finally, we must introduce biofuels: these, unlike fossil fuels (e.g. petroleum), are renewable resources, since they are cultivated plants for use as fuels. Although they fail to remove CO₂ from the atmosphere or reduce carbon emissions, they get to avoid this increase in the atmosphere. For this reason, they may not become a strict mitigation measure, but they can keep neutral balance of uptake and release. The problem is that they can lead to side effects on social and environmental level, such as increased prices for other crops or stimulate deforestation to establish these biofuel crops, what should not happen.

Sugarcane crop (Saccharum officinarum) in Brazil to produce biofuel (Author: Mariordo).

REFERENCES

• Notes of Plant Physiology, Science of the Biosphere and Analysis of vegetation, Degree of Environmental Biology, UAB
• Hample & R. J. Petit. 2005. Conserving biodiversity under climate change: the rear edge matters. Ecology letters 8 (5): 461-467.
• Botanic Gardens Conservation International. 2015. How does climate change affect plants?. https://www.bgci.org/climate/climate_change_effects/
• Earth Observatory. 2015. How plants can change our climate. http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/LAI/LAI2.php

 

How do the plants survive to cold?

This week I’m going to talk about how plants can survive in cold environments. The two biomes where cold is the main restrictive factor of the plant growth are tundra and alpine. In these places, the temperature can be under 0⁰C. Therefore, how do plants do to survive there?

INTRODUCTION

The cold is a restrictive factor to plant growth. It can be caused for two main reasons: height and high latitudes. When the height raises, the cold also does it; for each 100 meters of height, temperature gets down 1ºC. And in high latitudes, cold is caused by low insolation (only a little amount of sun’s heat is received). Plants can live until certain limits in high mountains, originating the alpine biome, and even become an ecosystem above the polar circle in the northern hemisphere, forming the tundra biome. Therefore, plants can survive in these cold ecosystems somehow. But, what kind of plants are and how do they do it?

On the left, tundra zone; and on the right, alpine zone (Image by Terpsichores).

VEGETATION STRUCTURE

First of all, we need to know what kind of plants are living in these places.

The trees’ growth is very restricted in both biomes. Indeed, trees are missing in tundra and only can be found in subalpine zone in the high mountains, between 1.600m and 2.400m; even so, the biggest height where trees can occur depends of different climatic factors and of the topographic relief. Once there are no trees, so there is no forest, we talk about alpine zone in high mountains.

Trees on subalpine zone (Photo taken by Jo Simon on Flickr).

On the other hand, shrubs are uncommon in both biomes, being the most of them smaller and creeping. That way, they can protect themselves against heavy frosts and cold winds, because they get covered of snow during the unfavourable period. Cranberry bush (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) is a good example of this kind of shrubs.

Cranberry bush (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) (Photo taken by Arnstein Rønning).

The herbs, bryophytes (e.g. mosses) and lichen together, are the most dominant of these two biomes, because they are the most abundant.

On the left, tundra in Siberia (Photo taken by Dr. Andreas Hugentobler); on the right, alpine zone in Monte Blanco (Photo taken by Gnomefillier)

PLANT ADAPTATIONS

Due to cold weather and other restrictive factors of these biomes, plants have had to adapt in different ways. In these two biomes, the summer is the favourable season and is when plants can develop themselves. But in winter, unfavourable period, they can only remain dormant in the form of seeds or reducing their activity to a minimum, thus avoiding own energy consumption.

For all these, these plants produce storage organs below ground, where they are protected from cold temperatures. Examples are rhizomes (underground stems, usually elongated and with horizontal growth, root-like) and bulbs (short and thick stem, covered with more or less developed fleshy leaves). These bodies ensure sufficient energy reserves during the unfavourable period. Furthermore, their roots are thick and can also accumulate reserves.

On the left, iris  rhizome (Iris) (Photo taken by David Monniaux); On the right, lily bulb (Lilium) (Photo taken by Denis Barthel).

On the other hand, their capacity to reach new zones to live, new habitats, depends more of the vegetative reproduction or asexual reproduction, that is, the emission of buds, underground organs, etc. And, in particularly, it is favoured by a high number of buds (plant organ that, when is developed, forms a stem, branch or flower).

Bud (Photo taken by Sten Porse).

A very curious adaptation, that can also protects against the wind, is that some plants are cushion-shaped. This morphology allows moisture and temperature to increase within the plant, and therefore stimulates the development and facilitates photosynthesis.

Cushion-shaped plant (Minuartia arcica) (Photo taken by Σ64).

Knowing that the favourable season is brief, plants usually are evergreen, that is, they have leaves during all year; and, that way, they don’t use energy to regenerate new leaves. Also, plant cells don’t freeze because they produce high concentrations of monosaccharides (simple sugars). So, it makes very difficult to freeze the perennial parts (those living all year).

Lucile's Glory-of-the-snow (Chionodoxa luciliae) (Photo taken by Ruhrfisch).

Moreover, their life cycle is also affected. The favourable period is so brief that it is often impossible to grow, forming flowers and fruits in the same year. Therefore, the plants usually live longer than a year and tend to perform only one of these three functions during the favourable season. Then remain dormant during unfavourable weather. So, its cycle is affected and it’s very impossible to live there to annual plants

Thanks to all these adaptations, plants have managed to live in such extraordinary places like these biomes, as incredible survivors. Remember, if you liked this article, you should not forget to share it. Thank you very much for your interest.

REFERENCES

• Notes of Botany, Phanerogamae, Science of the biosphere and Analysis of vegetation, Degree of Environmental Biology, UAB.
• Enciclopedia Catalana 1993-98. Biosfera. Volums. 9 Tundra i insularitat V. Krvazhimskii; A. N. Danilov. 2000. Reindeer in tundra ecosystems: the challenges of understanding System complexity. Publicat a tundra ecosystems: the challenges of understanding system complexity, V. 19, 107-110 pp.
• Walter H. 1998 Vegetació i zones climàtiques del món. L’estructuració ecològica de la geobiosfera. 2ªed cat. Promocions i Publ Univ SA, Barcelona
• http://161.116.68.143/website/geoveg/docs/Carrillo_06.pdf
• http://www.apicat.com/web/apiflora_1b.htm

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