by: Ulla Vänttinen
Brooks, J.R., Mitchell, A.K., 2011. Interpreting tree responses to thinning and fertilization using tree-ring stable isotopes. New Phytologist 190 (3): 770-782
Summary: Carbon sequestration has focused renewed interest in understanding how forest management affects forest carbon gain over timescales of decades, and yet details of the physiological mechanisms over decades are often lacking for understanding long-term growth responses to management. Here, we examined tree-ring growth patterns and stable isotopes of cellulose (δ13Ccell and δ18Ocell) in a thinning and fertilization controlled experiment where growth increased substantially in response to treatments to elucidate physiological data and to test the dual isotope approach for uses in other locations. δ13Ccell and δ18Ocell results indicated that fertilization caused an increase in intrinsic water-use efficiency through increases in photosynthesis (A) for the first 3yr. The combination treatment caused a much larger increase in A and water-use efficiency. Only the thinning treatments showed consistent significant increases in δ18Ocell above controls. Changes in canopy microclimate are the likely drivers for δ18Ocell increases with decreases in relative humidity and increases in leaf temperature associated with thinning being the most probable causes. Tree-ring isotopic records, particularly δ13Ccell, remain a viable way to reconstruct long-term physiological mechanisms affecting tree carbon gain in response to management and climate fluctuations. No claim to original US government works. New Phytologist © 2011 New Phytologist Trust.
Please see the attached file at:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2010.03627.x
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