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Schnabel F, Barry KE, Eckhardt S, Guillemot J, Geilmann H, Kahl A, Moossen H, Bauhus J, Wirth C. Neighbourhood species richness and drought-tolerance traits modulate tree growth and δ 13 C responses to drought. PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2024; 26:330-345. [PMID: 38196270 DOI: 10.1111/plb.13611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Mixed-species forests are promoted as a forest management strategy for climate change adaptation, but whether they are more resistant to drought than monospecific forests remains contested. In particular, the trait-based mechanisms driving the role of tree diversity under drought remain elusive. Using tree cores from a large-scale biodiversity experiment, we investigated tree growth and physiological stress responses (i.e. increase in wood carbon isotopic ratio; δ13 C) to changes in climate-induced water availability (wet to dry years) along gradients in neighbourhood tree species richness and drought-tolerance traits. We hypothesized that neighbourhood species richness increases growth and decreases δ13 C and that these relationships are modulated by the abiotic (i.e. climatic conditions) and the biotic context. We characterised the biotic context using drought-tolerance traits of focal trees and their neighbours. These traits are related to cavitation resistance versus resource acquisition and stomatal control. Tree growth increased with neighbourhood species richness. However, we did not observe a universal relief of water stress in species-rich neighbourhoods. The effects of neighbourhood species richness and climate on growth and δ13 C were modulated by the traits of focal trees and the traits of their neighbours. At either end of each drought-tolerance gradient, species responded in opposing directions during dry and wet years. We show that species' drought-tolerance traits can explain the strength and nature of biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships in experimental tree communities experiencing drought. Mixing tree species can increase growth but may not universally relieve drought stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Schnabel
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
- Chair of Silviculture, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - K E Barry
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
- Ecology and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Institute of Environmental Biology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - S Eckhardt
- Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - J Guillemot
- CIRAD, UMR Eco&Sols, Piracicaba, Brazil
- Eco&Sols, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, IRD, Campus SupAgro, Montpellier, France
- Department of Forest Sciences, ESALQ, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - H Geilmann
- Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena, Germany
| | - A Kahl
- Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - H Moossen
- Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena, Germany
| | - J Bauhus
- Chair of Silviculture, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - C Wirth
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena, Germany
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2
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Xu G, Liu X, Hu J, Dorado-Liñán I, Gagen M, Szejner P, Chen T, Trouet V. Intra-annual tree-ring δ18O and δ13C reveal a trade-off between isotopic source and humidity in moist environments. TREE PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 42:2203-2223. [PMID: 35796563 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpac076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Tree-ring intra-annual stable isotopes (δ13C and δ18O) are powerful tools for revealing plant ecophysiological responses to climatic extremes. We analyzed interannual and fine-scale intra-annual variability of tree-ring δ13C and δ18O in Chinese red pine (Pinus massoniana) from southeastern China to explore environmental drivers and potential trade-offs between the main physiological controls. We show that wet season relative humidity (May-October RH) drove interannual variability of δ18O and intra-annual variability of tree-ring δ18O. It also drove intra-annual variability of tree-ring δ13C, whereas interannual variability was mainly controlled by February-May temperature and September-October RH. Furthermore, intra-annual tree-ring δ18O variability was larger during wet years compared with dry years, whereas δ13C variability was lower during wet years compared with dry years. As a result of these differences in intra-annual variability amplitude, process-based models (we used the Roden model for δ18O and the Farquhar model for δ13C) captured the intra-annual δ18O pattern better in wet years compared with dry years, whereas intra-annual δ13C pattern was better simulated in dry years compared with wet years. This result suggests a potential asymmetric bias in process-based models in capturing the interplay of the different mechanistic processes (i.e., isotopic source and leaf-level enrichment) operating in dry versus wet years. We therefore propose an intra-annual conceptual model considering a dynamic trade-off between the isotopic source and leaf-level enrichment in different tree-ring parts to understand how climate and ecophysiological processes drive intra-annual tree-ring stable isotopic variability under humid climate conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guobao Xu
- National Field Science Observation and Research Station of Yulong Mountain Cryosphere and Sustainable Development, State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
- Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721, USA
- Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China
| | - Xiaohong Liu
