Changes in leaf nutrient traits and photosynthesis of four tree species: effects of elevated [CO2], N fertilization and canopy positions

Aims Leaf traits of trees exposed to elevated [CO₂] in association with other environmental factors are poorly understood in tropical and subtropical regions. Our goal was to investigate the impacts of elevated [CO₂] and N fertilization on leaf traits in southern China.Methods Four tree species, Schima superba Gardn. et Champ. (S. superba), Ormosia pinnata (Lour.) Merr (O. pinnata), Castanopsis hystrix AC. DC. (C. hystrix) and Acmena acuminatissima (Blume) Merr. et Perry (A. acuminatissima) were studied in a factorial combination of atmospheric [CO₂] (ambient at ~390 μmol mol ? 1 and elevated [CO₂] at ~700 μmol mol^-1) and N fertilization (ambient and ambient + 100 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1) in open-top chambers in southern China for 5 years. Leaf mass per unit leaf area (LMA), leaf nutrient concentration and photosynthesis (A sat) were measured.Important findings Results indicated that leaf traits and photosynthesis were affected differently by elevated [CO₂] and N fertilization among species. Elevated [CO₂] decreased LMA in all species, while N fertilization did not affect LMA. Leaf mass-based N concentration (N M) was significantly greater in O. pinnata and C. hystrix grown in elevated [CO₂] but was lower in S. superba. Leaf mass-based P concentration (P M) was significantly greater in C. hystrix and A. acuminatissima exposed to elevated [CO₂] but was lower in S. superba. N fertilization significantly increased P M in O. pinnata but decreased P M in S. superba. Photosynthetic stimulation in O. pinnata, C. hystrix and A. acuminatissima was sustained after 5 years of CO₂ fumigation. N fertilization did not modify the effects of elevated [CO₂] on photosynthesis. Leaf traits (N M, N A, P M, P A) and light-saturated photosynthesis were decreased from the upper to lower canopy. Canopy position did not alter the responses of leaf traits and photosynthesis to elevated [CO₂]. Results suggest that photosynthetic stimulation by elevated [CO₂] in native species in subtropical regions may be sustained in the long term.     

CO2浓度升高和氮沉降对南亚热带主要乡土树种及群落生物量的影响

选取荷木、海南红豆、肖蒲桃、红鳞蒲桃和红锥5种南亚热带乡土树种构建混交群落,通过5年人为提高CO₂浓度和氮输入试验,研究碳-氮交互作用对南亚热带主要乡土树种及群落的生物量积累与分配的影响.结果表明：CO₂浓度升高及氮沉降对植物生物量的积累和分配的影响因树种不同而有显著差异.CO₂浓度升高和氮沉降对豆科植物生物量积累相对提高了49.3%和71.0%,且促进了阳生植物生物量的积累;氮沉降能显著提高偏阴生植物生物量积累,但在CO₂浓度升高条件下,其生物量积累低于对照.CO₂浓度升高抑制了阳生植物地下生物量的分配,但促进偏阴生植物地下生物量的分配.CO₂浓度升高、氮沉降以及碳-氮交互作用对南亚热带植物群落生物量积累均具有促进作用;CO₂浓度升高促进群落地下生物量积累,氮沉降显著提高其地上部分生物量分配.在全球变化背景下,南亚热带林业固碳树种适宜选用海南红豆和红锥.     

CO_2浓度升高和氮沉降对南亚热带主要乡土树种及群落生物量的影响

选取荷木、海南红豆、肖蒲桃、红鳞蒲桃和红锥 5 种南亚热带乡土树种构建混交群落,通过 5 年人为提高 CO2 浓度和氮输入试验,研究碳-氮交互作用对南亚热带主要乡土树种及群落的生物量积累与分配的影响. 结果表明: CO2 浓度升高及氮沉降对植物生物量的积累和分配的影响因树种不同而有显著差异. CO2 浓度升高和氮沉降对豆科植物生物量积累相对提高了 49. 3%和 71. 0%,且促进了阳生植物生物量的积累; 氮沉降能显著提高偏阴生植物生物量积累,但在 CO2 浓度升高条件下,其生物量积累低于对照. CO2 浓度升高抑制了阳生植物地下生物量的分配,但促进偏阴生植物地下生物量的分配. CO2 浓度升高、氮沉降以及碳-氮交互作用对南亚热带植物群落生物量积累均具有促进作用; CO2 浓度升高促进群落地下生物量积累,氮沉降显著提高其地上部分生物量分配. 在全球变化背景下,南亚热带林业固碳树种适宜选用海南红豆和红锥.     

