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Climate Change
Understanding the impact of climate change on southern pine species is important in assessing potential climate change impacts to southern Coastal Plain forests. Potential changes in temperature and precipitation patterns may influence growth and physiological processes in trees. This project is studying potential climate change impacts on the physiology of mature longleaf pine, loblolly pine, and slash pine stands in order to provide better predictions for future climate change effects on southeastern forests.
The objectives of this study are to
1. Determine if longleaf pine is better adapted to predicted rising temperatures than loblolly pine and slash pine by measuring in situ photosynthetic temperature optima in mature trees.
2. Compare in situ diurnal patterns in net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, water use efficiency, and leaf water potential under varying soil moisture conditions between species to assess drought tolerance.
An existing research site, located within the USDA Forest Service Harrison Experimental Forest near Saucier, MS in the DeSoto National Forest is being used for this study. The site was established in 1960 by the Forest Service for growth and genetics studies on longleaf, slash, and loblolly pine. This project is in collaboration with Kurt Johnsen and John Butnor with the USDA Forest Service
