Thermal safety margins predict species vulnerability to heatwaves

We grew 50 diverse tree and shrub species in controlled glasshouses and exposed them to a six-day heatwave (peak air temperature =41 °C), measuring their maximum leaf temperature (Tleaf_max) and their leaf critical temperature (Tcrit) to estimate thermal safety margins (TSM). All plants were well-watered. Baseline physiological measurements were conducted in the week prior to the experimental +7 °C heatwave under 34 °C. Measurements during the heatwave were collected on day 5 or 6, or in the case of Tleaf_max, on a single sunny day. All measurements were conducted on recently developed and fully-expanded leaves. For more information, see the publication in Plant, Cell & Environment at 10.3390/toxins17070334 .