CO2浓度升高与氮沉降对南亚热带森林生态系统植物生物量积累及分配格局的影响

 CO₂浓度升高与氮沉降增加对陆地生态系统的耦合作用已成为全球变化的研究热点。应用大型开顶箱(OTC)人工控制手段研究了人工生态系统在1)高CO₂(700±20 μmol·mol^–1)+高氮沉降(100 kg N·hm^–2·a^–1)(CN); 2)高CO₂(700±20 μmol·mol^–1)+背景氮沉降(C＋); 3)高氮沉降(100 kg N· hm^–2·a^–1)＋背景CO₂(N＋); 4)背景CO₂＋背景氮沉降处理(CK) 4种处理条件下荷木 (Schima superba)、红锥(Castanopsis hystrix)、海南红豆(Ormosia pinnata)、肖蒲桃(Acmena acuminatissima)、红鳞蒲桃(Syzygium hancei)等主要南亚热带森林植物的生物量积累模式及其分配格局。连续近3年的实验结果表明: 不同处理条件下, 各参试植物生物量积累具有不同的响应特征, N＋处理显著促进荷木、肖蒲桃及红鳞蒲桃生物量的积累; C＋处理显著促进肖蒲桃、海南红豆生物量的积累; CN处理显著促进除红锥外其他物种生物量的积累, 并且具有两者单独处理的叠加效应。不同处理改变物种生物量的分配模式, N＋处理降低植物的根冠比, 促进地上部分生物量的积累; C＋处理增加红锥和红鳞蒲桃地下部分生物量的分配, 却促进荷木和海南红豆地上部分的积累; CN处理仅促进红磷蒲桃地下部分的积累。群落生物量的积累与分配格局取决于优势物种的生物量及其分配格局在群落中所占的权重。     

The effects of elevated ozone and CO2 on growth and defense of native,exotic and invader trees

Aims Elevated ozone and CO₂ can differentially affect the performance of plant species. Variation among native, exotic and invader species in their growth and defense responses to CO₂ and ozone may shape CO₂ and ozone effects on invasions, perhaps in part also due to variation between native and invasive populations of invaders.Methods We manipulated ozone (control or 100 ppb) and CO₂ (ambient or 800 ppm) in a factorial greenhouse experiment in replicated chambers. We investigated growth and defense (tannins) of seedlings of Triadica sebifera from invasive (USA) and native (China) populations and pairs of US and China tree species within three genera (Celtis, Liquidambar and Platanus).Important findings Overall, ozone reduced growth in ambient CO₂ but elevated CO₂ limited this effect. T. sebifera plants from invasive populations had higher growth than those from native populations in control conditions or the combination of elevated CO₂ and ozone in which invasive populations had greater increases in growth. Their performances were similar in elevated CO₂ because native populations were more responsive and their performances were similar with elevated ozone because invasive populations were more susceptible. Compared to other species, T. sebifera had high growth rates but low levels of tannin production that were insensitive to variation in CO₂ or ozone. Both China and US Platanus plants reduced tannins with increased CO₂ and/or ozone and US Liquidambar plants increased tannins with the combination of elevated CO₂ and ozone. The growth results suggest that intraspecific variation in T. sebifera will reduce the effects of CO₂ or ozone alone on invasions but increase their combined effects. The tannin results suggest that defense responses to CO₂ and ozone will be variable across native and exotic species. The effects of CO₂ and ozone on growth and defense of native and exotic species indicate that the benefit or harm to species from these global change drivers is an idiosyncratic combination of species origin and genus.     

