Carbon cycling in temperate grassland under elevated temperature

An increase in mean soil surface temperature has been observed over the last century, and it is predicted to further increase in the future. The effect of increased temperature on ecosystem carbon fluxes in a permanent temperate grassland was studied in a long‐term (6 years) field experiment, using multiple temperature increments induced by IR lamps. Ecosystem respiration (R‐eco) and net ecosystem exchange (NEE) were measured and modeled by a modified Lloyd and Taylor model including a soil moisture component for R‐eco (average R² of 0.78) and inclusion of a photosynthetic component based on temperature and radiation for NEE (R² = 0.65). Modeled NEE values ranged between 2.3 and 5.3 kg CO₂ m^?2 year^?1, depending on treatment. An increase of 2 or 3°C led to increased carbon losses, lowering the carbon storage potential by around 4 tonnes of C ha^?1 year^?1. The majority of significant NEE differences were found during night‐time compared to daytime. This suggests that during daytime the increased respiration could be offset by an increase in photosynthetic uptake. This was also supported by differences in δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O, indicating prolonged increased photosynthetic activity associated with the higher temperature treatments. However, this increase in photosynthesis was insufficient to counteract the 24 h increase in respiration, explaining the higher CO₂ emissions due to elevated temperature.     

Modelled net carbon gain responses to climate change in boreal trees: Impacts of photosynthetic parameter selection and acclimation

Boreal forests are crucial in regulating global vegetation‐atmosphere feedbacks, but the impact of climate change on boreal tree carbon fluxes is still unclear. Given the sensitivity of global vegetation models to photosynthetic and respiration parameters, we determined how predictions of net carbon gain (C‐gain) respond to variation in these parameters using a stand‐level model (MAESTRA). We also modelled how thermal acclimation of photosynthetic and respiratory temperature sensitivity alters predicted net C‐gain responses to climate change. We modelled net C‐gain of seven common boreal tree species under eight climate scenarios across a latitudinal gradient to capture a range of seasonal temperature conditions. Physiological parameter values were taken from the literature together with different approaches for thermally acclimating photosynthesis and respiration. At high latitudes, net C‐gain was stimulated up to 400% by elevated temperatures and CO₂ in the autumn but suppressed at the lowest latitudes during midsummer under climate scenarios that included warming. Modelled net C‐gain was more sensitive to photosynthetic capacity parameters (V_cmax, J_max, Arrhenius temperature response parameters, and the ratio of J_max to V_cmax) than stomatal conductance or respiration parameters. The effect of photosynthetic thermal acclimation depended on the temperatures where it was applied: acclimation reduced net C‐gain by 10%–15% within the temperature range where the equations were derived but decreased net C‐gain by 175% at temperatures outside this range. Thermal acclimation of respiration had small, but positive, impacts on net C‐gain. We show that model simulations are highly sensitive to variation in photosynthetic parameters and highlight the need to better understand the mechanisms and drivers underlying this variability (e.g., whether variability is environmentally and/or biologically driven) for further model improvement.     

Interactive direct and plant‐mediated effects of elevated atmospheric [CO2] and temperature on a eucalypt‐feeding insect herbivore

