Search

Using a ground-based and an above-canopy eddy covariance system in addition to stem respiration measurements, the annual respiratory fluxes attributable to soil, stems and foliage were determined for a Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forest growing in central Siberia. Night-time foliar respiration was estimated on the basis of the difference between fluxes measured below and above the canopy and the stem respiration measurements. Comparison of the effects of night-time turbulence on measured CO2 fluxes showed flux loss above the canopy at low wind speeds, but no such effect was observed for the ground-based eddy system. This suggests that problems with flow homogeneity or flux divergence (both of which would be expected to be greater above the canopy than below) were responsible for above-canopy losses under these conditions. After correcting for this, a strong seasonality in foliar respiration was observed. This was not solely attributable to temperature variations, with intrinsic foliar respiratory capacities being much greater in spring and autumn. The opposite pattern was observed for stem respiration, with the intrinsic respiratory capacity being lower from autumn through early spring. Maximum respiratory activity was observed in early summer. This was not simply associated with a response to higher temperatures but seemed closely linked with cambial activity and the development of new xylem elements. Soil respiration rates exhibited an apparent high sensitivity to temperature, with seasonal data implying a Q10 of about 7. We interpret this as reflecting covarying changes in soil microbial activity and soil temperatures throughout the snow-free season. Averaged over the two study years (1999 and 2000), the annual respiratory flux was estimated at 38.3 mol C m−2 a−1. Of this 0.61 was attributable to soil respiration, with stem respiration accounting for 0.21 and foliar respiration 0.18.DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0889.2002.01488.x

A canopy scale model is presented that utilises Lagrangian dispersal theory to describe the relationship between source distribution and concentration within the canopy. The present study differs from previous studies in three ways: (1) source/sink distributions are solved simultaneously for CO2, 13CO2, H2O and sensible heat to find a solution consistent with leaf-level constraints imposed by photosynthetic capacity, stomatal and boundary layer conductance, available energy and carbon isotopic discrimination during diffusion and carboxylation; (2) the model is used to solve for parameters controlling the nonlinear source interactions rather than the sources themselves; and (3) this study used plant physiological principles to allow the incorporation of within- and above-canopy measurements of the 13C/12C ratios of CO2 as an additional constraint. Source strengths of CO2, H2O, sensible heat and 13CO2 within a Siberian mixed-coniferous forest were constrained by biochemical and energy-balance principles applied to sun and shaded leaves throughout the canopy. Parameters relating to maximum photosynthetic capacity, stomatal conductance, radiation penetration and turbulence structure were determined by the optimisation procedure to match modelled and measured concentration profiles, effectively inverting the concentration data. Ground fluxes of CO2, H2O and sensible heat were also determined by the inversion. Total ecosystem fluxes predicted from the inversion were compared to hourly averaged above-canopy eddy covariance measurements over a ten-day period, with good agreement. Model results showed that stomatal conductance and maximum photosynthetic capacity were depressed due to the low temperatures experienced during snow melt; radiation penetrated further than simple theoretical predictions because of leaf clumping and penumbra, and stability effects were important in the morning and evening. The inversion was limited by little vertical structure in the concentration profiles, particularly of water vapour, and by co-dependence of canopy parameters.DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0889.2002.01356.x

Rates of CO2 efflux from the floor of a central Siberian Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) forest were measured using a dynamic closed chamber system and by a eddy covariance system placed 2.5 m above the forest floor. Measurements were undertaken for a full growing season: from early May to early October 1999. Spatial variability as determined by the chamber measurements showed the rate of CO2 efflux to depend on location, with rates from relatively open areas (“glades”) only being about 50% those observed below or around trees. This was despite generally higher temperatures in the glade during the day. A strong relationship between CO2 efflux rate and root density was observed in early spring, suggesting that lower rates in open areas may have been attributable to fewer roots there. Continuous measurements with the eddy covariance system provided good temporal coverage. This method, however, provided estimates of ground CO2 efflux rate rates that were about 50% lower than chamber measurements that were undertaken in areas considered to be representative of the forest as a whole. An examination of the seasonal pattern of soil CO2 efflux rates suggests that much of the variability in CO2 efflux rate could be accounted for by variations in soil temperature. Nevertheless, there were also some indications that the soil water deficits served to reduce soil CO2 efflux rates during mid-summer. Overall the sensitivity of CO2 efflux rate to temperature seems to be greater for this boreal ecosystem than has been the case for most other studies.DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0889.2002.01348.x