大气CO2浓度升高和N沉降对南亚热带主要乡土树种叶片元素含量的影响

大气CO₂浓度升高和N沉降以及二者之间的耦合作用对陆地森林生态系统的影响是当前国际生态学界关注的热点之一。该实验运用大型开顶箱(open-top chamber, OTC)研究: 1)高CO₂浓度(700 μmol×mol^-1) +高N沉降(100 kg N×hm^-2×a^-1) (CN); 2)高CO₂浓度(700 μmol×mol^-1)和背景N沉降(CC); 3)高N沉降(100 kg N×hm^-2×a^-1)和背景CO₂浓度(NN); 4)背景CO₂和背景N沉降(CK) 4种处理对南亚热带主要乡土树种木荷(Schima superba)、红锥(Castanopsis hystrix)、肖蒲桃(Acmena acuminatissima)、红鳞蒲桃(Syzygium hancei)、海南红豆(Ormosia pinnata)叶片元素含量的影响。研究结果表明, 大气CO₂浓度升高对5种乡土树种叶片元素含量有较大的影响, 除海南红豆叶片的Ca含量外, 其他树种的叶片元素含量在高CO₂浓度处理下都显著升高(p < 0.05); 而在N沉降处理下, 5个树种的叶片K和Ca含量都降低。大气CO₂浓度升高与N沉降处理对5种乡土树种植物叶片元素含量影响的交互作用不是很明显, 仅仅木荷和红鳞蒲桃的叶片Ca和Mn以及海南红豆的叶片Mn含量在大气CO₂浓度上升和N沉降交互处理下显著下降, 而肖蒲桃的叶片P含量在大气CO₂浓度上升和N沉降交互处理下显著上升。     

Comparative response of seedlings of selected native dry tropical and alien invasive species to CO2 enrichment

Aims Global climate change and ongoing plant invasion are the two prominent ecological issues threatening biodiversity world wide. Among invasive species, Lantana camara and Hyptis suaveolens are the two most important invaders in the dry deciduous forest in India. We monitored the growth of these two invasive species and seedlings of four native dry deciduous species (Acacia catechu, Bauhinia variegata, Dalbergia latifolia and Tectona grandis) under ambient (375–395 μ mol mol^-1) and elevated CO₂ (700–750 μ mol mol^-1) to study the differential growth response of invasive and native seedlings.Methods Seedlings of all the species were exposed to ambient and elevated CO₂. After 60 days of exposure, seedlings were harvested and all the growth-related parameters like plant height; biomass of root, stem and leaves; total seedling biomass; R/S ratio; allocation parameters; net assimilation rate (NAR) and relative growth rate (RGR) were determined.Important findings Biomass, RGR and NAR of all the species increased under elevated CO₂ but the increase was higher in invasive species and they formed larger seedlings than natives. Therefore under the CO₂ -enriched future atmosphere, competitive hierarchies could change and may interfere with the species composition of the invaded area.     

高CO2浓度对长白山阔叶红松林主要树种的影响

组成长白山阔叶红松林的主要树种红松、云杉、落叶松、大青杨、白桦、椴树、水曲柳和色木的幼树,盆栽于模拟自然光照和人工调节CO₂浓度为700μl·L^-1、400μl·L^-1的气室内两个生长季,以生长在400μl·L^-1下的幼树为对照组,在各自生长条件下测定,高CO₂浓度下生长的红松、云杉、落叶松、大青杨、白桦、椴树、水曲柳和色木的高生长比对照组的幼树提高10%～40%.高CO₂浓度的幼树与对照CO₂下的幼树相比各树种蒸腾速率升降不一,但水分利用效率均有不同程度的提高,不同树种的可溶性糖和叶绿素含量对高CO₂浓度反应不一,反映出幼树对高CO₂浓度适应的复杂性.长期高CO₂浓度环境下生长的阔叶树对CO₂变化反应较针叶树敏感,供试树种均发生光合驯化现象.     

作物群体CO2通量和水分利用效率的快速测定

In this paper,Eddy Correlation (EC) method was employed to measure the latent heat and CO₂ flux density and to calculate Water Use Efficiency (WUE) of winter wheat community in Yucheng district,Shandong Province in 1997.The results showed that the CO₂ flux density had an obvious diurnal change,with a maximum about1.5 mg·s^-1·m^-2,which appeared at about 9:00～10:00 am in general.The WUE of wheat community presented a fall trend from morning to afternoon,and the CO₂ flux density and WUE also had an obvious seasonal change,being lower in the early and late growth stages,and higher in the middle growth stage.The ranges of daily mean CO₂ flux density and WUE were 0.2～0.9 mg·s^-1·m^-2 and 5～20 gCO₂·kg^-1 H₂O,respectively.     

