Effect of Changes in Leaf Water Oxygen Isotopic Composition on Discrimination Against C18O16O During Photosynthetic Gas Exchange

1994 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 221 ◽  
Author(s):  
LB Flanagan ◽  
SL Phillips ◽  
JR Ehleringer ◽  
J Lloyd ◽  
GD Farquhar

Photosynthetic gas exchange measurements were combined with measurements of the carbon and oxygen stable isotopic composition of CO2 after it passed over a leaf of Phaseolus vulgaris or Senecio spp. plants held in a controlled environment chamber. Calculations were then made of discrimination by the leaf against 13CO2 and C18O16O. Leaves were maintained at different vapour pressure gradients in order to generate a range of leaf water 18CO/16CO ratios. The 18CO content of leaf water increased when plants were exposed to higher vapour pressure deficits. The observed C18O16O discrimination values also increased with an increase in the leaf-air vapour pressure gradient and the associated change in leaf water 18/CO16CO values. In addition, the observed C18O16O discrimination values were strongly correlated with values predicted by a mechanistic model of isotopic fractionation.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruk Lemma ◽  
Lucas Bittner ◽  
Bruno Glaser ◽  
Seifu Kebede ◽  
Sileshi Nemomissa ◽  
...  

AbstractThe hydrogen isotopic composition of leaf wax–derived n-alkane (δ2Hn-alkane) and oxygen isotopic composition of hemicellulose–derived sugar (δ18Osugar) biomarkers are valuable proxies for paleoclimate reconstructions. Here, we present a calibration study along the Bale Mountains in Ethiopia to evaluate how accurately and precisely the isotopic composition of precipitation is imprinted in these biomarkers. n-Alkanes and sugars were extracted from the leaf and topsoil samples and compound–specific δ2Hn-alkane and δ18Osugar values were measured using a gas chromatograph–thermal conversion–isotope ratio mass spectrometer (GC–TC–IRMS). The weighted mean δ2Hn-alkane and δ18Osugar values range from − 186 to − 89‰ and from + 27 to + 46‰, respectively. Degradation and root inputs did not appear to alter the isotopic composition of the biomarkers in the soil samples analyzed. Yet, the δ2Hn-alkane values show a statistically significant species dependence and δ18Osugar yielded the same species–dependent trends. The reconstructed leaf water of Erica arborea and Erica trimera is 2H– and 18O–enriched by + 55 ± 5 and + 9 ± 1‰, respectively, compared to precipitation. By contrast, Festuca abyssinica reveals the most negative δ2Hn-alkane and least positive δ18Osugar values. This can be attributed to “signal–dampening” caused by basal grass leaf growth. The intermediate values for Alchemilla haumannii and Helichrysum splendidum can be likely explained with plant physiological differences or microclimatic conditions affecting relative humidity (RH) and thus RH–dependent leaf water isotope enrichment. While the actual RH values range from 69 to 82% (x̄ = 80 ± 3.4%), the reconstructed RH values based on a recently suggested coupled δ2Hn-alkane –δ18Osugar (paleo–) hygrometer approach yielded a mean of 78 ± 21%. Our findings corroborate (i) that vegetation changes, particularly in terms of grass versus non–grassy vegetation, need to be considered in paleoclimate studies based on δ2Hn-alkane and δ18Osugar records and (ii) that the coupled δ2Hn-alkane –δ18Osugar (paleo–) hygrometer approach holds great potential for deriving additional paleoclimatic information compared to single isotope approaches.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ola Kwiecien ◽  
Jeremy McCormack

<p>Lakes are sensitive to climate change and their sedimentary components play a pivotal role as environmental recorders. In the past, lacustrine carbonates have been utilized in a number of studies attempting at a quantitative reconstruction of rainfall and/or precipitation-evaporation changes based on the biogenic or bulk carbonate δ<sup>18</sup>O signature. While these studies are built on sound theoretical grounds of mass balance and kinetic isotopic fractionation, the challenge often overlooked is the mineralogically mixed nature of carbonates comprising the bulk.</p><p>We report a case study from Lake Van, the world’s largest alkaline lake. Our time series comprising ca. 140 ka documents not only changing proportions of surface water calcite and aragonite, but also diagenetic bottom-water dolomite and, for the first time in Lake Van, early diagenetic bottom-water aragonite. Importantly, in the Lake Van profile primary and early diagenetic carbonates (in particular aragonite) are concurrent rather than mutually exclusive. A comprehensive comparison of the δ<sup>18</sup>O and δ<sup>13</sup>C compositions of singled out water column, biogenic (ostracod valves) and diagenetic carbonates shows, that each of the fractions forms a distinctive cluster characteristic for the depth and timing of their formation. Also, the differences between δ<sup>18</sup>O values of concurrent deep-water carbonate phases exceed what is expected from mineral-specific fractionation. Our data suggest that, an uncritical and unchecked application of the isotopic composition of the bulk carbonate fraction in quantitative climate reconstructions can severely compromise the results. We also advocate that, among different carbonate fractions in Lake Van, monospecific biogenic samples most faithfully reflect the oxygen isotopic composition of the lake water contemporaneous to their deposition, while the carbon composition of biogenic samples is additionally influenced by the organism microhabitat.</p>


1998 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Raben ◽  
Wilfred H. Theakstone

Marked vertical variations of ions and oxygen isotopes were present in the snowpack at the glacier Austre Okstindbreen during the pre-melting phase in 1995 at sites between 825 m and 1,470 m above sea level. As the first meltwater percolated from the top of the pack, ions were moved to a greater depth, but the isotopic composition remained relatively unchanged. Ions continued to move downwards through the pack during the melting phase, even when there was little surface melting and no addition of liquid precipitation. The at-a-depth correlation between ionic concentrations and isotopic ratios, strong in the pre-melting phase, weakened during melting. In August, concentrations of Na+ and Mg2+ ions in the residual pack were low and vertical variations were slight; 18O enrichment had occurred. The difference of the time at which melting of the snowpack starts at different altitudes influences the input of ions and isotopes to the underlying glacier.


2015 ◽  
Vol 68 ◽  
pp. 164-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.V. Vysotskiy ◽  
V.P. Nechaev ◽  
A.Yu. Kissin ◽  
V.V. Yakovenko ◽  
A.V. Ignat'ev ◽  
...  

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