Autumn stomatal closure in six conifer species of the Central Rocky Mountains

Smith, William K.; Young, Donald R.; Carter, Gregory A.; Hadley, Julian L.; McNaughton, Geoffrey

doi:10.1007/bf00379883

Cited by 63 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Smith et al (1984) and Kaufmann (1982) found that stomatal closure was induced by near freezing night-time air temperatures, similar to those found at high altitudes during most of the growing season. Likewise, low rhizosphere temperatures (<7°C) have been shown to restrict g in Pinus contorta (Running and Reid 1980).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 54%

“…Likewise, low rhizosphere temperatures (<7°C) have been shown to restrict g in Pinus contorta (Running and Reid 1980). The mechanism by which g is restricted is uncertain; however, Smith et al (1984) hypothesized that cool soil and air temperatures inhibit stem sap flow, which increases the water potential gradient and induces partial stomatal closure. Körner and Diemer (1987) suggested another potential cause for the higher δ 13 C at high altitudes: that highaltitude plants exhibit higher photosynthetic capacities (A max ) relative to g. Because most leaf nitrogen is bound in photosynthetic enzymes, we hoped that N area would serve as a measure of A max (Evans 1989).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

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Altitude trends in conifer leaf morphology and stable carbon isotope composition

2000

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The natural ratio of stable carbon isotopes (δC) was compared to leaf structural and chemical characteristics in evergreen conifers in the north-central Rockies, United States. We sought a general model that would explain variation in δC across altitudinal gradients. Because variation in δC is attributed to the shifts between supply and demand for carbon dioxide within the leaf, we measured structural and chemical variables related to supply and demand. We measured stomatal density, which is related to CO supply to the chloroplasts, and leaf nitrogen content, which is related to CO demand. Leaf mass per area was measured as an intermediate between supply and demand. Models were tested on four evergreen conifers: Pseudotsuga menziesii, Abies lasiocarpa, Picea engelmannii, and Pinus contorta, which were sampled across 1800 m of altitude. We found significant variation among species in the rate of δC increase with altitude, ranging from 0.91‰ km for A. lasiocarpa to 2.68‰ km for Pinus contorta. Leaf structure and chemistry also varied with altitude: stomatal density decreased, leaf mass per area increased, but leaf nitrogen content (per unit area) was constant. The regressions on altitude were particularly robust in Pinus contorta. Variables were derived to describe the balance between supply and demand; these variables were stomata per gram of nitrogen and stomata per gram of leaf mass. Both derived variables should be positively related to internal CO supply and thus negatively related to δC. As expected, both derived variables were negatively correlated with δC. In fact, the regression on stomatal density per gram was the best fit in the study (r =0.72, P<0.0001); however, the relationships were species specific. The only general relationship observed was between δC and LMA: δC (‰)=-32.972+ 0.0173×LMA (r =0.45, P<0.0001). We conclude that species specificity of the isotopic shift indicates that evergreen conifers demonstrate varying degrees of functional plasticity across environmental gradients, while the observed convergence of δC with LMA suggests that internal resistance may be the key to understanding inter-specific isotopic variation across altitude.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 54%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Altitude trends in conifer leaf morphology and stable carbon isotope composition

2000

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“…These periods were associated with recent freeze events, and in every case, the isotope ratio of respired CO 2 was more enriched than the vpd relationship would predict. This is likely a result of prolonged stomatal closure following cold air temperatures, which has been observed in several conifers in the Rocky Mountains of the United States (Smith et al 1984, and references therein).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

13C content of ecosystem respiration is linked to precipitation and vapor pressure deficit

et al. 2002

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Variation in the carbon isotopic composition of ecosystem respiration (δC) was studied for 3 years along a precipitation gradient in western Oregon, USA, using the Keeling plot approach. Study sites included six coniferous forests, dominated by Picea sitchensis, Tsuga heterophylla, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pinus ponderosa, and Juniperus occidentalis, and ranged in location from the Pacific coast to the eastern side of the Cascade Mountains (a 250-km transect). Mean annual precipitation across these sites ranged from 227 to 2,760 mm. Overall δC varied from -23.1 to -33.1‰, and within a single forest, it varied in magnitude by 3.5-8.5‰. Mean annual δC differed significantly in the forests and was strongly correlated with mean annual precipitation. The carbon isotope ratio of carbon stocks (leaves, fine roots, litter, and soil organic matter) varied similarly with mean precipitation (more positive at the drier sites). There was a strong link between δC and the vapor saturation deficit of air (vpd) 5-10 days earlier, both across and within sites. This relationship is consistent with stomatal regulation of gas exchange and associated changes in photosynthetic carbon isotope discrimination. Recent freeze events caused significant deviation from the δC versus vpd relationship, resulting in higher than expected δC values.

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“…3) Smith et al [50] believed that low temperature results in an inhibition of sapwood water movement, which increases the plant water potential. A coincident partly stomata closure occurs, and c i /c a value decreases, making an increased δ 13 C. 4) Temperature affects the δ 13 C value via atmospheric humidity and vapor pressure deficits (VPD).…”

Section: Control Factors For the δ 13 C Variation Of Plants With Altimentioning

confidence: 98%

Variations in carbon isotope ratios of C3 plants and distribution of C4 plants along an altitudinal transect on the eastern slope of Mount Gongga

Wang

Liu

et al. 2009

Sci. China Ser. D-Earth Sci.

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Variations in carbon isotopic ratios (δ 13 C) of C 3 plants and distribution of C 4 plants were investigatedalong an altitudinal transect on the eastern slope of Mount Gongga, and the environmental effects on them were discussed. It is shown that plants with C 4 photosynthetic pathway mainly occur at altitudes below 2100 m a.s.l., suggesting that the low summer temperature is responsible for the distributional pattern. In addition, δ 13 C of C 3 plants increases with elevation at the region above 2000 m a.s.l. with the characteristics of humid climate, and the increase rate in δ 13 C for C 3 plants is about 1.3‰ per kilometer. Temperature determines the altitudinal trend of δ 13 C.Mount Gongga, carbon isotopic ratios, C 3 /C 4 plants, C 4 distribution, altitude Carbon isotope ratios (δ 13 C) of plants are influenced by environment factors. Therefore, it is helpful to reveal the relationship between δ 13 C of plants and environment factors in predicting the effects of future global change on plants and in studying the paleoclimate and paleoenvironment [1][2][3] . Mountains have been considered as ideal sites for studying how plant is affected by climatic factors because of marked changes in climatic characteristics with increasing altitude [4] . Although many studies have been done in investigating variations of δ 13 C of C 3 plants along altitude [5 -13] , controversies remain. For example, most of the studies showed that δ 13 C of C 3

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Autumn stomatal closure in six conifer species of the Central Rocky Mountains

Cited by 63 publications

References 19 publications

Altitude trends in conifer leaf morphology and stable carbon isotope composition

Altitude trends in conifer leaf morphology and stable carbon isotope composition

13C content of ecosystem respiration is linked to precipitation and vapor pressure deficit

Variations in carbon isotope ratios of C3 plants and distribution of C4 plants along an altitudinal transect on the eastern slope of Mount Gongga

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