Coupling whole-tree transpiration and canopy photosynthesis in coniferous and broad-leaved tree species

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 295-309 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Catovsky ◽  
N M Holbrook ◽  
F A Bazzaz

We used sap flow as a measure of whole-tree function to examine how coniferous and broad-leaved species in mixed temperate forests differ in canopy-level transpiration and photosynthetic rates. We used heat dissipation probes to measure whole-tree sap flow in three species throughout one full year and then combined these measurements with micrometeorological monitoring and leaf-level gas exchange to determine whole-tree carbon gain. Both broad-leaved species (red oak, Quercus rubra L.; red maple, Acer rubrum L.) had two- to four-fold greater annual fluxes of water and carbon on a ground area basis than did the conifer (eastern hemlock, Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carrière), with red oak trees additionally showing 60–80% higher fluxes than red maple. Despite fixing one-third of its carbon when broad-leaved species were leafless, hemlock was not able to compensate for its low photosynthetic rates during the growing season. Productivity measures derived from annual growth rings and eddy covariance confirmed that whole-tree sap flow provided a valuable estimate of both the magnitude of current forest fluxes and differences in individual species' fluxes. Our results indicate that the predicted loss of hemlock from mixed temperate forests could potentially increase whole-forest water loss and carbon gain by two- to four-fold, provided sufficient nitrogen and water remain available to support such a change.

2000 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 100-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Catovsky ◽  
F A Bazzaz

Changes in forest species composition could influence ecosystem carbon uptake rates. To understand how species differed in their contributions to canopy photosynthesis, we investigated how the dominant coniferous (eastern hemlock, Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carr.) and broad-leaved (northern red oak, Quercus rubra L.; red maple, Acer rubrum L.) species in a central Massachusetts forest differed in canopy carbon uptake rates. We considered what factors influenced in situ leaf-level photosynthesis and then used a bottom-up summation approach to estimate species-specific total canopy carbon uptake rates. Variation in canopy light strongly influenced leaf-level photosynthetic rates: sunlit leaves had significantly higher rates than shaded leaves, and photosynthesis increased with canopy height. Species also differed in leaf-level photosynthetic rates, with the broad-leaved species having up to twofold higher rates than hemlock. Within hemlock, needles older than 2 years had lower photosynthesis than younger needles. Variation in leaf-level photosynthesis scaled up to influence canopy carbon uptake rates. Red oak consistently had the highest canopy photosynthetic rates, while through the season, hemlock's relative contribution to carbon flux increased and that of red maple decreased. Thus, in such mixed forests, future changes in species composition could have substantial impacts on forest carbon dynamics, particularly if red oak is the primary broad-leaved species to expand at the expense of hemlock.


Oecologia ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 158 (4) ◽  
pp. 633-640 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saul A. Cunningham ◽  
Kimberi R. Pullen ◽  
Matthew J. Colloff
Keyword(s):  
Sap Flow ◽  
Tree Sap ◽  

HortScience ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 1145C-1145
Author(s):  
William L. Bauerle ◽  
G. Geoff Wang ◽  
Nilakantan S. Rajaraman ◽  
Shruthi Anantharamu

The estimate of the photosynthetic response to temperature is important for accurate growth predictions in process-based models designed to respond to broad variation in environmental conditions. Several studies have attempted to decipher the temperature and mesophyll response functions for use in the widely used Farquhar et al. (1980) biochemically based photosynthesis model. Unfortunately, published values of Rubisco kinetic properties (Kc and Ko) differ among species. To compound the problem, the methodology used to estimate Kc and Ko has not been consistent. We compared the variation in carbon gain estimates of a whole tree by incorporating the different temperature parameter estimates of Bernacchi et al. (2001, 2003) and Medlyn et al. (2002) into a three-dimensional biological process-based model. In addition, we also investigated the contribution of mesophyll conductance by incorporating Rubisco enzyme kinetics parameters reported by Bernacchi et al. (2002). Temperature parameters substantially influenced our whole tree carbon gain estimates. The variation among model estimates of aboveground net carbon gain was ≈11% for 3-year-old red maple saplings. Variation was even greater when mesophyll conductance was incorporated. The different parameter estimates, if not validated at the whole plant scale, can introduce inaccuracies and exacerbate carbon gain estimates of single plants, stands of plants, and entire ecosystems.


