The effect of aqueous transport of CO(2) in xylem sap on gas exchange in woody plants

The influence of CO(2) transported in the transpiration stream on measurements of leaf photosynthesis and stem respiration was investigated. Measurements were made on trees in a temperate forest in Scotland and in a tropical rain forest in Cameroon, and on shrubs in the Sahelian zone in Niger. A chamber was designed to measure the CO(2) partial pressure in the gas phase within the woody stems of trees. High CO(2) partial pressures were found, ranging from 3000 to 9200 Pa. Henry's Law was used to estimate the CO(2) concentration of xylem sap, assuming that it was in equilibrium with the measured gas phase partial pressures. The transport of CO(2) in the xylem sap was calculated by multiplying sap CO(2) concentration by transpiration rate. The magnitude of aqueous transport in the studied species ranged from 0.03 to 0.35 &mgr;mol CO(2) m(-2) s(-1), representing 0.5 to 7.1% of typical leaf photosynthetic rates. These values strongly depend on sap pH. To examine the influence of aqueous transport of CO(2) on stem gas exchange, we made simultaneous measurements of stem CO(2) efflux and sap flow on the same stem. After removing the effect of temperature, stem CO(2) efflux was positively related to sap flow. The apparent effect on measurements of stem respiration was up to 0.7 &mgr;mol m(-2) s(-1), representing ~12% of peak stem respiration rates.     

Elevational change in woody tissue CO2 efflux in a tropical mountain rain forest in southern Ecuador

Much uncertainty exists about the magnitude of woody tissue respiration and its environmental control in highly diverse tropical moist forests. In a tropical mountain rain forest in southern Ecuador, we measured the apparent diurnal gas exchange of stems and coarse roots (diameter 1-4 cm) of trees from representative families along an elevational transect with plots at 1050, 1890 and 3050 m a.s.l. Mean air temperatures were 20.8, 17.2 and 10.6 degrees C, respectively. Stem and root CO(2) efflux of 13 to 21 trees per stand from dominant families were investigated with an open gas exchange system while stand microclimate was continuously monitored. Substantial variation in respiratory activity among and within species was found at all sites. Mean daily CO(2) release rates from stems declined 6.6-fold from 1.38 micromol m(-2) s(-1) at 1050 m to 0.21 micromol m(-2) s(-1) at 3050 m. Mean daily CO(2) release from coarse roots decreased from 0.35 to 0.20 micromol m(-2) s(-1) with altitude, but the differences were not significant. There was, thus, a remarkable shift from a high ratio of stem to coarse root respiration rates at the lowest elevation to an apparent equivalence of stem and coarse root CO(2) efflux rates at the highest elevation. We conclude that stem respiration, but not root respiration, greatly decreases with elevation in this transect, coinciding with a substantial decrease in relative stem diameter increment and a large increase in fine and coarse root biomass production with elevation.     

Sapwood temperature gradients between lower stems and the crown do not influence estimates of stand-level stem CO(2) efflux

Temperature plays a critical role in the regulation of respiration rates and is often used to scale measurements of respiration to the stand-level and calculate annual respiratory fluxes. Previous studies have indicated that failure to consider temperature gradients between sun-exposed stems and branches in the crown and shaded lower stems may result in errors when deriving stand-level estimates of stem CO(2) efflux. We measured vertical gradients in sapwood temperature in a mature lowland podocarp rain forest in New Zealand to: (1) estimate the effects of within-stem temperature variation on the vertical distribution of stem CO(2) efflux; and (2) use these findings to estimate stand-level stem CO(2) efflux for this forest. Large within-stem gradients in sapwood temperature (1.6 +/- 0.1 to 6.0 +/- 0.5 degrees C) were observed. However, these gradients did not significantly influence the stand-level estimate of stem CO(2) efflux in this forest (536 +/- 42 mol CO(2) ha(-1) day(-1)) or the vertical distribution of stem CO(2) efflux, because of the opposing effects of daytime warming and nighttime cooling on CO(2) efflux in the canopy, and the small fraction of the woody biomass in the crowns of forest trees. Our findings suggest that detailed measurements of within-stand temperature gradients are unlikely to greatly improve the accuracy of tree- or stand-level estimates of stem CO(2) efflux.     