Effects of elevated carbon dioxide concentration and soil temperature on the growth and biomass responses of mountain maple (Acer spicatum) seedlings to light availability

Aims Some shade-tolerant understory tree species such as mountain maple (Acer spicatum L.) exhibit light-foraging growth habits. Changes in environmental conditions, such as the rise of carbon dioxide concentration ([CO₂]) in the atmosphere and soil warming, may affect the performance of these species under different light environments. We investigated how elevated [CO₂] and soil warming influence the growth and biomass responses of mountain maple seedlings to light availability.Methods The treatments were two levels of light (100% and 30% of the ambient light in the greenhouse), two [CO₂] (392 μmol mol^-1 (ambient) and 784 μmol mol^-1 (elevated)) and two soil temperatures (T soil) (17 and 22°C). After one growing season, we measured seedling height, root collar diameter, leaf biomass, stem biomass and root biomass.Important findings We found that under the ambient [CO₂], the high-light level increased seedlings height by 70% and 56% at the low T soil and high T soil, respectively. Under the elevated [CO₂], however, the high-light level increased seedling height by 52% and 13% at the low T soil and high T soil, respectively. The responses of biomasses to light generally followed the response patterns of height growth under both [CO₂] and T soil and the magnitude of biomass response to light was the lowest under the elevated [CO₂] and warmer T soil. The results suggest that the elevated [CO₂] and warmer T soil under the projected future climate may have negative impact on the colonization of open sites and forest canopy gaps by mountain maple.     

大气CO2浓度上升和氮添加对南亚热带模拟森林生态系统土壤碳稳定性的影响

大气CO₂浓度升高和氮(N)添加对土壤碳库的影响是当前国际生态学界关注的一个热点。为阐述土壤不同形态有机碳的抗干扰能力, 运用大型开顶箱, 研究了4种处理((1)高CO₂浓度(700 µmol·mol^-1)和高氮添加(100 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1) (CN); (2)高CO₂浓度和背景氮添加(CC); (3)高氮添加和背景CO₂浓度(NN); (4)背景CO₂和背景氮添加(CK))对南亚热带模拟森林生态系统土壤有机碳库稳定性的影响。近5年的试验研究表明: (1) CN处理能明显地促进各土层中土壤总有机碳含量的增加, 其中, 下层土壤(5-60 cm土层)中的响应达到统计学水平。(2)活性有机碳库各组分对处理的响应有所差异: 不同土层中微生物生物量碳(MBC)的含量对各处理的响应趋势基本一致, 各土层中的MBC含量均为CN > CC > NN > CK, 其中0-5 cm、5-10 cm、10-20 cm 3个土层的处理间差异都达到了显著水平; 10-20 cm与20-40 cm两个土层中的易氧化有机碳处理间有显著差异; 而对于各土层中水溶性有机碳, 处理间差异均不明显。(3)各团聚体组分中的有机碳含量的响应也有所差异: 20-40 cm与40-60 cm土层中250-2000 μm组分的有机碳含量存在处理间差异; 40-60 cm土层中53-250 μm组分的有机碳对各处理响应敏感, CC处理和NN处理都有利于该组分碳的深层积累, 尤其CN处理下的效果最为明显; 在各处理10-20 cm、20-40 cm及40-60 cm土壤中, < 53 μm组分中的碳含量间差异显著。大气CO₂浓度上升和N添加促进了森林生态系统中土壤有机碳的增加, 尤其有利于深层土壤中微团聚体与粉粒、黏粒团聚体等较稳定组分中有机碳的积累, 增加了土壤有机碳库的稳定性。     

提高CO2浓度对两种亚热带树苗叶片水分状况的影响

鼎湖山季风常绿阔叶林的主要优势乔木树种黧蒴和荷木的幼苗,盆栽于自然光照和人工调节CO₂浓度为500μl·L^-1或空气CO₂(340μl·L^-1)的气罩中3个月.在各自生长条件下测定,高CO₂下生长的黧蒴和荷木叶片平均气孔导度分别降低13%和20%,蒸腾速率下降20%和18%,水分利用效率提高1倍以上,不同CO₂浓度下的植物叶片气孔导度和蒸腾速率日进程曲线也有明显差异.处理后将幼苗置于自然条件下观测其后效应,第7d时处理间的气孔导度和蒸腾速率皆无明显差异     

