Use of the isoprene algorithm for predicting the monoterpene emission from the Mediterranean holm oak Quercus ilex L.: Performance and limits of this approach

Abstract

Abstract. The algorithm developed by Guenther et al. [1991] to describe the organic emission of isoprene-emitting plants has been used for predicting monoterpene emission from Quercus ilex L., an evergreen oak typical of the Mediterranean basin. The dependence of monoterpene emission on photosynthetically active radiation and temperature has been verified through laboratory experiments carried out on single leaves as well as through field measurements at branch level. While the algorithm describes well monoterpene emission under stationary state conditions, it is less accurate when rapid fluctuations of light and temperature take place. Because of this, the isoprene algorithm is capable of predicting the response of Quercus ilex L. with an accuracy better than +25% only in 65% of the environmental situations experienced by the plant. Field and laboratory observations consistently indicate that temperature oscillations can be an important source for the discrepancies between predicted and observed values as they can generate bursts of emission with values twice as high as those predicted by the algorithm. Possible causes generating these effects are analyzed and critically discussed. In spite of the observed limitations, the isoprene algorithm can successfully describe the biogenic emission from Quercus ilex L., and its use is advantageous as it greatly simplifies regional and global emission models, especially if the light dependence of monoterpene emission is proven to be a widespread phenomenon.

From emissions to ambient mixing ratios: online seasonal field measurements of volatile organic compounds over a Norway spruce-dominated forest in central Germany

“…Generally, monoterpene emissions have been found to be light-dependent not only in many European species (Staudt and Seufert, 1995;Kesselmeier et al, 1996Kesselmeier et al, , 1997Ciccioli et al, 1997;Kesselmeier and Staudt, 1999;Dindorf et al, 2006) but also in tropical forests (Rinne et al, 2002;Kuhn et al, 2004;Karl et al, 2004). Our results are similar, indicating light-dependent monoterpene emissions (Table 2).…”

Natural emissions of non-methane volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, and oxides of nitrogen from North America

“…Light dependent monoterpenes have been observed for some North American plants, including Acer saccharinum (Keiser, 1997) as well as some exotics planted in North America (Kesselmeier et al, 1996). The light and temperature dependence of MBO and these monoterpenes are similar to those of isoprene and the use of the same emission activity equations is a reasonable approximation (Kesselmeier et al, 1996;Ciccioli et al, 1997;Harley et al, 1998). Other evidence of similarities between these compounds includes the observation by Loreto et al (1996) that the C labeling pattern of isoprene and light-dependent -pinene emissions is similar, indicating that they share a common carbon source.…”

“…The CHL emission activity algorithm is used for modeling emissions from chloroplasts, including emissions of isoprene (Guenther et al, 1993), MBO (Harley et al, 1998) and some monoterpenes (Kesselmeier et al, 1996;Ciccioli et al, 1997). Guenther et al (1993) assumed that this type of emission activity could be described as the product of two factors: one accounting for temperature ( 2 ) and another accounting for light, or photosynthetic photon #ux density, PPFD ( .…”

History effect of light and temperature on monoterpenoid emissions from Fagus sylvatica L.

“…The hysteretic behaviour has been described for other monoterpene emitting broadleaf tree species as well, e.g. the evergreen Q. ilex (Ciccioli et al, 1997).…”