Effects of leaf thermal traits and plant height on leaf
temperature
We expected that provenance differences in ∆Tleaf could
be well explained by observed variation in leaf thermal traits, as well
as the influence of plant height on microclimate. Leaf energy balance
modelling proved a useful tool to explore the implications of
coordinated shifts in multiple thermal traits, with observed and
modelled ∆Tleaf showing close agreement, as in other
studies (Fauset et al., 2018; Guo et al., 2022; Perez & Feeley, 2020).
Some deviations in the leaf energy balance modelling can be attributed
to our microclimate inputs coming from the clearing 200m away. Our
provenance trial microclimate is partly buffered by the surrounding
forest, which likely reduces wind speed compared to that observed in the
clearing (Davies-Colley et al., 2000). As a result, our modelled
∆Tleaf is lower than observed. In addition, we show that
deviations between modelled and observed ∆Tleaf is
associated with plant height. Despite these errors in absolute leaf
temperature, the relative patterns of provenance differentiation in
∆Tmod was unaffected, therefore, we believe leaf energy
balance modelling can still be utilised to explore acclimation and
adaptation of leaf thermoregulation to climate change.