CO2浓度增加对半干旱区春小麦生产和水分利用效率的影响

为了解CO₂浓度升高条件下春小麦生产和水分利用效率(WUE)的响应特征,在典型半干旱区定西,利用开顶式气室(OTC)试验平台开展了CO₂浓度增加模拟试验.试验设对照(390 μmol·mol^-1)、480 μmol·mol^-1和570 μmol·mol^-1 3个CO₂浓度.结果表明: CO₂浓度升高使春小麦冠层空气温度小幅上升,10 cm深处的土壤环境温度下降;CO₂浓度增加对春小麦各器官生物量和总生物量都有明显促进作用,在480和570 μmol·mol^-1浓度下,地上干物质量平均增长20.6%和41.5%,总干物质量平均增长19.3%和39.6%.生物量增加主要是由茎叶干物质量增加所致,与生育中期物质生产能力明显增强有关;在两种CO₂浓度处理下,植株根冠比分别降低7.3%和11.8%,CO₂浓度增加对春小麦地上部分干物质积累的贡献大于地下部分;CO₂浓度升高主要通过影响穗粒数来影响最终产量,在480和570 μmol·mol^-1浓度下,小麦产量分别增加了8.9%和19.9%;大气CO₂浓度升高对春小麦光合作用影响的长期效应不明显,随CO₂浓度升高,光合速率显著提高,蒸腾速率降低,蒸发蒸腾量减小.随CO₂浓度升高,叶片、群体和产量3个水平的WUE都增加,其中群体水平的WUE增幅最大,产量水平的WUE增幅最小.     

CO2浓度增加对半干旱区春小麦生产和水分利用效率的影响

为了解CO₂浓度升高条件下春小麦生产和水分利用效率(WUE)的响应特征,在典型半干旱区定西,利用开顶式气室(OTC)试验平台开展了CO₂浓度增加模拟试验.试验设对照(390 μmol·mol^-1)、480 μmol·mol^-1和570 μmol·mol^-1 3个CO₂浓度.结果表明: CO₂浓度升高使春小麦冠层空气温度小幅上升,10 cm深处的土壤环境温度下降;CO₂浓度增加对春小麦各器官生物量和总生物量都有明显促进作用,在480和570 μmol·mol^-1浓度下,地上干物质量平均增长20.6%和41.5%,总干物质量平均增长19.3%和39.6%.生物量增加主要是由茎叶干物质量增加所致,与生育中期物质生产能力明显增强有关;在两种CO₂浓度处理下,植株根冠比分别降低7.3%和11.8%,CO₂浓度增加对春小麦地上部分干物质积累的贡献大于地下部分;CO₂浓度升高主要通过影响穗粒数来影响最终产量,在480和570 μmol·mol^-1浓度下,小麦产量分别增加了8.9%和19.9%;大气CO₂浓度升高对春小麦光合作用影响的长期效应不明显,随CO₂浓度升高,光合速率显著提高,蒸腾速率降低,蒸发蒸腾量减小.随CO₂浓度升高,叶片、群体和产量3个水平的WUE都增加,其中群体水平的WUE增幅最大,产量水平的WUE增幅最小.     

阴晴天条件下高CO_2浓度对杂交稻光合作用影响的FACE研究

光和二氧化碳(CO_2)是绿色植物光合作用的两个基本条件.为了明确不同光照条件下,高CO_2浓度对不同杂交水稻光合特性的影响,2017年利用稻田大型FACE平台,以‘Y两优900’和‘甬优538’为供试材料,设置环境CO_2和高CO_2浓度(增200μmol·mol^-1)两个水平,分别在拔节期和灌浆期同时测定阴、晴天气条件下顶部全展叶光合特性参数.结果表明:高CO_2浓度使不同天气情况下两品种叶片的净同化率(P_n)均呈增加趋势,其中晴天条件下的增幅(31%)大于阴天(25%),拔节期的增幅(37%)大于灌浆期(21%),CO_2与天气、CO_2与生育期均存在显著的互作效应.叶片水分利用效率(WUE)对高CO_2浓度的响应趋势与P_n一致.高CO_2浓度环境下叶片气孔导度(g_s)、蒸腾速率(T_r)均呈下降趋势,晴天条件下的降幅略大于阴天.与晴天相比,阴天条件下叶片P_n、g_s、T_r、WUE和L_s平均分别下降41%、18%、41%、26%和27%,差异均达显著或极显著水平.相关分析表明,晴天P_n、g_s、T_r均与阴天时的参数呈极显著正相关关系.表明阴天使水稻生育中、后期叶片光合参数及其对高CO_2浓度的响应均大幅降低,且两品种表现一致.评估未来水稻产量潜力需要考虑天气条件.     