Understanding the direct and indirect effects of elevated [CO₂] and temperature on insect herbivores and how these factors interact are essential to predict ecosystem‐level responses to climate change scenarios. In three concurrent glasshouse experiments, we measured both the individual and interactive effects of elevated [CO₂] and temperature on foliar quality. We also assessed the interactions between their direct and plant‐mediated effects on the development of an insect herbivore of eucalypts. Eucalyptus tereticornis saplings were grown at ambient or elevated [CO₂] (400 and 650 μmol mol^?1 respectively) and ambient or elevated ( + 4 °C) temperature for 10 months. Doratifera quadriguttata (Lepidoptera: Limacodidae) larvae were feeding directly on these trees, on their excised leaves in a separate glasshouse, or on excised field‐grown leaves within the temperature and [CO₂] controlled glasshouse. To allow insect gender to be determined and to ensure that any sex‐specific developmental differences could be distinguished from treatment effects, insect development time and consumption were measured from egg hatch to pupation. No direct [CO₂] effects on insects were observed. Elevated temperature accelerated larval development, but did not affect leaf consumption. Elevated [CO₂] and temperature independently reduced foliar quality, slowing larval development and increasing consumption. Simultaneously increasing both [CO₂] and temperature reduced these shifts in foliar quality, and negative effects on larval performance were subsequently ameliorated. Negative nutritional effects of elevated [CO₂] and temperature were also independently outweighed by the direct positive effect of elevated temperature on larvae. Rising [CO₂] and temperature are thus predicted to have interactive effects on foliar quality that affect eucalypt‐feeding insects. However, the ecological consequences of these interactions will depend on the magnitude of concurrent temperature rise and its direct effects on insect physiology and feeding behaviour.     

Comparative assessment of ecosystem C exchange in Miscanthus and reed canary grass during early establishment

Land‐use change to bioenergy crop production can contribute towards addressing the dual challenges of greenhouse gas mitigation and energy security. Realisation of the mitigation potential of bioenergy crops is, however, dependent on suitable crop selection and full assessment of the carbon (C) emissions associated with land conversion. Using eddy covariance‐based estimates, ecosystem C exchange was studied during the early‐establishment phase of two perennial crops, C₃ reed canary grass (RCG) and C₄ Miscanthus, planted on former grassland in Ireland. Crop development was the main determinant of net carbon exchange in the Miscanthus crop, restricting significant net C uptake during the first 2 years of establishment. The Miscanthus ecosystem switched from being a net C source in the conversion year to a strong net C sink (?411 ± 63 g C m^?2) in the third year, driven by significant above‐ground growth and leaf expansion. For RCG, early establishment and rapid canopy development facilitated a net C sink in the first 2 years of growth (?319 ± 57 (post‐planting) and ?397 ± 114 g C m^?2, respectively). Peak seasonal C uptake occurred three months earlier in RCG (May) than Miscanthus (August), however Miscanthus sustained net C uptake longer into the autumn and was close to C‐neutral in winter. Leaf longevity is therefore a key advantage of C₄ Miscanthus in temperate climates. Further increases in productivity are projected as Miscanthus reaches maturity and are likely to further enhance the C sink potential of Miscanthus relative to RCG.     

Elevated CO2 affects photosynthetic responses in canopy pine and subcanopy deciduous trees over 10 years: a synthesis from Duke FACE

Leaf responses to elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentration (C_a) are central to models of forest CO₂ exchange with the atmosphere and constrain the magnitude of the future carbon sink. Estimating the magnitude of primary productivity enhancement of forests in elevated C_a requires an understanding of how photosynthesis is regulated by diffusional and biochemical components and up‐scaled to entire canopies. To test the sensitivity of leaf photosynthesis and stomatal conductance to elevated C_a in time and space, we compiled a comprehensive dataset measured over 10 years for a temperate pine forest of Pinus taeda, but also including deciduous species, primarily Liquidambar styraciflua. We combined over one thousand controlled‐response curves of photosynthesis as a function of environmental drivers (light, air C_a and temperature) measured at canopy heights up to 20 m over 11 years (1996–2006) to generate parameterizations for leaf‐scale models for the Duke free‐air CO₂ enrichment (FACE) experiment. The enhancement of leaf net photosynthesis (A_net) in P. taeda by elevated C_a of +200 μmol mol^?1 was 67% for current‐year needles in the upper crown in summer conditions over 10 years. Photosynthetic enhancement of P. taeda at the leaf‐scale increased by two‐fold from the driest to wettest growing seasons. Current‐year pine foliage A_net was sensitive to temporal variation, whereas previous‐year foliage A_net was less responsive and overall showed less enhancement (+30%). Photosynthetic downregulation in overwintering upper canopy pine needles was small at average leaf N (N_area), but statistically significant. In contrast, co‐dominant and subcanopy L. styraciflua trees showed A_net enhancement of 62% and no A_net–N_area adjustments. Various understory deciduous tree species showed an average A_net enhancement of 42%. Differences in photosynthetic responses between overwintering pine needles and subcanopy deciduous leaves suggest that increased C_a has the potential to enhance the mixed‐species composition of planted pine stands and, by extension, naturally regenerating pine‐dominated stands.     