1987 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 263-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. R. C. Jones ◽  
I. Alli

During the spring of 1984 and 1985, white birch (Betulapapyrifera Marsh), sweet birch (B. lenta L), and yellow birch (B. alleghaniensis Britt.) were tapped to determine sap yields and syrup characteristics. These properties were compared with sap yields and syrup produced from sugar maple (Acersaccharum Marsh) and red maple (A. rubrum L). The sap flow seasons were as follows: white birch, 23 days (April 7–29, 1984) and 29 days (April 5 – May 3, 1985); sweet birch, 26 days (1984); yellow birch, 25 days (1985). The sap flow season for the maple species was much earlier than the birch species. Maple sap flow seasons were as follows: sugar maple, 16 days (March 28 – April 12, 1984) and 45 days (March 10 – April 23, 1985); red maple, 44 days (March 11 – April 23, 1985). Sap yields were as follows: white birch, 80.5 L in 1984 (1.0% sap) 51.0 L in 1985 (1.0% sap); sweet birch, 48.0 L in 1984 (0.5% sap); yellow birch, 28.4 L in 1985 (0.5% sap); red maple, 30.6 L in 1985 (2.3% sap); sugar maple, 53.5 L in 1985 (4.5% sap). Sap analyses showed the average total carbohydrate content of all birch saps and all maple saps was 9.2 and 24.5 g/L, respectively. The average sugar contents of the syrups from the birch saps and the maple saps were 302 and 711 g/L, respectively. The average pH of birch and maple saps were similar but the average pH of the syrups obtained from the birch saps was substantially lower than that of the syrups obtained from the maple saps.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darby McGrath ◽  
Jason Henry ◽  
Ryan Munroe ◽  
Erin Agro

Abstract This experiment investigated the effect of different plug-tray cell designs on root development of red maple (Acer rubrum), red oak (Quercus rubra), and quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) seedlings. In April of 2015, seeds of each species were sown into three plug trays with different substrate volumes and grown for 17 weeks. Two trays had permeable walls for air-pruning, one with vertical ribs and one without. The third tray had impermeable plastic cell walls. Harvested seedlings were analyzed for root dry weight, length, volume, surface area and number of deflected roots. Root length per volume was highest in the impermeable-walled tray for red maple and quaking aspen. The total numbers of deflected root systems were higher for all species in the impermeable-walled tray. Seedlings grown in the air-pruning trays had smaller proportions of deflected root masses. Greater substrate volume did not influence root deflection development. The air-pruning tray without vertical ribs had the lowest total number of root masses with misdirected roots and lower proportions of root masses with misdirected roots for all species. These results indicate that improved root architecture in root-air pruning tray designs is achievable in tree propagation; however, vertical plastic structures in air-pruning trays can still cause root deflections. Index words: Deflected roots, air-pruning, seedling, propagation, plugs, root architecture. Species used in the study: red maple (Acer rubrum L.); red oak (Quercus rubra L.); quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.).


1988 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil I. Lamson

Abstract In northern West Virginia, 7-year-old American basswood (Tilia americana L.) and 12-year-old red maple (Acer rubrum L.), black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.), and northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) stump sprout clumps received one of four treatments: unthinned control; thinned to the best one or two codominant sprouts per clump; branch pruned up to 75% of total height; or thinned plus pruned. Analysis of 10-year growth data showed that height growth was not affected by any of the treatments. For all species, pruning slightly increased the length of clear stem and decreased periodic diameter growth. Thinning increased survival of basswood, red oak, and red maple crop stems. Thinning increased the 10-year diameter growth by 0.1 to 0.8 in. Recommendations for thinning 10- to 20-year-old sprout clumps are presented. Pruning is not recommended. In order to maintain maximum diameter growth, thinning individual sprout clumps should be followed by stand crop tree release in about 10 years. South. J. Appl. For. 12(1):23-27.


