Ecophysiological responses of Larix sibirica Ledeb. and Pinus sibirica Du Tour undergrowth to climate change

The effects of probable climate change-an increase in atmospheric CO2 (by t wo times), air temperature, precipitation-on CO2 exchange and temperature d ependence of net photosynthesis in the larch and Siberian stone pine underg rowth formed in the light larch forests of West Siberia were studied in cha mbers with an artificial climate. The change of the aforementioned ecologic al factors caused an increase in the temperature optima of photosynthesis a nd the range of optimum temperatures (in the case of Siberian stone pine, t o a slightly greater degree). Therefore, the ranges of both species may bro aden, and the Siberian stone pine can expand to the north, displacing larch tree stands.