Temperature response of photosynthetic light‐ and carbon‐use characteristics in the red seaweed Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis (Gracilariales,Rhodophyta)

The red seaweed Gracilariopsis is an important crop extensively cultivated in China for high‐quality raw agar. In the cultivation site at Nanao Island, Shantou, China, G. lemaneiformis experiences high variability in environmental conditions like seawater temperature. In this study, G. lemaneiformis was cultured at 12, 19, or 26°C for 3 weeks, to examine its photosynthetic acclimation to changing temperature. Growth rates were highest in G. lemaneiformis thalli grown at 19°C, and were reduced with either decreased or increased temperature. The irradiance‐saturated rate of photosynthesis (P_max) decreased with decreasing temperature, but increased significantly with prolonged cultivation at lower temperatures, indicating the potential for photosynthesis acclimation to lower temperature. Moreover, P_max increased with increasing temperature (~30 μmol O₂ · g^?1FW · h^?1 at 12°C to 70 μmol O₂ · g^?1FW · h^?1 at 26°C). The irradiance compensation point for photosynthesis (I_c) decreased significantly with increasing temperature (28 μmol photons · m^?2 · s^?1 at high temperature vs. 38 μmol photons · m^?2 · s^?1 at low temperature). Both the photosynthetic light‐ and carbon‐use efficiencies increased with increasing growth or temperatures (from 12°C to 26°C). The results suggested that the thermal acclimation of photosynthetic performance of G. lemaneiformis would have important ecophysiological implications in sea cultivation for improving photosynthesis at low temperature and maintaining high standing biomass during summer. Ongoing climate change (increasing atmospheric CO₂ and global warming) may enhance biomass production in G. lemaneiformis mariculture through the improved photosynthetic performances in response to increasing temperature.     

Fluctuating water levels control water chemistry and metabolism of a charophyte‐dominated pond

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The effect of photosynthetically active radiation and temperature on the photosynthesis of two Vietnamese species of Sargassum,S. mcclurei and S. oligocystum,based on the field and laboratory measurements

SUMMARY The effects of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and temperature on the photosynthesis of two Vietnamese brown algae, Sargassum mcclurei and S. oligocystum (Fucales), were determined by field and laboratory measurements. Dissolved oxygen sensors and pulse‐amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorometry were used for the measurements of photosynthetic efficiency. A Diving‐PAM revealed that underwater measurements of the effective quantum yield (Φ _PSII ) of both species declined with increasing incident PAR, with minimum Φ _PSII occurring during noon to early afternoon. Φ _PSII recovered in the evening, indicating photo‐adaptation to excessive PAR. In laboratory experiments, Φ _PSII also decreased under continuous exposure to 1000 μmol photons m^?2 s^?1; and full recovery occurred after 12 h of dark acclimatization. The net photosynthesis – PAR experiments of S. mcclurei and S. oligocystum conducted at 28°C revealed that the net photosynthetic rate quickly increased at PAR below the saturation irradiance of 361 and 301 μmol photons m^?2 s^?1 and nearly saturated to maximum net photosynthetic rates of 385 and 292 μg O₂ g_ww ^{? 1} min^?1 without photoinhibition, respectively. Gross photosynthesis and dark respiration experiments determined over a range of temperatures (12–40°C), revealed that the maximum gross photosynthetic rates of 201 and 147 μg O₂ g_ww ^{? 1} min^?1 occurred at 32.9 and 30.7°C for S. mcclurei and S. oligocystum, respectively. The dark respiration rates increased exponentially over the temperature ranges examined. The estimated maximum value of the maximum quantum yield occurred at 19.3 and 20.0°C and was 0.76 and 0.74, respectively. Similar to the natural habitat of the study site, these two species tolerated the relatively high temperatures and broad range of PAR. The ability of these species to recover from exposure to high PAR is one of the mechanisms that allow them to flourish in the shallow water environment.     

