Data from: Thermal tolerance is linked to anatomical but not morphological leaf traits in woody species of Andean tropical montane forests

The world is experiencing a rise in global temperatures as a result of
climate change. Higher temperatures, along with more frequent heat waves,
negatively impact physiological levels and ultimately lead to plant death.
Although woody species have different strategies to regulate leaf
temperature, the relative importance of structural and anatomical traits
in leaf temperature regulation remains unclear. We evaluated the variation
in thermal tolerance (T50 and Tcrit) among 17 woody species in an Andean
Tropical Montane Forest in Colombia. We explored how 18 leaf structural
and anatomical traits can explain the variation in thermal tolerance. Our
findings revealed high variability in thermal tolerance, structural, and
anatomical leaf traits among species. Thick layers of upper cuticle,
epidermis, and hypodermis, increased T50. However, increases in Tcrit were
only associated with upper hypodermis thickness. Higher stomatal index, a
trait related to increased stomatal conductance and leaf transpiration,
increased T50, while traits associated with leaf water transport did not
correlate with temperature tolerance. Our results highlight the
contrasting influence of leaf tissues on leaf tolerance and the diverse
strategies plants employ to cope with high temperatures. These findings
hold significant implications for the climate-smart restoration of Andean
Tropical Montane forests.

当前全球正受气候变化影响，气温持续攀升。气温升高叠加愈发频发的热浪事件，会对植物生理机能产生负面影响，最终导致植株死亡。尽管木本植物拥有多种调控叶温的策略，但叶片结构与解剖性状在叶温调控中的相对重要性仍未明确。本研究以哥伦比亚安第斯热带山地森林中的17个木本物种为研究对象，评估了其耐热性（含T50与Tcrit）的变异情况，并探究了18项叶片结构与解剖性状对耐热性变异的解释能力。研究结果表明，不同物种间的耐热性、叶片结构与解剖性状均存在较高的变异度。上层角质层、表皮及下皮层厚度的增加，可提升T50数值；但临界热致死温度Tcrit的升高仅与上层下皮层厚度相关。较高的气孔指数——这一与气孔导度提升及叶片蒸腾作用增强相关的性状——可提升T50数值，而与叶片水分运输相关的性状则与耐热性无显著关联。本研究结果凸显了叶片不同组织对叶片耐热性的差异化影响，以及植物应对高温胁迫所采用的多样生存策略。上述研究结果对安第斯热带山地森林的气候智能型修复具有重要的指导意义。