Estimating stem respiration in trees by a mass balance approach that accounts for internal and external fluxes of CO2

The respiration rate of a tree stem has commonly been estimated from measurements of CO2 efflux to the atmosphere. These estimates assume that all CO2 efflux originates from respiration of local tissues and that all CO2 produced by local tissues escapes to the atmosphere through the bark. However, dissolved CO2 can be transported in the xylem stream, and CO2 concentration ([CO2]) in xylem can be up to three orders of magnitude greater than that of the atmosphere, suggesting that measurements of CO2 efflux do not account for all CO2 produced by respiration. Here, we propose a new mass balance approach for estimating the respiration rate of tree stems that accounts for both external and internal fluxes of CO2. We demonstrate this approach using measurements of CO2 efflux, sap flux and internal [CO(2)] to calculate the rate of CO2 production of a segment of stem tissue in situ. At different times of the day, CO2 produced by respiration of stem tissues followed different flux pathways. During daylight hours when sap was flowing, a large proportion of respired CO2 was carried away in the xylem stream, whereas at night, most respiratory CO2 escaped to the atmosphere through the bark. Our calculations showed errors in efflux-based estimates of respiration of up to 76% compared with estimates that include both internal and external fluxes.     

Exposure to elevated carbon dioxide concentration in the dark lowers the respiration quotient of Vitis cane wood

Cane cuttings of the grapevine rootstock Vitis rupestris Scheele x V. riparia Michx. cv. 3309 Couderc were brought out of endodormancy by warming at 30 degrees C. Cane pieces (12 to 13 cm long) with nodes containing a primary bud were placed in a gas exchange system and monitored for net respiratory fluxes of CO2 and O2. Grapevine respiration rates expressed on a wood volume basis were 1.4 to 3.4 mmol CO2 or O2 m-3s-1, which is higher than stem respiration rates reported for many other woody taxa but similar to rates measured for ecodormant buds of other Vitis species. Passive water loss from canes was 0.7 to 1.2 mmol H2O m-3s-1. During a 7-day period, nonstructural carbohydrate concentrations in cane wood declined only slightly, whereas sucrose was nearly completely consumed. When ambient CO2 concentration ([CO2]) was raised from 300 to 750 micro molmol-1 and then 2000 micromol mol-1, net CO2 exchange rates declined by 5.9 +/- 0.6 and then 11.0 +/- 0.6%, whereas net O2 consumption rates remained about constant. The mean respiration quotient (net CO2/O2 flux) for canes with intact ecodormant buds was 0.99 +/- 0.03 when the [CO2] was 300 micromol mol-1, and decreased to 0.87 +/- 0.03 and 0.088 +/- 0.02 when the [CO2] was increased to 750 and 2000 micromol mol-1, respectively. The results support the hypothesis that, in Vitis canes, inhibition of respiratory CO2 efflux in response to high [CO2] is an indirect consequence of non-photosynthetic carboxylation reactions, and not a result of inhibition of respiratory metabolism.     

环剥对毛白杨树干表面CO2通量及其温度敏感性的影响

【目的】探明光合产物供应状况对树干表面CO2通量及其温度敏感性的影响机制。【方法】以10年生毛白杨人工林为研究对象,采用随机区组试验设计,通过环剥改变林木的光合产物供应状况,连续监测环剥点上部(AG)和下部(BG)的树干表面CO2通量(Es)和树干温度(Tstem)并拟合其温度敏感性(Q10),同时测定AG和BG非结构性碳水化合物含量的动态变化,比较生长季和非生长季的Es及其Q10对底物变化的不同响应。【结果】1)相比于对照树木(NG),环剥处理30天后,环剥导致生长季AG的Es升高57%和BG的Es降低43%,但在非生长季NG、AG和BG的Es差异不明显。2)环剥降低生长季AG和BG的可溶性糖浓度29%和15%,而非生长季环剥导致AG和BG的可溶性糖浓度分别降低15%和增加10%。3)不同季节Es和Tstem均存在较好的指数函数关系,但环剥会降低AG和BG的Tstem对Es变化解释率。4)环剥提高生长季和非生长季AG的温度敏感性(Q10)和树干基础呼吸速率(R15),但却同时降低BG的Q10和R15。【结论】环剥阻断了光合产物的输入,从而改变树体环剥点上、下部的可溶性糖含量,最终导致环剥点上部的树干表面CO2通量及其温度敏感性上升,而环剥点下部的树干表面CO2通量及其温度敏感性下降。毛白杨树干表面CO2通量及其温度敏感性对环剥的响应在不同季节(生长季和非生长季)存在明显差异。     