Invasive submerged freshwater macrophytes are more plastic in their response to light intensity than to the availability of free CO2 in air‐equilibrated water

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Light and temperature effects on photosynthetic activity of E ucheuma denticulatum and K appaphycus alvarezii (brown and green color morphotypes) from Sulawesi Utara,Indonesia

Knowledge concerning the effects of several abiotic factors on the physiology of carrageenophytes is essential both in ecological and economic standpoints, to ensure their sufficient supply for the sustainability of seaweed‐based industries. This paper presents the photosynthetic characteristics of farmed carrageenophytes, E ucheuma denticulatum and K appaphycus alvarezii [brown (BRN) and green (GRN) color morphotypes] from Sulawesi Utara (Sulawesi Island), Indonesia, as determined by examining their photosynthetic response across different temperatures and irradiances using dissolved oxygen measurements and pulse‐amplitude modulated fluorometer. Net photosynthesis–irradiance ( P – E ) curves at 26°C revealed that net photosynthetic rates of the three seaweeds gradually increased until the estimated saturation irradiances ( E _k ) of 58 μmol photons m^{? 2} s^?1 (49–68 μmol photons m^{? 2} s^?1, 95% Bayesian prediction intervals; BPI) for E . denticulatum, and 158 and 143 μmol photons m^{? 2} s^?1 (134–185 and 99–203 μmol photons m^{? 2} s^?1, 95% BPI) for BRN and GRN K . alvarezii, respectively; and that no photoinhibition was observed at the highest irradiance of 1000 μmol photons m^{? 2} s^?1. All seaweed samples exhibited photosynthetic tolerance to high PAR as shown by their recovery in maximum quantum yields (F_v / F_m ) following chronic exposures; as well as tolerance over a broad range of temperature, which is from 19 to 33°C for E . denticulatum, 20–29°C for BRN K . alvarezii, and 17–32°C for GRN K . alvarezii. Temperature responses of these carrageenophytes indicated that they were well‐adapted to the annual seawater temperatures in the cultivation site; however, they are also likely close to threshold levels for thermal inhibition, given the decline in F_v / F_m above 30°C.     

Leaf δ18O of remaining trees is affected by thinning intensity in a semiarid pine forest

Silvicultural thinning usually improves the water status of remaining trees in water‐limited forests. We evaluated the usefulness of a dual stable isotope approach (δ¹³C, δ¹⁸O) for comparing the physiological performance of remaining trees between forest stands subjected to two different thinning intensities (moderate versus heavy) in a 60‐year‐old Pinus halepensis Mill. plantation in semiarid southeastern Spain. We measured bulk leaf δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O, foliar elemental concentrations, stem water content, stem water δ¹⁸O (δ¹⁸O_{stem water}), tree ring widths and leaf gas exchange rates to assess the influence of forest stand density on tree performance. Remaining trees in low‐density stands (heavily thinned) showed lower leaf δ¹⁸O, and higher stomatal conductance (g_s), photosynthetic rate and radial growth than those in moderate‐density stands (moderately thinned). By contrast, leaf δ¹³C, intrinsic water‐use efficiency, foliar elemental concentrations and δ¹⁸O_{stem water} were unaffected by stand density. Lower foliar δ¹⁸O in heavily thinned stands reflected higher g_s of remaining trees due to decreased inter‐tree competition for water, whereas higher photosynthetic rate was largely attributable to reduced stomatal limitation to CO₂ uptake. The dual isotope approach provided insight into the early (12 months) effects of stand density manipulation on the physiological performance of remaining trees.     

