Small-Scale Forest Structure Influences Spatial Variability of Belowground Carbon Fluxes in a Mature Mediterranean Beech Forest

D’Andrea, Ettore; Guidolotti, Gabriele; Scartazza, Andrea; Angelis, Paolo De; Matteucci, Giorgio

doi:10.3390/f11030255

Cited by 10 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 60 publications

(71 reference statements)

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“…In the near future, the Mediterranean region is predicted to be the most vulnerable of the European regions to global change (Schröter et al, 2005). Changes in temperature and precipitation regimes may increase drought risk, which can negatively affect physiological performance (Rezaie et al, 2018), carbon allocation (D'Andrea, Guidolotti, Scartazza, De Angelis, & Matteucci, 2020), as well as the growth and competition strength (Peuke, Schraml, Hartung, & Rennenberg, 2002) of common beech, one of the most important and widespread broadleaved trees in Europe. Increasing spring temperatures can trigger earlier leaf unfolding (Allevato et al, 2019;Gordo & Sanz, 2010), which in turn results in a higher risk that young leaves are exposed to late spring frost (Augspurger, 2013), especially in Europe (Zohner et al, 2020) and at higher elevations (Vitasse, Schneider, Rixen, Christen, & Rebetez, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Frost and drought: Effects of extreme weather events on stem carbon dynamics in a Mediterranean beech forest

D’Andrea

Rezaie

Prislan

et al. 2020

Plant Cell & Environment

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The effects of short‐term extreme events on tree functioning and physiology are still rather elusive. European beech is one of the most sensitive species to late frost and water shortage. We investigated the intra‐annual C dynamics in stems under such conditions. Wood formation and stem CO2 efflux were monitored in a Mediterranean beech forest for 3 years (2015–2017), including a late frost (2016) and a summer drought (2017). The late frost reduced radial growth and, consequently, the amount of carbon fixed in the stem biomass by 80%. Stem carbon dioxide efflux in 2016 was reduced by 25%, which can be attributed to the reduction of effluxes due to growth respiration. Counter to our expectations, we found no effects of the 2017 summer drought on radial growth and stem carbon efflux. The studied extreme weather events had various effects on tree growth. Even though late spring frost had a strong impact on beech radial growth in the current year, trees fully recovered in the following growing season, indicating high resilience of beech to this stressful event.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Frost and drought: Effects of extreme weather events on stem carbon dynamics in a Mediterranean beech forest

D’Andrea

Rezaie

Prislan

et al. 2020

Plant Cell & Environment

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“…Afterwards, δ 13 C of these organs did not show any further significant seasonal changes, mainly because most of their structural C is fixed in spring‐early summer and any subsequent change in photosynthetic isotopic signal is diluted in the bulk biomass (Brugnoli & Farquhar, 2000; Scartazza et al, 2004). However, the lack of a significant 13 C enrichment during summer could also indicate the absence of severe drought, as suggested by the SWC values, which never fell below the severe drought threshold for this forest (D'Andrea, Guidolotti, et al, 2020; Guidolotti et al, 2013). Conversely, NCR were isotopically similar to leaves only in May, suggesting that these organs relied on the same C source during the onset of the vegetative season.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…Concomitant with the increase of ERT percentage and relative biomass, the ERT density decreased possibly due to the rapid growth of fine roots during mid‐summer (Montagnoli et al, 2012; Montagnoli et al, 2014). Between August and the end of September, the reduction in percentage, biomass and density of ERT was likely related to the onset of the senescence phase, characterized by a rapid decline of ecosystem C uptake and modifications in C allocation priorities (D'Andrea et al, 2019, 2021; Scartazza et al, 2013). Interestingly, changes in ERT biomass observed during the sampling period were strictly related to NEE and mimicked those detected in growth rates of tree stem, highlighting a synchronous development of these organs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Above‐ and belowground interplay: Canopy CO₂ uptake, carbon and nitrogen allocation and isotope fractionation along the plant‐ectomycorrhiza continuum