阴晴天条件下高CO2浓度对杂交稻光合作用影响的FACE研究

光和二氧化碳(CO₂)是绿色植物光合作用的两个基本条件.为了明确不同光照条件下,高CO₂浓度对不同杂交水稻光合特性的影响,2017年利用稻田大型FACE平台,以‘Y两优900’和‘甬优538’为供试材料,设置环境CO₂和高CO₂浓度(增200 μmol·mol^-1)两个水平,分别在拔节期和灌浆期同时测定阴、晴天气条件下顶部全展叶光合特性参数.结果表明: 高CO₂浓度使不同天气情况下两品种叶片的净同化率(P_n)均呈增加趋势,其中晴天条件下的增幅(31%)大于阴天(25%),拔节期的增幅(37%)大于灌浆期(21%),CO₂与天气、CO₂与生育期均存在显著的互作效应.叶片水分利用效率(WUE)对高CO₂浓度的响应趋势与P_n一致.高CO₂浓度环境下叶片气孔导度(g_s)、蒸腾速率(T_r)均呈下降趋势,晴天条件下的降幅略大于阴天.与晴天相比,阴天条件下叶片P_n、g_s、T_r、WUE和L_s平均分别下降41%、18%、41%、26%和27%,差异均达显著或极显著水平.相关分析表明,晴天P_n、g_s、T_r均与阴天时的参数呈极显著正相关关系.表明阴天使水稻生育中、后期叶片光合参数及其对高CO₂浓度的响应均大幅降低,且两品种表现一致.评估未来水稻产量潜力需要考虑天气条件.     

CO2浓度增加和水分亏缺对典型绿肥植物光合性能及水分利用效率的影响

探讨大气CO₂浓度和水分变化对3种典型绿肥植物光合性能及水分利用效率的影响,可为未来气候变化情形下草地生态系统适应性管理提供理论支持。本试验利用可精准控制CO₂浓度的人工气候室,设置400(自然大气)和800 μmol·mol^-1(倍增)两个CO₂浓度,80%土壤田间持水量(FC)(充分灌水对照)、55%～60%FC(轻度水分亏缺)、35%～40%FC(中度水分亏缺)、<35%FC(重度水分亏缺)4个水分梯度,研究CO₂浓度增加和水分亏缺对甘蓝型油菜、白三叶和紫花苜蓿叶绿素含量、气体交换参数及水分利用效率(WUE)的影响。结果表明: 同一CO₂浓度下,与充分灌水对照相比,当土壤水分<40%FC时,3种植物的叶绿素含量和气体交换参数均显著降低;土壤水分为55%～60%FC时,3种植物的叶绿素总含量无显著变化,而白三叶和紫花苜蓿的光合速率(P_n)、蒸腾速率(T_r)降低了6%～25%,但WUE无显著性差异。与大气CO₂浓度相比,CO₂浓度倍增使充分灌水处理下甘蓝型油菜的P_n显著降低了21.5%,而显著增加了轻度水分亏缺下3种植物的P_n,且增加了中度水分亏缺下甘蓝型油菜和紫花苜蓿的P_n,但只对重度水分亏缺下紫花苜蓿的P_n有所改善;CO₂浓度倍增显著增加了白三叶和紫花苜蓿在所有水分处理下的WUE,但只增加了甘蓝型油菜在轻度水分亏缺下的WUE。CO₂浓度和水分的交互作用对3种植物的P_n均有显著影响,但仅对甘蓝型油菜的WUE有显著影响。综上,3种植物对大气CO₂浓度倍增和水分亏缺的响应存在明显差异,CO₂浓度升高能改善轻度水分亏缺对3种植物光合性能和WUE的不利影响,但只改善了重度水分亏缺下紫花苜蓿的光合性能。     

Inverse analysis of coupled carbon-nitrogen cycles against multiple datasets at ambient and elevated CO2

Aims Carbon (C) sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems is strongly regulated by nitrogen (N) processes. However, key parameters that determine the degree of N regulation on terrestrial C sequestration have not been well quantified.Methods Here, we used a Bayesian probabilistic inversion approach to estimate 14 target parameters related to ecosystem C and N interactions from 19 datasets obtained from Duke Forests under ambient and elevated carbon dioxide (CO₂).Important findings Our results indicated that 8 of the 14 target parameters, such as C:N ratios in most ecosystem compartments, plant N uptake and external N input, were well constrained by available datasets whereas the others, such as N allocation coefficients, N loss and the initial value of mineral N pool were poorly constrained. Our analysis showed that elevated CO₂ led to the increases in C:N ratios in foliage, fine roots and litter. Moreover, elevated CO₂ stimulated plant N uptake and increased ecosystem N capital in Duke Forests by 25.2 and 8.5%, respectively. In addition, elevated CO₂ resulted in the decrease of C exit rates (i.e. increases in C residence times) in foliage, woody biomass, structural litter and passive soil organic matter, but the increase of C exit rate in fine roots. Our results demonstrated that CO₂ enrichment substantially altered key parameters in determining terrestrial C and N interactions, which have profound implications for model improvement and predictions of future C sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems in response to global change.     