Foliage, fine-root, woody-tissue and stand respiration in Pinus radiata in relation to nitrogen status

We measured respiration of 20-year-old Pinus radiata D. Don trees growing in control (C), irrigated (I), and irrigated + fertilized (IL) stands in the Biology of Forest Growth experimental plantation near Canberra, Australia. Respiration was measured on fully expanded foliage, live branches, boles, and fine and coarse roots to determine the relationship between CO(2) efflux, tissue temperature, and biomass or nitrogen (N) content of individual tissues. Efflux of CO(2) from foliage (dark respiration at night) and fine roots was linearly related to biomass and N content, but N was a better predictor of CO(2) efflux than biomass. Respiration (assumed to be maintenance) per unit N at 15 degrees C and a CO(2) concentration of 400 micro mol mol(-1) was 1.71 micro mol s(-1) mol(-1) N for foliage and 11.2 micro mol s(-1) mol(-1) N for fine roots. Efflux of CO(2) from stems, coarse roots and branches was linearly related to sapwood volume (stems) or total volume (branches + coarse roots) and growth, with rates for maintenance respiration at 15 degrees C ranging from 18 to 104 micro mol m(-3) s(-1). Among woody components, branches in the upper canopy and small diameter coarse roots had the highest respiration rates. Stem maintenance respiration per unit sapwood volume did not differ among treatments. Annual C flux was estimated by summing (1) dry matter production and respiration of aboveground components, (2) annual soil CO(2) efflux minus aboveground litterfall, and (3) the annual increment in coarse root biomass. Annual C flux was 24.4, 25.3 and 34.4 Mg ha(-1) year(-1) for the C, I and IL treatments, respectively. Total belowground C allocation, estimated as the sum of (2) and (3) above, was equal to the sum of root respiration and estimated root production in the IL treatment, whereas in the nutrient-limited C and I treatments, total belowground C allocation was greater than the sum of root respiration and estimated root production, suggesting higher fine root turnover or increased allocation to mycorrhizae and root exudation. Carbon use efficiency, the ratio of net primary production to assimilation, was similar among treatments for aboveground tissues (0.43-0.50). Therefore, the proportion of assimilation used for construction and maintenance respiration on an annual basis was also similar among treatments.     

Interaction of nutrient limitation and elevated CO2 concentration on carbon assimilation of a tropical tree seedling (Cedrela odorata)

Carbon assimilation by Cedrela odorata L. (Meliaceae) seedlings was investigated in ambient and elevated CO2 concentrations ([CO2]) for 119 days, using small fumigation chambers. A solution containing macro- and micronutrients was supplied at two rates. The 5% rate (high rate) was designed to avoid nutrient limitation and allow a maximum rate of growth. The 1% rate (low rate) allowed examination of the effect of the nutrient limitation-elevated CO2 interaction on carbon assimilation. Root growth was stimulated by 23% in elevated [CO2] at a high rate of nutrient supply, but this did not lead to a change in the root:shoot ratio. Total biomass did not change at either rate of nutrient supply, despite an increase in relative growth rate at the low nutrient supply rate. Net assimilation rates and relative growth rates were stimulated by the high rate of nutrient addition, irrespective of [CO2]. We used a biochemical model of photosynthesis to investigate assimilation at the leaf level. Maximum rate of electron transport (Jmax) and maximum velocity of carboxylation (Vcmax) did not differ significantly with CO2 treatment, but showed a substantial reduction at the low rate of nutrient supply. Across both CO2 treatments, mean Jmax for seedlings grown at a high rate of nutrient supply was 75 micromol m(-2) s(-1) and mean Vcmax was 27 micromol m(-2) s(-1). The corresponding mean values for seedlings grown at a low rate of nutrient supply were 36 micromol m(-2) s(-1) and 15 micromol m(-2) s(-1), respectively. Concentrations of leaf nitrogen, on a mass basis, were significantly decreased by the low nutrient supply rate, in proportion to the observed decrease in photosynthetic parameters. Chlorophyll and carbohydrate concentrations of leaves were unaffected by growth [CO2]. Because there was no net increase in growth in response to elevated [CO2], despite increased assimilation of carbon at the leaf level, we hypothesize that the rate of respiration of non-photosynthetic organs was increased.     

