Underappreciated plant vulnerabilities to heat waves

David D. Breshears, Joseph B. Fontaine, Katinka X. Ruthrof, Jason P. Field, Xiao Feng, Joseph R. Burger, Darin J. Law, Jatin Kala, Giles E.St J. Hardy

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

117 Scopus citations

Abstract

With climate change, heat waves are becoming increasingly frequent, intense and broader in spatial extent. However, while the lethal effects of heat waves on humans are well documented, the impacts on flora are less well understood, perhaps except for crops. We summarize recent findings related to heat wave impacts including: sublethal and lethal effects at leaf and plant scales, secondary ecosystem effects, and more complex impacts such as increased heat wave frequency across all seasons, and interactions with other disturbances. We propose generalizable practical trials to quantify the critical bounding conditions of vulnerability to heat waves. Collectively, plant vulnerabilities to heat waves appear to be underappreciated and understudied, particularly with respect to understanding heat wave driven plant die-off and ecosystem tipping points.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)32-39
Number of pages8
JournalNew Phytologist
Volume231
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors New Phytologist © 2021 New Phytologist Foundation

Keywords

  • climate change
  • die-off
  • drought
  • extreme events
  • heat waves
  • mortality
  • warming

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Plant Science

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