Scartazza

Sbrana

D’Andrea

et al. 2022

Plant Cell & Environment

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In forests, mycorrhizal fungi regulate carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics. We evaluated the interplay among ectomycorrhizas (ECM), ecosystem C fluxes, tree productivity, C and N exchange and isotopic fractionation along the soil‐ECM‐plant continuum in a Mediterranean beech forest. From bud break to leaf shedding, we monitored: net ecosystem exchange (NEE, a measure of the net exchange of C between an ecosystem and the atmosphere), leaf area index, stem growth, N concentration, δ13C and δ15N in rhizosphere soil, ectomycorrhizal fine root tips (ERT), ECM‐free fine root portions (NCR) and leaves. Seasonal changes in ERT relative biomass were strictly related to NEE and mimicked those detected in the radial growth. The analysis of δ13C in ERT, leaves and NCR highlighted the impact of canopy photosynthesis on ERT development and an asynchronous seasonal C allocation strategy between ERT and NCR at the root tips level. Concerning N, δ15N of leaves was negatively related to that of ERT and dependent on seasonal 15N differences between ERT and NCR. Our results unravel a synchronous C allocation towards ERT and tree stem driven by the increasing NEE in spring‐early summer. Moreover, they highlighted a phenology‐dependent 15N fractionation during N transfer from ECM to their hosts. This evidence, obtained in mature beech trees under natural conditions, may improve the knowledge of Mediterranean forests functionality.

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“…Stand structure parameters such as stem density, LAI, and fine root biomass influence CO 2 efflux at the spatial scale. These are parameters that might, in turn, affect SOC content and soil chemical properties such as the C/N ratio of the organic layer, as well as soil temperature and SWC and thus the soil CO 2 production (Søe and Buchmann, 2005;Conant et al, 2011;Jurasinski et al, 2012;Ngao et al, 2012;D'Andrea et al, 2020).…”

Section: Horizontal Variability Of Soil Co 2 Production and Effluxmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamics of Soil CO2 Efflux and Vertical CO2 Production in a European Beech and a Scots Pine Forest

Jochheim¹,

Wirth²,

Gartiser³

et al. 2022

Front. For. Glob. Change

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The conversion of coniferous forest to deciduous forest is accompanied by changes in the vertical distribution of fine roots and soil organic carbon (SOC) content. It is unclear how these changes affect soil CO2 efflux and vertical soil CO2 production, considering changing climate. Here, we present the results of a 6-year study on CO2 efflux, covering relatively warm-dry and cool-wet years. A combination of the flux-gradient method and closed chamber measurements was used to study the CO2 efflux and the vertical distribution of soil CO2 production in a beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and a pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forest in northeast Germany. We observed, on average, similar CO2 efflux with 517 (±126) and 559 (±78) g C m–2 a–1 for the beech site and the pine site, respectively. CO2 efflux at the beech site exceeded that at the pine site during the wet year 2017, whereas in dry years, the opposite was the case. Water availability as indicated by precipitation was the primary determining long-term factor of CO2 efflux, whereas seasonal variation was mainly affected by soil temperature, and—in the case of beech—additionally by soil water content. CO2 efflux decreased more dramatically (-43%) at the beech site than at the pine site (-22%) during the warm-dry year 2018 compared to the cool-wet year 2017. We assumed that drought reduces heterotrophic respiration (Rh) at both sites, but additionally decreases autotrophic respiration (Ra) at the beech stand. Soil CO2 production at the beech site ranged over a greater soil depth than at the pine site, attributed to different fine root distribution. The organic layer and the A horizon contributed 47 and 68% of total CO2 efflux at the beech site and the pine site, respectively. The seasonal patterns of different CO2 efflux between both sites were assumed to relate to different phases of tree physiological activity of deciduous compared to evergreen tree species.

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Small-Scale Forest Structure Influences Spatial Variability of Belowground Carbon Fluxes in a Mature Mediterranean Beech Forest

Cited by 10 publications

References 60 publications

Frost and drought: Effects of extreme weather events on stem carbon dynamics in a Mediterranean beech forest

Frost and drought: Effects of extreme weather events on stem carbon dynamics in a Mediterranean beech forest

Above‐ and belowground interplay: Canopy CO₂ uptake, carbon and nitrogen allocation and isotope fractionation along the plant‐ectomycorrhiza continuum

Dynamics of Soil CO2 Efflux and Vertical CO2 Production in a European Beech and a Scots Pine Forest

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Small-Scale Forest Structure Influences Spatial Variability of Belowground Carbon Fluxes in a Mature Mediterranean Beech Forest

Cited by 10 publications

References 60 publications

Frost and drought: Effects of extreme weather events on stem carbon dynamics in a Mediterranean beech forest

Frost and drought: Effects of extreme weather events on stem carbon dynamics in a Mediterranean beech forest

Above‐ and belowground interplay: Canopy CO2 uptake, carbon and nitrogen allocation and isotope fractionation along the plant‐ectomycorrhiza continuum

Dynamics of Soil CO2 Efflux and Vertical CO2 Production in a European Beech and a Scots Pine Forest

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Above‐ and belowground interplay: Canopy CO₂ uptake, carbon and nitrogen allocation and isotope fractionation along the plant‐ectomycorrhiza continuum