旱柳枝条叶绿体光化学特征的径向异质性

【目的】研究枝条叶绿体光化学特征的径向异质性和组织特异性,可为确定枝条中不同组织对枝条碳同化的贡献以及揭示叶绿体对枝条异质性光环境的适应机制提供依据。【方法】测定照光和黑暗条件下旱柳无性系当年生枝条的CO_(2 )释放速率,评价枝条光合的碳回收贡献。测定树皮绿色组织、木质部和髓心的光合色素含量、吸光系数、光化学效率、电子传递速率,分析不同组织中叶绿体光化学特征的差异。【结果】饱和光强下旱柳当年生枝条的总光合速率达到1.27μmolCO_2·m^-2s^-1,可将77%呼吸消耗的碳回收固定。在旱柳当年生枝条中,树皮的总叶绿素含量显著高于木质部和髓心,分别是木质部和髓心的15.90和1.83倍。叶绿素b与叶绿素a的比例随径向深度的增加由树皮至髓心呈显著升高的趋势,树皮中的类胡萝卜素含量、类胡萝卜素与叶绿素的比例均显著高于木质部。旱柳当年生枝条不同组织的吸光系数沿径向方向显著降低,树皮绿色组织的最大光化学效率、实际光化学效率和相对电子传递速率显著高于木质部和髓心。【结论】枝条光合可将77%呼吸消耗的碳回收。不同组织的光合色素含量和光化学效率呈现随径向深度增加而显著降低的规律,树皮绿色组织是枝条光合的主要载体。树皮绿色组织具有较强的光保护能力,木质部和髓心通过光合色素比例的调整最大限度地捕捉组织中有限的光能。     

Stem growth and respiration in loblolly pine plantations differing in soil resource availability

Stem respiration and growth in 10-year-old loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantations were measured monthly during the third year of fertilization and irrigation treatments to determine whether soil resource availability differentially altered growth and respiration in stem tissue. Fertilized trees had significantly greater stem biomass, stem nitrogen concentration ([N]) and growth rate than unfertilized trees. Stem respiration (Rt) was significantly greater in fertilized trees when expressed on a per unit surface area (Rt,a, micromol CO2 m-2 s-1), sapwood volume (Rt,v, micromol CO2 m-3 s-1), or mass (Rt,w, nmol CO2 g-1 s-1) basis; however, there was no difference between treatments when expressed as a function of stem N content (Rt,n, micromol CO2 (mol N)-1 s-1). Irrigation had no significant effect on Rt or annual stem growth. Daily total respiration (Rd, mol CO2 m-2 day-1) and stem diameter growth both had a seasonal bimodal pattern with peaks in early spring and midsummer. Stem [N] declined significantly during the growing season. Stem growth rate and [N] explained 75% of the seasonal variation in temperature-normalized Rt,a. The mature tissue method was used to partition total stem respiration (Rt) into maintenance (Rm) and growth (Rg) components. There was a linear correlation between winter Rt,v, a measure of basal Rm, and sapwood N content; however, Rt,v per unit N was greater in January before diameter growth started than in the following December after growth ceased, indicating that Rt,v declined as stem diameter increased. Consequently, estimates of annual maintenance respiration (RM) based on January data were 44% higher than estimates based on December data. Growth respiration was correlated with stem growth rate (r2 = 0.55). The growth respiration coefficient (rg)-the slope of the relationship between Rg and stem growth rate-was 0.24. Respiration accounted for 37% of annual stem carbon budget. Stem carbon-use efficiency (CUE)-the ratio of stem growth to stem growth plus respiration-averaged 0.63 and was unaffected by fertilization.     