Effects of UVB Radiation on competition between the bloom‐forming cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa and the Chlorophyceae Chlamydomonas microsphaera1

The growth, photosynthetic characteristics, and competitive ability of three algal strains were investigated under different doses of ultraviolet‐B (UVB) radiation (0, 0.285, and 0.372 W · m^?2). The organisms were the toxic bloom‐forming cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa FACHB 912, nontoxic M. aeruginosa FACHB 469, and the green microalga Chlamydomonas microsphaera FACHB 52. In monocultures, the growth of all three strains was inhibited by UVB. In mixed cultures, enhanced UVB radiation resulted in decreased percentages of the two M. aeruginosa strains (19%–22% decrease on d 12 of the competition experiment). UVB radiation resulted in increased contents of chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoids (CAR) in C. microsphaera, and decreased contents of allophycocyanin (APC) or phycocyanin in the two Microcystis strains. All three strains showed increased levels of UVabsorbing compounds and intracellular reactive oxygen species under 0.372 W · m^?2 UVB radiation, and decreased light compensation points, dark respiratory rates, and maximal quantum efficiency of PSII. After a 20 h recovery, the photosynthetic oxygen evolution of C. microsphaera was restored to its maximum value, but that of Microcystis strains continued to decrease. Nonphotochemical quenching was increased by UVB radiation in C. microsphaera, but was unaffected in the two M. aeruginosa strains. Our results indicated that C. microsphaera has a competitive advantage relative to Microcystis during exposure to UVB irradiation.     

Does the Diagnostic Accuracy of the 13C‐Urea Breath Test Vary with Age Even After the Application of Urea Hydrolysis Rate?

Background: Endogenous CO₂ production may be a possible explanation for higher false‐positive results reported for ¹³C‐urea breath test (UBT) in children below 6 years. In this study, we evaluated whether age affects the diagnostic accuracy of the ¹³C‐UBT even after the application of urea hydrolysis rate (UHR) in children. Methods: A total of 612 ¹³C‐UBTs and endoscopic biopsies were performed on children divided into two groups; children under 6 years (n = 126) and children aged 6–18 years (n = 486). For ¹³C‐UBT, 75 mg ¹³C‐urea was ingested, and breath sample was collected 30 minutes later. Delta over baseline (DOB) was determined, and UHR was calculated to normalize the DOB values for endogenous CO₂ production. Results: There was significant difference between the DOB values of children under 6 years and those of children over 6 years in H. pylori‐positive (p = .029) and ‐negative groups (p = .002). On applying the UHR, no significant difference was observed between the UHR values of children under 6 years and those of children over 6 years in H. pylori‐positive (p = .877) and ‐negative groups (p = .427). In 12.6% children under 6 years, false‐positive results were observed on applying the DOB, and in 9.0% on applying the UHR (p = .125). Conclusions: The ¹³C‐UBT is a noninvasive method exhibiting high diagnostic accuracy with both UHR as well as DOB. However, high false‐positive results for ¹³C‐UBT were noted in children below 6 years on applying both UHR as well as DOB. Thus, this may not only be due to the effects of endogenous CO₂ production but also due to other factors.     

