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Each year, in a process called senescence, autumn tree leaves turn yellow, orange, and red as they stop growing and extract nutrients from the foliage. The maturity of the leaves also marks the end of the period when plants absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis.
Global warming caused long growing seasons, two weeks earlier than 100 years ago, when European trees formed spring leaves, the researchers said.
“Autumn is delayed because previous models will be warmer and warmer in the next century – growing seasons will be longer overall and autumn will be two to three weeks later,” said environmentalist Konstantin Johner.
However, Johner and The team of researchers said their results skew this prediction.
Using a combination of field observations, laboratory tests and models, the experts examined data from six European deciduous tree species: European horse chestnut, silver birch, European beech, European larch, English oak, and rowan from the past six decades.
Experts have found that the increased spring and summer productivity resulting from high levels of carbon dioxide, temperature and light causes trees to shed their leaves earlier.
Fall temperature and length of day are the main environmental factors that cause trees to lose their leaves, Johner said. Now, the researchers have identified a third factor: “self-limiting” productivity.
“Now we see that this third great mechanism is working: the productivity (tree) controls itself. If you already do a lot in the spring and summer, if the plant absorbs too much CO2 in the spring and summer, it sheds its leaves earlier,” he said. said.
“This is a mechanism that we also see in humans: if you start eating earlier, you will already be full,” he said.
The results show that trees have productivity barriers, Johner said.
“We can’t put more and more CO2 into the atmosphere, (let’s expect) trees will do more – there are limits,” he said.
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