Seasonal photosynthetic responses to light and temperature in white spruce (Picea glauca) seedlings planted under an aspen (Populus tremuloides) canopy and in the open

Photosynthetic light and temperature response curves were measured seasonally in seedlings of white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench.) Voss) grown for two years in the understory of aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) or in the open in central Alberta. Light-saturated rate of net photosynthesis, the optimum temperature for net photosynthesis, transpiration rate, photochemical efficiency, and stomatal and mesophyll conductances increased from spring to summer and declined thereafter, whereas dark respiration rate and compensation and saturation points were highest in spring. Depression of photosynthetic parameters was greater in open-grown seedlings than in understory seedlings during the periods in spring and autumn when night frosts were common. Net photosynthetic rates were similar in understory and open-grown seedlings in summer, but they were significantly lower in open-grown seedlings in spring and autumn. Significantly lower transpiration rates and stomatal conductances in open-grown seedlings than in understory seedlings were also observed at 15 and 25 degrees C in the autumn. Shoot and needle growth were less in open-grown seedlings than in understory seedlings. In summer, when irradiances were low in the aspen understory, understory white spruce seedlings maintained a positive carbon balance by decreasing their compensation and saturation points and increasing their photochemical efficiency compared to spring and autumn.     

Seasonal courses of CO(2) exchange and carbon balance in fruits of Cinnamomum camphora

Carbon dioxide exchange in fruits of Cinnamomum camphora Sieb. was followed over a growing season from July to December 1992. Dark respiration was exponentially related to temperature, with a Q(10) value near 2. Light dependence of photosynthetic CO(2) refixation, i.e., the ratio of gross photosynthesis to dark respiration, was approximated by a hyperbolic function. Seasonal variation in maximum CO(2) refixation capacity ranged between 52 and 174%, reaching a maximum in early August. Daily photosynthetic CO(2) refixation ranged between 17 and 51% over the growth period. We evaluated seasonal variation in translocation rate to the fruit on the basis of the seasonal rates of gross photosynthesis, dark respiration and increase in fruit dry weight, and used the results to develop a simple carbon flow model of fruit development. Seasonal changes in translocation rate paralleled those in fruit growth rate, with two peaks during the periods before and after September. Seed formation took place in the period between the two peaks. The relationship between fruit growth rate and translocation rate was approximated by a linear function. The carbon flow model estimated that, over the reproductive period, the amount of assimilate translocated to each fruit was 377.2 mg dry weight, of which 58.5% was accounted for by weight growth and 41.5% was consumed by net respiration. Carbon dioxide refixation accounted for 22.9% of the carbon balance of the fruit.     

Characteristics of photosynthesis and stomatal conductance in the shrubland species manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) and kanuka (Kunzea ericoides) for the estimation of annual canopy carbon uptake