1996 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 182-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick J. Guertin ◽  
C. W. Ramm

Abstract Five-year diameter growth, basal area growth, and mortality for five upland hardwood species in northern Lower Michigan were compared to projections from Lake States TWIGS. The species studied were northern red oak, white oak, other red oak (pin oak and black oak combined), sugar maple, and red maple. The validation data consisted of individual tree measurements from 44 stands across 10 ecological land types on the Manistee National Forest. The stands were measured in 1986 and 1991; during this time interval stands experienced a drought and outbreaks of leaf defoliators. For individual dbh classes, 5 yr diameter growth was predicted within ± 0.3 in. for all species. Mean errors for BA projections were within ± 5 ft²/ac for all species, and mean error for trees/ac ranged from - 33 for other red oak to + 16 for sugar maple. Although precision was variable, Lake States TWIGS provided accurate predictions of 5 yr diameter growth for the five species tested. Projections of mortality were less accurate. North. J. Appl. For. 13(4):00-00.


2003 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 264-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Heitzman

Abstract Since 1999, widespread and locally severe oak decline and mortality have occurred throughout the Ozark Mountains of northern Arkansas and southern Missouri. A contributing factor in the decline and mortality is an outbreak of the red oak borer [Enaphalodes rufulus (Haldeman) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)]. In northern Arkansas, a 2,150 ac mature oak forest severely affected by decline was selected as a case study to describe changes in species composition and stand structure and to assess regeneration potential of oaks and non-oak species. Mortality reduced total overstory basal area from 105 to 57 ft2/ac, and overstory density decreased from 156 to 89 trees/ac. Most dead and dying trees were northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) and black oak (Q. velutina Lam.). Basal area and density of overstory red oaks were reduced from 51 to 11 ft2/ac and from 60 to 11 trees/ac, respectively. These trees died regardless of dbh class. Mortality was less common in white oak (Q. alba L.) and was generally limited to smaller trees. Understory trees and taller seedlings were predominantly red maple (Acer rubrum L.), flowering dogwood (Cornus florida L.), blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica Marsh.), and black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.). Oaks less than 3 ft tall were abundant, but taller oak seedlings and saplings were uncommon. Tree mortality increased the proportion of white oak and hickories (Carya spp.) in the overstory, and stimulated a regeneration response of mostly non-oak species. South. J. Appl. For. 27(4):264–268.


1990 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 199-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
James H. Miller

Abstract Six herbicides were compared as directed foliar sprays applied in May, July, and September on seven hardwood species and on loblolly pine. Equal-cost mixtures that met or exceeded minimum labeled rates were tested for Weedone 2,4- DP, Gadon 4, Garlon 3A, Arsenal Applicator Concentrate, Roundup, Escort, and Roundup + Escort. Test hardwoods were sweetgum, southern red oak, water oak, red maple, pignut hickory, dogwood, and yellow poplar. Crown volume reduction and rootstock reduction after one growing season were the main indicators of efficacy. Using directed sprays, yellow poplar was the easiest species to control, and pignut hickory was the most difficult. Control of sweetgum was most effective with Weedone, Arsenal, and Roundup. For control of oaks, the most effective applications were in July with Arsenal, Garlon 4 and 3A, and Roundup; but these and other hardwood species tended to refoliate 2 years after Arsenal treatment. Herbicide safety to loblolly pine was best with Arsenal and Escort, while injury was greatest with Roundup and Garlon 3A, which might have potential use in precommercial thinnings. South. J. Appl. For 14(4):199-206.


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