2026-10-07T03:45:22Z https://api.figshare.com/v2/oai

oai:figshare.com:article/32925383 2026-09-15T17:53:40Z category_24220 category_24391 item_type_3 month_year_09_2026

A metanalysis exploring the carbon- and the growth- limitation hypotheses for treeline formation in deciduous species Claudia Reyes-Bahamonde (24353390) Frida Piper (14269823) Ecological physiology Plant physiology meta-analysis deciduous species growth limitation hypothesis treeline non-structural carbohydrates carbon limitation hypothesis <p dir="ltr">This study evaluates whether deciduous treeline species are better explained by the Carbon Limitation Hypothesis or the Growth Limitation Hypothesis by synthesizing published evidence on non-structural carbohydrate concentrations along elevational gradients. Using a meta-analysis of studies published between 1994 and 2023, we compared NSC, starch, and soluble sugars between treeline and below-treeline elevations and examined how responses varied among organs, plant functional types, and growing-season periods. Overall, carbohydrate concentrations did not differ consistently between elevations, indicating no general support for either hypothesis. However, organ-specific patterns revealed that roots and stems tended to accumulate NSC and soluble sugars at treeline, consistent with growth limitation, whereas twigs showed reduced NSC during mid-season, consistent with carbon limitation. These results suggest that carbon limitation and growth limitation may operate simultaneously in deciduous treeline species, depending on organ and seasonal context.</p> 2026-09-15T17:53:40Z Dataset Dataset 10.6084/m9.figshare.32925383.v1 https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/A_metanalysis_exploring_the_carbon-_and_the_growth-_limitation_hypotheses_for_treeline_formation_in_deciduous_species/32925383 CC BY 4.0