The greenhouse gas balance of European grasslands

The greenhouse gas (GHG) balance of European grasslands (EU‐28 plus Norway and Switzerland), including CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O, is estimated using the new process‐based biogeochemical model ORCHIDEE‐GM over the period 1961–2010. The model includes the following: (1) a mechanistic representation of the spatial distribution of management practice; (2) management intensity, going from intensively to extensively managed; (3) gridded simulation of the carbon balance at ecosystem and farm scale; and (4) gridded simulation of N₂O and CH₄ emissions by fertilized grassland soils and livestock. The external drivers of the model are changing animal numbers, nitrogen fertilization and deposition, land‐use change, and variable CO₂ and climate. The carbon balance of European grassland (NBP) is estimated to be a net sink of 15 ± 7 g C m^?2 year^?1 during 1961–2010, equivalent to a 50‐year continental cumulative soil carbon sequestration of 1.0 ± 0.4 Pg C. At the farm scale, which includes both ecosystem CO₂ fluxes and CO₂ emissions from the digestion of harvested forage, the net C balance is roughly halved, down to a small sink, or nearly neutral flux of 8 g C m^?2 year^?1. Adding CH₄ and N₂O emissions to net ecosystem exchange to define the ecosystem‐scale GHG balance, we found that grasslands remain a net GHG sink of 19 ± 10 g C‐CO₂ equiv. m^?2 year^?1, because the CO₂ sink offsets N₂O and grazing animal CH₄ emissions. However, when considering the farm scale, the GHG balance (NGB) becomes a net GHG source of ?50 g C‐CO₂ equiv. m^?2 year^?1. ORCHIDEE‐GM simulated an increase in European grassland NBP during the last five decades. This enhanced NBP reflects the combination of a positive trend of net primary production due to CO₂, climate and nitrogen fertilization and the diminishing requirement for grass forage due to the Europe‐wide reduction in livestock numbers.     

Photosynthetic characteristics of two Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii strains differing in their toxicity

We studied the growth and photosynthetic characteristics of a toxic (CS506) and a nontoxic strain (CS509) of the bloom‐forming cyanobacterium Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii grown under identical experimental conditions. When exposed to light‐saturating growth conditions (100 μmol photons · m^?2 · s^?1), values for maximal photosynthetic capacity (P_max) and maximum quantum yield (F_v/F_m) indicated that both strains had an equal ability to process captured photons and deliver them to PSII reaction centers. However, CS506 grew faster than CS509. This was consistent with its higher light requirement for saturation of photosynthesis (I_k). Greater shade tolerance of CS509 was indicated by its higher ability to harvest light (α), lower photosynthetic light compensation point (I_c), and higher chlorophyll a to biovolume ratio. Strain‐specific differences were found in relation to non‐photochemical quenching, effective absorption cross‐sectional area of PSIIα‐centers (σPSIIα), and the antenna connectivity parameter of PSIIα (J_conPSIIα). These findings highlighted differences in the transfer of excitation from phycobilisome/PSII to PSI, on the dependence on different pigments for light harvesting and on the functioning of the PSII reaction centers between the two strains. The results of this study showed that both performance and composition of the photosynthetic apparatus are different between these strains, though with only two strains examined we cannot attribute the performance of strain 506 to its ability to produce cylindrospermopsins. The emphasis on a strain‐specific light adaptation/acclimation is crucial to our understanding of how different light conditions (both quantity and quality) can trigger the occurrence of different C. raciborskii strains and control their competition and/or dominance in natural ecosystems.     

Nitrogen Utilization and Toxin Production by Two Diatoms of the Pseudo‐nitzschia pseudodelicatissima Complex: P. cuspidata and P. fryxelliana