- National Field Science Observation and Research Station of Yulong Mountain Cryosphere and Sustainable Development, State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
- School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China
| | - Jia Hu
- Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721, USA
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721, USA
| | - Isabel Dorado-Liñán
- Dpto. de Sistemas y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mary Gagen
- Department of Geography, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA28PP, UK
| | - Paul Szejner
- Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721, USA
- Instituto de Geología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City 04510, México
| | - Tuo Chen
- National Field Science Observation and Research Station of Yulong Mountain Cryosphere and Sustainable Development, State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Valerie Trouet
- Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721, USA
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721, USA
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Forest Management under Climate Change: A Decision Analysis of Thinning Interventions for Water Services and Biomass in a Norway Spruce Stand in South Germany. LAND 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/land11030446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is producing threats to forests’ capacity of regulating water regimes. Therefore, thinning strategies can be applied to mitigate climate change impacts more efficiently by providing more spaces for trees to utilize resources e.g., water and nutrients. This study examined the effects of different thinning intensities and intervals on water characteristics and biomass growth of a 75-year-old Norway spruce (Picea abies) stand in the Black Forest, Germany. Here we used a water and management sensitive update of the process-based forest growth model 3PG, 3PG-Hydro. We applied light (10%), moderate (30%), and heavy thinning (50% intensity) in the interval of 10, 25, and 50 years of the management period. We simulated growth with climate change scenario RCP 8.5 data from 1995 to 2065. We analyzed the effects of the different thinning regimens on biomass, evapotranspiration as well as water yield. Thinning intensity and interval as well as their interaction have significant influence on production of stand biomass and water yield for all thinning regimes applied (p < 0.05). However, there is no significant difference (p > 0.05) in accumulated biomass (thinned biomass added to the stand biomass) between the applied thinning regimes. Light thinning in a long interval (50 years) produced highest stand biomass among the applied thinning regimes. Furthermore, the prediction showed that accumulated water yield increased with increasing thinning intensity. Our study concludes that repeated moderate thinning at intermediate intervals results in a high water yield without losing biomass production.
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Marchand W, Girardin MP, Hartmann H, Lévesque M, Gauthier S, Bergeron Y. Contrasting life-history traits of black spruce and jack pine influence their physiological response to drought and growth recovery in northeastern boreal Canada. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 794:148514. [PMID: 34218146 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
An increase in frequency, intensity and duration of drought events affects forested ecosystems. Trees react to these changes by adjusting stomatal conductance to maximize the trade-off between carbon gains and water losses. A better understanding of the consequences of these drought-induced physiological adjustments for tree growth could help inferring future productivity potentials of boreal forests. Here, we used samples from a forest inventory network in Canada where a decline in growth rates of black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) and jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) occurred in 1988-1992, an exceptionally dry period, to verify if this growth decline resulted from physiological adjustments of trees to drought. We measured carbon and oxygen isotope ratios in growth rings of 95 spruces and 49 pines spanning 1985-1993. We used 13C discrimination (Δ13C) and 18O enrichment (Δ18O) as proxies for intrinsic water use efficiency and stomatal conductance, respectively. We studied how inter-annual variability in isotopic signals was linked to climate moisture index, vapor pressure deficit and annual snowfall amount. We found significantly lower Δ13C values over 1988-1990, and significantly higher Δ18O values in 1988-1989 and 1991 compared to the 1985-1993 averages. We also observed that a low climatic water balance and a high vapor pressure deficit were linked with low Δ13C and high Δ18O in the two study species, in parallel with low growth rates. The latter effect persisted into the year following drought for black spruce, but not for jack pine. These findings highlight that small differences in physiological parameters between species could translate into large differences in post-drought recovery. The stronger and longer lasting impact on black spruce compared to jack pine suggests a less efficient carbon use and a lower acclimation potential to future warmer and drier climate conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Marchand
- Centre d'étude de la forêt, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888, succ. Centre-ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada; Department of Forest Ecology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, Praha 6 - Suchdol 165 00, Czech Republic; Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Laurentian Forestry Centre, 1055 du P.E.P.S, P.O. Box 10380, Stn. Sainte-Foy, Québec, QC G1V 4C7, Canada.
