Adaptation of resource acquisition and investment in resource acquiring tissues of Betula nana in response to climatic constraints

Authors: MUCHA, JOANNA - Polish Academy Of Sciences; ZADWORNY, MARCIN - Polish Academy Of Sciences; WALAS, LUKASZ - Polish Academy Of Sciences; MADEREK, EWA - Polish Academy Of Sciences; DURSKA, ANNA - Polish Academy Of Sciences; KOSCIELNIAK, PAULINA - Adam Mickiewicz University; OLEKSYN, JACEK - Polish Academy Of Sciences; JAGODZINSKI, ANDRZEJ - Polish Academy Of Sciences; Comas, Louise

Submitted to: Global Ecology and Conservation
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/30/2025
Publication Date: 10/1/2025
Citation: Mucha, J., Zadworny, M., Walas, L., Maderek, E., Durska, A., Koscielniak-Wawro, P., Oleksyn, J., Jagodzinski, A., Comas, L.H. 2025. Adaptation of resource acquisition and investment in resource acquiring tissues of Betula nana in response to climatic constraints. Global Ecology and Conservation. 63. Article e03887. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03887.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03887

Interpretive Summary: Several plant species have moved further north in their range with the current shift in climate. Examining changes in their leaf and root traits tells us about the processes shaping their adaptation to these environments. Birch populations growing from Poland to Norway, spanning a difference of 48° F mean annual temperature, were assessed for leaf and root functional traits related to water use and foraging for nutrients. Results showed that leaf characteristics were related to mean annual temperature and precipitation, with anticipated relationships. However, root traits showed opposite relationships with longer root lengths found in colder areas. Measurements on populations from northern areas indicated that their stomata opened to a greater extent. Together these results suggest that tissues of birch have adapted locally to foraging for resources across its range. Leaf traits may reflect slower leaf growth under colder temperatures. Unlike leaves, root traits suggest faster growth and more extensive soil exploration in colder temperatures, potentially because soil resources are less available.

Technical Abstract: Several plant species have moved further north in their range in response to current climate shifts. Examining changes in morphological and physiological traits of their leaves and roots associated with climatic factors can elucidate important processes leading to species adaptation in these environments. Populations of Betula nana L. growing along a latitudinal gradient in Scandinavia, including three isolated populations in Poland, were identified that spanned a mean annual temperature (MAT) difference of 9° C. Leaf and root functional traits related to water use efficiency and resource acquisition and investment were examined. Leaf characteristics were related to latitude and climatic variables with specific leaf area (SLA), the main leaf trait that varied among populations, decreasing with latitude and becoming greater with site temperature. Functional root traits correlated with several metrics of site temperature, with longer specific root length (SRL) in colder sites. Populations from northern latitudes had lower d 13C in leaves and roots, suggesting that their stomata opened to a greater extend or remained open longer. These results suggest that resource acquiring tissues of B. nana exhibited adaptive responses to optimize resource acquisition across its geographical range. Variation in leaf morphology with latitude may reflect slower leaf growth in response to lower temperatures. Unlike leaves, root traits were aligned with faster growth and extensive soil exploration in colder temperatures, potentially because of soil resources being less available, with further investigation needed.