The toxigenic diatom Pseudo‐nitzschia cuspidata, isolated from the U.S. Pacific Northwest, was examined in unialgal batch cultures to evaluate domoic acid (DA) toxicity and growth as a function of light, N substrate, and growth phase. Experiments conducted at saturating (120 μmol photons · m^?2 · s^?1) and subsaturating (40 μmol photons · m^?2 · s^?1) photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), demonstrate that P. cuspidata grows significantly faster at the higher PPFD on all three N substrates tested [nitrate (NO₃^?), ammonium (NH₄⁺), and urea], but neither cellular toxicity nor exponential growth rates were strongly associated with one N source over the other at high PPFD. However, at the lower PPFD, the exponential growth rates were approximately halved, and the cells were significantly more toxic regardless of N substrate. Urea supported significantly faster growth rates, and cellular toxicity varied as a function of N substrate with NO₃^?‐supported cells being significantly more toxic than both NH₄⁺‐ and urea‐supported cells at the low PPFD. Kinetic uptake parameters were determined for another member of the P. pseudodelicatissima complex, P. fryxelliana. After growth of these cells on NO₃^? they exhibited maximum specific uptake rates (V_max) of 22.7, 29.9, 8.98 × 10^?3 · h^?1, half‐saturation constants (K_s) of 1.34, 2.14, 0.28 μg‐at N · L^?1, and affinity values (α) of 17.0, 14.7, 32.5 × 10^?3 · h^?1/(μg‐at N · L^?1) for NO₃^?, NH₄⁺ and urea, respectively. These labo‐ratory results demonstrate the capability of P. cuspidata to grow and produce DA on both oxidized and reduced N substrates during both exponential and stationary growth phases, and the uptake kinetic results for the pseudo‐cryptic species, P. fryxelliana suggest that reduced N sources from coastal runoff could be important for maintenance of these small pennate diatoms in U.S. west coast blooms, especially during times of low ambient N concentrations.     

Estimation of vegetation photosynthetic capacity from space‐based measurements of chlorophyll fluorescence for terrestrial biosphere models

Photosynthesis simulations by terrestrial biosphere models are usually based on the Farquhar's model, in which the maximum rate of carboxylation (V_cmax) is a key control parameter of photosynthetic capacity. Even though V_cmax is known to vary substantially in space and time in response to environmental controls, it is typically parameterized in models with tabulated values associated to plant functional types. Remote sensing can be used to produce a spatially continuous and temporally resolved view on photosynthetic efficiency, but traditional vegetation observations based on spectral reflectance lack a direct link to plant photochemical processes. Alternatively, recent space‐borne measurements of sun‐induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) can offer an observational constraint on photosynthesis simulations. Here, we show that top‐of‐canopy SIF measurements from space are sensitive to V_cmax at the ecosystem level, and present an approach to invert V_cmax from SIF data. We use the Soil‐Canopy Observation of Photosynthesis and Energy (SCOPE) balance model to derive empirical relationships between seasonal V_cmax and SIF which are used to solve the inverse problem. We evaluate our V_cmax estimation method at six agricultural flux tower sites in the midwestern US using spaced‐based SIF retrievals. Our V_cmax estimates agree well with literature values for corn and soybean plants (average values of 37 and 101 μmol m^?2 s^?1, respectively) and show plausible seasonal patterns. The effect of the updated seasonally varying V_cmax parameterization on simulated gross primary productivity (GPP) is tested by comparing to simulations with fixed V_cmax values. Validation against flux tower observations demonstrate that simulations of GPP and light use efficiency improve significantly when our time‐resolved V_cmax estimates from SIF are used, with R² for GPP comparisons increasing from 0.85 to 0.93, and for light use efficiency from 0.44 to 0.83. Our results support the use of space‐based SIF data as a proxy for photosynthetic capacity and suggest the potential for global, time‐resolved estimates of V_cmax.     