Responses of photosynthesis to carbon dioxide (CO2) partial pressure and irradiance were measured on leaves of 39-year-old trees of manuka (Leptospermum scoparium J. R. Forst. & G. Forst.) and kanuka (Kunzea ericoides var. ericoides (A. Rich.) J. Thompson) at a field site, and on leaves of young trees grown at three nitrogen supply rates in a nursery, to determine values for parameters in a model to estimate annual net carbon uptake. These secondary successional species belong to the same family and commonly co-occur. Mean (+/- standard error) values of the maximum rate of carboxylation (hemi-surface area basis) (Vcmax) and the maximum rate of electron transport (Jmax) at the field site were 47.3 +/- 1.9 micromol m(-2) s(-1) and 94.2 +/- 3.7 micromol m(-2) s(-1), respectively, with no significant differences between species. Both Vcmax and Jmax were positively related to leaf nitrogen concentration on a unit leaf area basis, and the slopes of these relationships did not differ significantly between species or between the trees in the field and young trees grown in the nursery. Mean values of Jmax/Vcmax measured at 20 degrees C were significantly lower (P < 0.01) for trees in the field (2.00 +/- 0.05) than for young trees in the nursery with similar leaf nitrogen concentrations (2.32 +/- 0.08). Stomatal conductance decreased sharply with increasing air saturation deficit, but the sensitivity of the response did not differ between species. These data were used to derive parameters for a coupled photosynthesis-stomatal conductance model to scale estimates of photosynthesis from leaves to the canopy, incorporating leaf respiration at night, site energy and water balances, to estimate net canopy carbon uptake. Over the course of a year, 76% of incident irradiance (400-700 nm) was absorbed by the canopy, annual net photosynthesis per unit ground area was 164.5 mol m(-2) (equivalent to 1.97 kg C m(-2)) and respiration loss from leaves at night was 37.5 mol m(-2) (equivalent to 0.45 kg m(-2)), or 23% of net carbon uptake. When modeled annual net carbon uptake for the trees was combined with annual respiration from the soil surface, estimated net primary productivity for the ecosystem (0.30 kg C m(-2)) was reasonably close to the annual estimate obtained from independent mensurational and biomass measurements made at the site (0.22 +/- 0.03 kg C m(-2)). The mean annual value for light-use efficiency calculated from the ratio of net carbon uptake (net photosynthesis minus respiration of leaves at night) and absorbed irradiance was 13.0 mmol C mol(-1) (equivalent to 0.72 kg C GJ(-1)). This is low compared with values reported for other temperate forests, but is consistent with limitations to photosynthesis in the canopy attributable mainly to low nitrogen availability and associated low leaf area index.     

Respiratory responses of Scots pine stems to 5 years of exposure to elevated CO2 concentration and temperature

Stem respiration in 20-year-old Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) trees was examined following 5 years of exposure to ambient conditions (CON), elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration ([CO2]) (ambient + 350 micromol mol(-1), (EC)), elevated temperature (ambient + 2-6 degrees C, (ET)) or a combination of elevated [CO2] and elevated temperature (ECT). Stem respiration varied seasonally regardless of the treatment and displayed a similar trend to temperature, with maximum rates occurring around Day 190 in summer and minimum rates in winter. Respiration normalized to 15 degrees C (R15) was higher in the growing season than in the non-growing season, whereas the temperature coefficient (Q10) was lower in the growing season. Annually averaged R15 was 0.36, 0.43, 0.40 and 0.44 micromol m(-2) s(-1) under CON, EC, ET and ECT conditions, respectively, whereas the corresponding values for total stem respiration were 6.55, 7.69, 7.50 and 7.90 mol m(-2) year(-1). The EC, ET and ECT treatments increased R15 by 18, 11 and 22%, respectively, relative to CON, and increased the modeled annual total stem respiration by 18, 15 and 21%. The increase in modeled annual stem respiration under EC and ECT conditions was caused mainly by higher maintenance respiration (22 and 25%, respectively, whereas the increase in growth respiration was 9 and 12%). Growth respiration was unaltered by ET. The treatments did not significantly affect the respiratory response to stem temperature; the mean Q10 value was 2.04, 2.10, 1.99 and 2.12 in the CON, EC, ET and ECT treatments, respectively. It is suggested that the increase in stem respiration was partly a result of the increased growth rate. We conclude that elevated [CO2] increased the maintenance component of respiration more than the growth component.     

Growth CO2 concentration modifies the transpiration response of Populus deltoides to drought and vapor pressure deficit

