Proyecto FONDECYT Postdoctoral
Período de ejecución:2015-2017
Investigador Postdoctoral: Carolina Sanhueza
Universidad de Concepción
Abstract: Leaf respiration plays a key role in determining growth and plant tolerance to adverse environmental and has a strong influence on net ecosystem exchange. Due to the predicted global warming produced by the greenhouse effect, the plant responses have become a major area of concern. Recent reviews have shown that the increase in CO2 effects on plant vary under different temperatures and functional groups and it is on respiration has been poorly studied. Currently is widely accepted that warming will be more pronounced at night, when respiration is the dominant physiological process. However, there is no consensus on the effect of warming on leaf respiration. Although, global warming will affect all the ecosystems on the planet, Antarctic ecosystems are experiencing on the highest rate of change in temperature. Deschampsia antarctica and Colobanthus quitensis have succeeded colonized the Antarctic. The acclimation ability of Antarctic vascular plants is unknown. As far as we are aware, does not exists studies evaluating short and long term sensitivity responses of respiration under conditions of warming and CO2 enrichment in Antarctic plants. The main objective correspond to examine the extent of respiratory acclimation, and the mechanisms underlying acclimation of Rd in C. quitensis and D. antarctica from the Antarctic peninsula under warming and elevated CO2 conditions. The experimental approach consider measurements in field and under controlled conditions. One part of this experiment will be performed in the Univerity of Western Ontario (Canada) using a Biotron designed to experimental warming and CO2 change. Whit this study we will expect contribute to the knowledge of Antarctic plant physiology and determine if the carbon balance of Antarctic plants will be affected under a future global climate change