Tree mineral nutrition is deteriorating in Europe

The response of forest ecosystems to increased atmospheric CO₂ is constrained by nutrient availability. It is thus crucial to account for nutrient limitation when studying the forest response to climate change. The objectives of this study were to describe the nutritional status of the main European tree species, to identify growth‐limiting nutrients and to assess changes in tree nutrition during the past two decades. We analysed the foliar nutrition data collected during 1992–2009 on the intensive forest monitoring plots of the ICP Forests programme. Of the 22 significant temporal trends that were observed in foliar nutrient concentrations, 20 were decreasing and two were increasing. Some of these trends were alarming, among which the foliar P concentration in F. sylvatica, Q. Petraea and P. sylvestris that significantly deteriorated during 1992–2009. In Q. Petraea and P. sylvestris, the decrease in foliar P concentration was more pronounced on plots with low foliar P status, meaning that trees with latent P deficiency could become deficient in the near future. Increased tree productivity, possibly resulting from high N deposition and from the global increase in atmospheric CO₂, has led to higher nutrient demand by trees. As the soil nutrient supply was not always sufficient to meet the demands of faster growing trees, this could partly explain the deterioration of tree mineral nutrition. The results suggest that when evaluating forest carbon storage capacity and when planning to reduce CO₂ emissions by increasing use of wood biomass for bioenergy, it is crucial that nutrient limitations for forest growth are considered.     

The physiological response of marine diatoms to ocean acidification: differential roles of seawater pCO2 and pH

Although increasing the pCO₂ for diatoms will presumably down‐regulate the CO₂‐concentrating mechanism (CCM) to save energy for growth, different species have been reported to respond differently to ocean acidification (OA). To better understand their growth responses to OA, we acclimated the diatoms Thalassiosira pseudonana, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, and Chaetoceros muelleri to ambient (pCO₂ 400 μatm, pH 8.1), carbonated (pCO₂ 800 μatm, pH 8.1), acidified (pCO₂ 400 μatm, pH 7.8), and OA (pCO₂ 800 μatm, pH 7.8) conditions and investigated how seawater pCO₂ and pH affect their CCMs, photosynthesis, and respiration both individually and jointly. In all three diatoms, carbonation down‐regulated the CCMs, while acidification increased both the photosynthetic carbon fixation rate and the fraction of CO₂ as the inorganic carbon source. The positive OA effect on photosynthetic carbon fixation was more pronounced in C. muelleri, which had a relatively lower photosynthetic affinity for CO₂, than in either T. pseudonana or P. tricornutum. In response to OA, T. pseudonana increased respiration for active disposal of H⁺ to maintain its intracellular pH, whereas P. tricornutum and C. muelleri retained their respiration rate but lowered the intracellular pH to maintain the cross‐membrane electrochemical gradient for H⁺ efflux. As the net result of changes in photosynthesis and respiration, growth enhancement to OA of the three diatoms followed the order of C. muelleri > P. tricornutum > T. pseudonana. This study demonstrates that elucidating the separate and joint impacts of increased pCO₂ and decreased pH aids the mechanistic understanding of OA effects on diatoms in the future, acidified oceans.     

Hydraulic limitation not declining nitrogen availability causes the age‐related photosynthetic decline in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.)

Declining net primary production (NPP) with forest age is often attributed to a corresponding decline in gross primary production (GPP). We tested two hypotheses explaining the decline of GPP in ageing stands (14–115 years old) of Pinus taeda L.: (1) increasing N limitation limits photosynthetic capacity and thus decreases GPP with increasing age; and (2) hydraulic limitations increasingly induce stomatal closure, reducing GPP with increasing age. We tested these hypotheses using measurements of foliar nitrogen, photosynthesis, sap‐flow and dendroclimatological techniques. Hypothesis (1) was not supported; foliar N retranslocation did not increase and declines were not observed in foliar N, leaf area per tree or photosynthetic capacity. Hypothesis (2) was supported; declines were observed in light‐saturated photosynthesis, leaf‐ and canopy‐level stomatal conductance, concentration of CO₂ inside leaf air‐spaces (corroborated by an increase in wood δ¹³C) and specific leaf area (SLA), while stomatal limitation and the ratio of sapwood area (SA) to leaf area increased. The sensitivity of radial growth to inter‐annual variation in temperature and drought decreased with age, suggesting that tree water use becomes increasingly conservative with age. We conclude that hydraulic limitation increasingly limits the photosynthetic rates of ageing loblolly pine trees, possibly explaining the observed reduction of NPP.