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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Artículo científico |
| Language: | en |
| Published: |
Nature plants
2026
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41803388/ |
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Table of Contents:
- Amazon rainforests are rejuvenating their canopies by producing more photosynthetically efficient young leaves under climate change. Yang, Xueqin Tian, Jie Ciais, Philippe Zhou, Liming Reich, Peter B Wu, Jin Shang, Jiali Chave, Jérôme Lamour, Julien Maréchaux, Isabelle Fu, Yongshuo H Chen, Jing Ming Liu, Jane Tao, Shengli Xiao, Xiangming Xu, Xiangtao Su, Yongxian Zhang, Haicheng Zhu, Zaichun Zhang, Yao Hao, Dalei Chen, Lei Liu, Qiang Lafortezza, Raffaele Yan, Kai Li, Peng Li, Xing Meir, Patrick Liu, Hui Bonal, Damien Nelson, Bruce W Tang, Hao Wang, Jingrui Yu, Kailiang Yuan, Wenping Wang, Shuo Chen, Xiuzhi Trees Plant Leaves Rainforest Climate Change Photosynthesis Remote Sensing Technology Models, Biological South America Leaf age structure strongly regulates canopy photosynthesis in Amazon rainforests yet its large-scale patterns and dynamics remain poorly understood. Here we map the fraction of leaf area of photosynthetically efficient young leaves (f) using remote sensing data and assess its spatiotemporal variability from 2001 to 2023. We find that f varies markedly with elevation and canopy height: tall or mountain forests (canopy ≥32 m or elevation ≥300 m) exhibit higher f than short or lowland forests, reflecting higher leaf turnover driven by stronger radiation, greater atmospheric dryness and longer dry seasons. Across the basin, f increased significantly in 85.2% of forests during 2001-2023, linked to decreasing precipitation, rising sunlight, intensifying atmospheric dryness and lengthening dry seasons. This widespread trend towards more juvenile leaves is projected to persist under future climate change. Our findings reveal a fundamental shift in Amazon leaf age structure and highlight its importance for predicting future photosynthetic responses in a warmer, drier climate.