| | - Martin P Girardin
- Centre d'étude de la forêt, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888, succ. Centre-ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada; Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Laurentian Forestry Centre, 1055 du P.E.P.S, P.O. Box 10380, Stn. Sainte-Foy, Québec, QC G1V 4C7, Canada
| | - Henrik Hartmann
- Max-Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Department of Biogeochemical Processes, Hans-Knöll Str. 10, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Mathieu Lévesque
- Forest Management/Silviculture Group, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sylvie Gauthier
- Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Laurentian Forestry Centre, 1055 du P.E.P.S, P.O. Box 10380, Stn. Sainte-Foy, Québec, QC G1V 4C7, Canada; Centre d'étude de la forêt, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888, succ. Centre-ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Yves Bergeron
- Centre d'étude de la forêt, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888, succ. Centre-ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada; Institut de recherche sur les forêts, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, 445 boul. de l'Université, Rouyn-Noranda, QC J9X 5E4, Canada
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Marchand W, Girardin MP, Hartmann H, Depardieu C, Isabel N, Gauthier S, Boucher É, Bergeron Y. Strong overestimation of water-use efficiency responses to rising CO 2 in tree-ring studies. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2020; 26:4538-4558. [PMID: 32421921 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The carbon isotope ratio (δ13 C) in tree rings is commonly used to derive estimates of the assimilation-to-stomatal conductance rate of trees, that is, intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE). Recent studies have observed increased iWUE in response to rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations (Ca ), in many different species, genera and biomes. However, increasing rates of iWUE vary widely from one study to another, likely because numerous covarying factors are involved. Here, we quantified changes in iWUE of two widely distributed boreal conifers using tree samples from a forest inventory network that were collected across a wide range of growing conditions (assessed using the site index, SI), developmental stages and stand histories. Using tree-ring isotopes analysis, we assessed the magnitude of increase in iWUE after accounting for the effects of tree size, stand age, nitrogen deposition, climate and SI. We also estimated how growth conditions have modulated tree physiological responses to rising Ca . We found that increases in tree size and stand age greatly influenced iWUE. The effect of Ca on iWUE was strongly reduced after accounting for these two variables. iWUE increased in response to Ca , mostly in trees growing on fertile stands, whereas iWUE remained almost unchanged on poor sites. Our results suggest that past studies could have overestimated the CO2 effect on iWUE, potentially leading to biased inferences about the future net carbon balance of the boreal forest. We also observed that this CO2 effect is weakening, which could affect the future capacity of trees to resist and recover from drought episodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Marchand
- Centre d'étude de la forêt, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Institut de recherche sur les forêts, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Rouyn Noranda, QC, Canada
- Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Laurentian Forestry Centre, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Martin P Girardin
- Centre d'étude de la forêt, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Institut de recherche sur les forêts, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Rouyn Noranda, QC, Canada
- Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Laurentian Forestry Centre, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Henrik Hartmann
- Department of Biogeochemical Processes, Max-Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena, Germany
| | - Claire Depardieu
- Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Laurentian Forestry Centre, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Chaire de recherche du Canada en génomique forestière, Université Laval, Sainte-Foy, QC, Canada
| | - Nathalie Isabel
- Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Laurentian Forestry Centre, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Chaire de recherche du Canada en génomique forestière, Université Laval, Sainte-Foy, QC, Canada
| | - Sylvie Gauthier
- Centre d'étude de la forêt, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Laurentian Forestry Centre, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Étienne Boucher
- GEOTOP, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Geography, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Centre d'Études Nordiques, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Yves Bergeron
- Centre d'étude de la forêt, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Institut de recherche sur les forêts, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Rouyn Noranda, QC, Canada
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Kohler M, Kunz J, Herrmann J, Hartmann P, Jansone L, Puhlmann H, von Wilpert K, Bauhus J. The Potential of Liming to Improve Drought Tolerance of Norway Spruce [ Picea abies (L.) Karst.]. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:382. [PMID: 30984227 PMCID: PMC6450258 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2018] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
In response to a wide-spread decline in forest vitality associated with acid rain in the 1980s, liming of soils has been implemented in many federal states in Germany to buffer further acid deposition and improve availability of nutrients such as calcium and magnesium. As a consequence, it may also increase vitality and depth of fine-root systems and hence improve the drought tolerance of species such as Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.], which occurs mostly on acidic forest soils. However, the influence of repeated liming on drought tolerance of trees has never been studied. Here we compared the resistance, recovery and resilience of radial growth in P. abies in relation to drought in limed and control stands and assessed how the dosage and interval between lime application and drought year influences the radial growth response of P. abies. We analyzed radial growth in 198 P. abies trees of six experimental sites in south-west Germany. An analysis of the radial increment over the last 30 years allowed the analysis of drought events shortly after the first liming (short-term effect) as well as posterior drought events (mid- to long-term effects). Generalized linear models were developed to assess the influence of drought intensity, site and period since first liming on the drought tolerance of Norway spruce. Regardless of drought intensity, there was no general increase in drought resistance of Norway spruce in response to liming. However, drought resistance of radial growth improved on a loamy site that was additionally treated with wood ash 30 years after the first lime application. Furthermore, recovery and resilience of radial growth after severe drought events were generally better in spruce trees of limed treatments. This indicates a shorter stress period in spruce trees growing on limed soil, which may reduce their susceptibility to secondary, drought-related pests and pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Kohler
- Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Institute of Forest Sciences, Chair of Silviculture, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jörg Kunz
- Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Institute of Forest Sciences, Chair of Silviculture, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Johannes Herrmann
- Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Institute of Forest Sciences, Chair of Silviculture, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Peter Hartmann
- Department of Soils and Environment, The Forest Research Institute Baden-Wuerttemberg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Lelde Jansone
- Department of Soils and Environment, The Forest Research Institute Baden-Wuerttemberg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Heike Puhlmann
- Department of Soils and Environment, The Forest Research Institute Baden-Wuerttemberg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Klaus von Wilpert
- Department of Soils and Environment, The Forest Research Institute Baden-Wuerttemberg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jürgen Bauhus
- Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Institute of Forest Sciences, Chair of Silviculture, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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Sohn JA, Hartig F, Kohler M, Huss J, Bauhus J. Heavy and frequent thinning promotes drought adaptation in Pinus sylvestris forests. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2016; 26:2190-2205. [PMID: 27755729 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2015] [Revised: 03/03/2016] [Accepted: 03/21/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Droughts and their negative effects on forest ecosystems are projected to increase under climate change for many regions. It has been suggested that intensive thinning could reduce drought impacts on established forests in the short-term. Most previous studies on the effect of thinning on drought impacts, however, have been confined to single forest sites. It is therefore still unclear how general and persisting the benefits of thinning are. This study assesses the potential of thinning to increase drought tolerance of the wide spread Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) in Central Europe. We hypothesized (1) that increasing thinning intensity benefits the maintenance of radial growth of crop trees during drought (resistance) and its recovery following drought, (2) that those benefits to growth decrease with time elapsed since the last thinning and with stand age, and (3) that they may depend on drought severity as well as water limitations in pre- and post-drought periods. To test these hypotheses, we assessed the effects of thinning regime, stand age, and drought severity on radial growth of 129 Scots pine trees during and after drought events in four long-term thinning experiments in Germany. We found that thinning improved the recovery of radial growth following drought and to a lesser extent the growth resistance during a drought event. Growth recovery following drought was highest after the first thinning intervention and in recently and heavily thinned stands. With time since the last thinning, however, this effect decreased and could even become negative when compared to unthinned stands. Further, thinning helped to avoid an age-related decline in growth resistance (and recovery) following drought. The recovery following drought, but not the resistance during drought, was related to water limitations in the drought period. This is the first study that analyzed drought-related radial growth in trees of one species across several stands of different age. The interaction between thinning intensity and time since the last thinning underline the importance to distinguish between short- and long-term effects of thinning. According to our analysis, only thinning regimes, with relatively heavy and frequent thinning interventions would increase drought tolerance in pine stands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia A Sohn
- Department of Silviculture, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacherstr. 4, Freiburg, D-79085, Germany.
| | - Florian Hartig
- Department of Biometry, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacherstr. 4 Freiburg, D-79085, Germany
| | - Martin Kohler
- Department of Silviculture, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacherstr. 4, Freiburg, D-79085, Germany
| | - Jürgen Huss
- Department of Silviculture, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacherstr. 4, Freiburg, D-79085, Germany
| | - Jürgen Bauhus
- Department of Silviculture, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacherstr. 4, Freiburg, D-79085, Germany
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Isaac-Renton M, Schneider L, Treydte K. Contamination risk of stable isotope samples during milling. RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY : RCM 2016; 30:1513-1522. [PMID: 27321839 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.7585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2016] [Revised: 04/09/2016] [Accepted: 04/09/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Isotope analysis of wood is an important tool in dendrochronology and ecophysiology. Prior to mass spectrometry analysis, wood must be homogenized, and a convenient method involves a ball mill capable of milling samples directly in sample tubes. However, sample-tube plastic can contaminate wood during milling, which could lead to biological misinterpretations. METHODS We tested possible contamination of whole wood and cellulose samples during ball-mill homogenization for carbon and oxygen isotope measurements. We used a multi-factorial design with two/three steel milling balls, two sample amounts (10 mg, 40 mg), and two milling times (5 min, 10 min). We further analyzed abrasion by milling empty tubes, and measured the isotope ratios of pure contaminants. RESULTS A strong risk exists for carbon isotope bias through plastic contamination: the δ(13) C value of polypropylene deviated from the control by -6.77‰. Small fibers from PTFE filter bags used during cellulose extraction also present a risk as the δ(13) C value of this plastic deviated by -5.02‰. Low sample amounts (10 mg) showed highest contamination due to increased abrasion during milling (-1.34‰), which is further concentrated by cellulose extraction (-3.38‰). Oxygen isotope measurements were unaffected. CONCLUSIONS A ball mill can be used to homogenize samples within test tubes prior to oxygen isotope analysis, but not prior to carbon or radiocarbon isotope analysis. There is still a need for a fast, simple and contamination-free sample preparation procedure. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Isaac-Renton
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, 751 General Services Building, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2H1, Canada
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - L Schneider
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - K Treydte
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
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Knoke T, Hahn A. Global Change and the Role of Forests in Future Land-Use Systems. DEVELOPMENTS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-08-098349-3.00026-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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