Climate Change Impacts on Forest Vegetation: Mechanisms of Adaptation in Photosynthesis and Photobiology

Forests represent a cornerstone of global ecological processes, providing essential services such as carbon sequestration, biodiversity support, and climate regulation. Despite their ecological importance, forests worldwide are increasingly threatened by climate change, manifested through rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, elevated CO₂ level, and increased frequency of extreme weather events. Photosynthesis, a key process in carbon fixation and energy flow, is highly sensitive to these climate variables, and the ability of forest vegetation to adapt is vital for maintaining ecosystem services. Recent research highlights a complex interplay between physiological, molecular, and ecological factors that underpin the adaptive capacity of forests; nevertheless, our understanding remains fragmentary, especially regarding how these mechanisms operate under diverse forms of climate stress. While advances in linking stress responses to changes in leaf anatomy, stomatal function, photochemical activity, and species composition have been made, critical gaps persist in integrating these processes across scales and predicting their effects on future forest resilience.This Research Topic aims to elucidate the mechanisms by which forest vegetation adapts to the myriad stresses imposed by climate change, with a particular focus on photosynthetic and photobiological responses. We seek to identify and analyze the underlying physiological, molecular, and ecological pathways that foster resilience and adaptation in forest ecosystems. By bringing together diverse experimental, observational, and modeling approaches, this topic aspires to improve our predictive capacity regarding forest productivity, species dynamics, and feedbacks between forests and the changing climate, while also offering practical insights for conservation and management strategies.The scope of this Research Topic is confined to studies that examine mechanistic and integrative aspects of adaptation in photosynthesis and photobiology in forest vegetation responding to climate change. Manuscripts solely reporting descriptive changes in biomass or yield without mechanistic connections will not be considered. To gather further insights into how forest vegetation adapts and responds to climatic stress, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:o The effects of climate change on photosynthetic efficiency and photobiological mechanisms in forest ecosystems.o Molecular, physiological, or ecological mechanisms that enable forest vegetation to adapt to changing environmental conditions.o Experimental studies examining forest responses to climate stressors in both field and controlled environments.o Modeling studies that predict the impacts of climate change on forest dynamics, carbon sequestration, and ecosystem services.Please note: Descriptive studies that only report changes in growth, biomass, or yield, without linking these responses to physiological or mechanistic insights, will not be considered for this Research Topic. Topic editors: Yaxiong Zheng, Jianming Xue, Liangjin Yao Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/76700/climate-change-impacts-on-forest-vegetation-mechanisms-of-adaptation-in-photosynthesis-and-photobiology