Cottonwood (Populus deltoides Bartr. ex Marsh.) trees grown for 9 months in elevated carbon dioxide concentration ([CO2]) showed significant increases in height, leaf area and basal diameter relative to trees in a near-ambient [CO2] control treatment. Sample trees in the CO2 treatments were subjected to high and low atmospheric vapor pressure deficits (VPD) over a 5-week period at both high and low soil water contents (SWC). During these periods, transpiration rates at both the leaf and canopy levels were calculated based on sap flow measurements and leaf-to-sapwood area ratios. Leaf-level transpiration rates were approximately equivalent across [CO2] treatments when soil water was not limiting. In contrast, during drought stress, canopy-level transpiration rates were approximately equivalent across [CO2] treatments, indicating that leaf-level fluxes during drought stress were reduced in elevated [CO2] by a factor equal to the leaf area ratio of the two canopies. The shift from equivalent leaf-level transpiration to equivalent canopy-level transpiration with increasing drought stress suggests maximum water use rates were controlled primarily by atmospheric demand at high SWC and by soil water availability at low SWC. Changes in VPD had less effect on transpiration than changes in SWC for trees in both CO2 treatments. Transpiration rates of trees in both CO2 treatments reached maximum values at a VPD of about 2.0 kPa at high SWC, but leveled off and decreased slightly in both canopies as VPD increased above this value. At low SWC, increasing VPD from approximately 1.4 to 2.5 kPa caused transpiration rates to decline slightly in the canopies of trees in both treatments, with significant (P = 0.004) decreases occurring in trees in the near-ambient [CO2] treatment. The transpiration responses at high VPD in the presence of high SWC and throughout the low SWC treatment suggest some hydraulic limitations to water use occurred. Comparisons of midday leaf water potentials of trees in both CO2 treatments support this conclusion.     

模拟降水量变化对毛乌素油蒿幼苗生物生态过程中的影响研究

毛乌素是中国干旱、半干旱沙区典型沙地，其中水分是最大限制因子，随着未来全球变化，尤其是降水变化进一步激烈，将给这里的陆地生态系统分布格局和生产力带来巨大影响，本文选择毛乌素沙地优势灌木油蒿为研究对象，人控４种降水量梯度来探讨油蒿幼苗的生理生态对降水量的响应。结果表明，不同施水量的油蒿幼苗净水合速率、蒸腾速率、气孔导度、胞间ＣＯ２浓度、叶片温度、光能利用率、水分利用率日变化动态存在明显差异，当少量施水时，幼苗受到明显水分胁迫，故而关闭气孔，降低气孔度和蒸腾速度，以免过多的蒸腾失水。当充分施水时，幼苗叶片气孔开放，提高气孔导率、胞间ＣＯ２浓度和蒸腾速率，降低叶片温度、以此提高光合作用。不同施水的油蒿幼苗表现出不同的生理生态适应策略，幼苗荧光效率随着施水量增大，从机理上解释了幼苗光合作用随着施水量的增加而增长；向后剔除变量分析表明，随着施水量的增加，限制幼苗净光合速度的主要因子逐渐减少。当充人地水时，幼苗主要受到光合有效辐射和叶片温度的限制。当中度施水时，幼苗主要受到蒸腾速率、胞间／大气ＣＯ２浓度差值的限制，不少量施水量时，幼苗主要受到蒸腾速率、气孔导度、胞间／大气ＣＯ２浓度差值、叶片／大气温度差值及其大气温度的限制。     

Winter photosynthesis of red spruce from three Vermont seed sources

We evaluated winter (January through March) carbon assimilation of red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) from three Vermont seed sources grown in a common garden in northwestern Vermont. Although CO(2) exchange rates were generally low, net photosynthetic rates increased during two prolonged thaws. Significant correlations between CO(2) exchange rates and multiday air temperature means supported our observations of enhanced gas exchange during extended periods of elevated temperature. Increases in photosynthesis during thaws occurred before observed increases in leaf conductance, indicating that initial changes in photosynthesis were probably not associated with changes in stomatal aperture. Results of correlations between photosynthetic rates and PAR suggested that solar irradiance did not have a strong effect on winter carbon capture. Rates of net photosynthesis differed among seed sources. Trees from the Mt. Mansfield source had the highest average rates of photosynthesis and, at times, rates for individual trees from this source approximated those occurring during the growing season. Because seed sources differed in photosynthetic rates but not in leaf conductance, we conclude that differences in winter photosynthesis among seed sources were primarily attributable to factors other than changes in stomatal aperture.     