N availability does not modify plant-mediated responses of Trichoplusia ni to elevated CO2

Aims Elevated CO₂ and increased N availability can alter a variety of plant physiological processes leading to changes in the nutritional quality of leaf tissue for herbivores. Numerous experiments have examined the responses of herbivores to environmental change; however the potential effects of simultaneous change in multiple factors on leaf-chewing insect herbivores are less well understood. The plant-mediated effects of elevated CO₂ and high N on the performance of a generalist leaf-chewing insect herbivore, Trichoplusia ni, were investigated.Methods Newly hatched T. ni larvae were introduced to Amaranthus viridis and Polygonum persicaria plants grown under ambient and elevated CO₂ and low and high N conditions. Insect performance was assessed by measuring larvae weight after ten days of feeding. Plant photosynthesis, biomass, leaf area and specific leaf weight were measured to determine the effects of elevated CO₂, N and insect feeding on plant performance.Important findings Elevated CO₂ did not have strong effects on plant or insect performance, only affecting a few responses under low or high N conditions, but not both. Growth under high nitrogen improved almost all measures of plant performance. Trichoplusia ni performed significantly better on Amaranthus viridis (C 4) compared to Polygonum persicaria (C 3), despite similar leaf C:N ratios in both species. The performance of T. ni caterpillars was only improved by the high nitrogen treatment when they were feeding on P. persicaria, the host they performed poorly on. The only interactions between N and CO₂ affecting plant performance were seen for leaf photosynthesis of P. persicaria and leaf area of A. viridis. Contrary to the predictions, there were no significant CO₂ by N interactions affecting T. ni performance.     

Morphological and physiological responses of canola (Brassica napus) siliquas and seeds to UVB and CO2 under controlled environment conditions

Combined effects of UVB radiation and CO₂ concentration on plant reproductive parts have received little attention. We studied morphological and physiological responses of siliquas and seeds of canola (Brassica napus L. cv. 46A65) to UVB and CO₂ under four controlled experimental conditions: UVB radiation (4.2 kJ m⁻² d⁻¹) with ambient level of CO₂ (370 μmol mol⁻¹) (control); UVB radiation (4.2 kJ m⁻² d⁻¹) with elevated level of CO₂ (740 μmol mol⁻¹); no UVB radiation (0 kJ m⁻² d⁻¹) with ambient level of CO₂ (370 μmol mol⁻¹); and no UVB radiation (0 kJ m⁻² d⁻¹) with elevated level of CO₂ (740 μmol mol⁻¹). UVB radiation affected the outer appearance of siliquas, such as colour, as well as their anatomical structures. At both CO₂ levels, the UVB radiation of 4.2 kJ m⁻² d⁻¹ reduced the size of seeds, which had different surface patterns than those from no UVB radiation. At both CO₂ levels, 4.2 kJ m⁻² d⁻¹ of UVB decreased net CO₂ assimilation (A_N) and water use efficiency (WUE), but had no effect on transpiration (E). Elevated CO₂ increased A_N and WUE, but decreased E, under both UVB conditions. At both CO₂ levels, the UVB radiation of 4.2 kJ m⁻² d⁻¹ decreased chlorophyll fluorescence, total chlorophyll (Chl), Chl a and Chl b, but had no effect on the ratio of Chl a/b and the concentration of UV-screening pigments. Elevated CO₂ increased total Chl and the concentration of UV-screening pigments under 4.2 kJ m⁻² d⁻¹ of UVB radiation. Neither UVB nor CO₂ affected wax content of siliqua surface. Many significant relationships were found between the above-mentioned parameters. This study revealed that UVB radiation exerts an adverse effect on canola siliquas and seeds, and some of the detrimental effects of UVB on these reproductive parts can partially be mitigated by CO₂.