Seedlings of five boreal tree species differ in acclimation of net photosynthesis to elevated CO(2) and temperature

Biochemical models of photosynthesis suggest that rising temperatures will increase rates of net carbon dioxide assimilation and enhance plant responses to increasing atmospheric concentrations of CO(2). We tested this hypothesis by evaluating acclimation and ontogenetic drift in net photosynthesis in seedlings of five boreal tree species grown at 370 and 580 &mgr;mol mol(-1) CO(2) in combination with day/night temperatures of 18/12, 21/15, 24/18, 27/21, and 30/24 degrees C. Leaf-area-based rates of net photosynthesis increased between 13 and 36% among species in plants grown and measured in elevated CO(2) compared to ambient CO(2). These CO(2)-induced increases in net photosynthesis were greater for slower-growing Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P., Pinus banksiana Lamb., and Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch than for faster-growing Populus tremuloides Michx. and Betula papyrifera Marsh., paralleling longer-term growth differences between CO(2) treatments. Measures at common CO(2) concentrations revealed that net photosynthesis was down-regulated in plants grown at elevated CO(2). In situ leaf gas exchange rates varied minimally across temperature treatments and, contrary to predictions, increasing growth temperatures did not enhance the response of net photosynthesis to elevated CO(2) in four of the five species. Overall, the species exhibited declines in specific leaf area and leaf nitrogen concentration, and increases in total nonstructural carbohydrates in response to CO(2) enrichment. Consequently, the elevated CO(2) treatment enhanced rates of net photosynthesis much more when expressed on a leaf area basis (25%) than when expressed on a leaf mass basis (10%). In all species, rates of leaf net CO(2) exchange exhibited modest declines with increasing plant size through ontogeny. Among the conifers, enhancements of photosynthetic rates in elevated CO(2) were sustained through time across a wide range of plant sizes. In contrast, for Populus tremuloides and B. papyrifera, mass-based photosynthetic rates did not differ between CO(2) treatments. Overall, net photosynthetic rates were highly correlated with relative growth rate as it varied among species and treatment combinations through time. We conclude that interspecific variation may be a more important determinant of photosynthetic response to CO(2) than temperature.     

Stem respiration in a closed-canopy upland oak forest

Stem respiration was measured throughout 1993 on 56 mature trees of three species (Quercus alba L., Quercus prinus L., and Acer rubrum L.) in Walker Branch Watershed, Oak Ridge, Tennessee. A subset of the trees was remeasured during 1994. Diameter increments, stem temperatures and soil water were also monitored. Respiration rates in the spring and summer of 1993 tracked growth rate increments, except during a drought when growth dropped to zero and respiration increased to its highest rate. During the dormant season, rates of total stem respiration (R(t)) tended to be greater in large trees with thick sapwood but no such trend was observed during the growing season. Before and after the growing season, respiration rates correlated well with stem temperatures. Estimated values of Q(10) were 2.4 for the two oak species and 1.7 for red maple. The Q(10) values were used along with baseline respiration measurements and stem temperatures to predict seasonal changes in maintenance respiration (R(m)). In red maple, annual total R(m) accounted for 56 and 60% of R(t) in 1993 and 1994, respectively. In chestnut oak, R(m) accounted for 65 and 58% of R(t) in 1993 and 1994, respectively. In white oak, R(m) accounted for 47 and 53% of R(t) in 1993 and 1994, respectively. Extrapolating these data to the stand level showed that woody tissue respiration accounted for 149 and 204 g C m(-2) soil surface year(-1) in 1993 and 1994, respectively.     

生长在不同类型绿地的银杏光合生理特性的研究

为了研究银杏在城市园林何种绿地上生长最佳,试验对合肥市生产绿地、公园绿地、防护绿地、附属绿地4种绿地上的银杏,进行光合作用生理特性日变化的测定。比较了这4种绿地上银杏的净光合速率、蒸腾速率和水分利用效率等生理生态指标。结果表明:公园绿地上银杏的净光合速率均值最大4.265μmolCO2/m2.s;其次是附属绿地上为2.6907μmol CO2/m2.s和生产绿地上为2.6507μmol CO2/m2.s;防护绿地上银杏的净光合速率均值最低为1.9317μmol CO2/m2.s;各个绿地上银杏水分利用效率特性有同其净光合速率的变化趋势。从光合作用角度得出,银杏在公园绿地上应用为最佳,其次是附属绿地和生产绿地上应用的,较差的是防护绿地上应用的。