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Schützenmeister K, Meurer KHE, Gronwald M, Hartmann ABD, Gansert D, Jungkunst HF. N 2O emissions from plants are reduced under photosynthetic activity. PLANT-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONS (HOBOKEN, N.J.) 2020; 1:48-56. [PMID: 37284131 PMCID: PMC10168041 DOI: 10.1002/pei3.10015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
New plant functions in the exchange of greenhouse gases between ecosystems and atmosphere have recently been discovered. We tested whether photosynthetic activity has an effect on N2O emission rates from incubated plant-soil systems.Two laboratory experiments were performed. One to unravel possible effect of photosynthetic activity on the net N2O ecosystem exchange for two species (beech and ash saplings). The other to account for possible effects from rhizosphere and aboveground plant parts separately (ash sapling only).Total N2O emissions from both plant and plant-soil systems were significantly lower under light than in darkness (31%-65%). The photosynthetic effect only applied to the aboveground plant parts.Underlying processes have now to be unraveled to improve our understanding of ecosystem functioning. This will improve modeling and budgeting of greenhouse gas exchanges between ecosystems and the atmosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klaus Schützenmeister
- iES LandauInstitute for Environmental SciencesUniversity Koblenz‐LandauLandauGermany
| | - Katharina H. E. Meurer
- iES LandauInstitute for Environmental SciencesUniversity Koblenz‐LandauLandauGermany
- Department of Soil & EnvironmentSwedish University of Agricultural Sciences‐SLUUppsalaSweden
| | | | | | - Dirk Gansert
- Plant Ecology and Ecosystem ResearchGeorg‐August University GöttingenGöttingenGermany
| | - Hermann F. Jungkunst
- iES LandauInstitute for Environmental SciencesUniversity Koblenz‐LandauLandauGermany
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Machacova K, Vainio E, Urban O, Pihlatie M. Seasonal dynamics of stem N 2O exchange follow the physiological activity of boreal trees. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4989. [PMID: 31676776 PMCID: PMC6825224 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12976-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of trees in the nitrous oxide (N2O) balance of boreal forests has been neglected despite evidence suggesting their substantial contribution. We measured seasonal changes in N2O fluxes from soil and stems of boreal trees in Finland, showing clear seasonality in stem N2O flux following tree physiological activity, particularly processes of CO2 uptake and release. Stem N2O emissions peak during the vegetation season, decrease rapidly in October, and remain low but significant to the annual totals during winter dormancy. Trees growing on dry soils even turn to consumption of N2O from the atmosphere during dormancy, thereby reducing their overall N2O emissions. At an annual scale, pine, spruce and birch are net N2O sources, with spruce being the strongest emitter. Boreal trees thus markedly contribute to the seasonal dynamics of ecosystem N2O exchange, and their species-specific contribution should be included into forest emission inventories. Forest soil is known to be a source of the greenhouse gas N2O, but the impact of what is planted in that soil has long been overlooked. Here Machacova and colleagues quantify seasonal N2O fluxes from common boreal tree species in Finland, finding that all trees are net sources of this gas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katerina Machacova
- Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Belidla 4a, CZ-60300, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Elisa Vainio
- Environmental Soil Science, Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O.Box 56, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland.,Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O.Box 27, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Otmar Urban
- Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Belidla 4a, CZ-60300, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Mari Pihlatie
- Environmental Soil Science, Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O.Box 56, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland.,Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O.Box 27, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland.,Viikki Plant Science Centre (ViPS), University of Helsinki, P.O.Box 56, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
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Machacova K, Maier M, Svobodova K, Lang F, Urban O. Cryptogamic stem covers may contribute to nitrous oxide consumption by mature beech trees. Sci Rep 2017; 7:13243. [PMID: 29038453 PMCID: PMC5643534 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-13781-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2017] [Accepted: 09/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Naturally produced by microbial processes in soil, nitrous oxide (N2O) is an important greenhouse gas contributing to climate change. Accordingly, there is a need to accurately quantify the capability of forest ecosystems to exchange N2O with the atmosphere. While N2O emissions from soils have been well studied, trees have so far been overlooked in N2O inventories. Here, we show that stems of mature beech trees (Fagus sylvatica) may act as a substantial sink of N2O from the atmosphere under conditions of soils consuming N2O. Consistent consumption of N2O by all stems investigated (ranging between −2.4 and −3.8 µg m−2 h−1) is a novel finding in contrast to current studies presenting trees as N2O emitters. To understand these fluxes, N2O exchange of photoautotrophic organisms associated with beech bark (lichens, mosses and algae) was quantified under laboratory conditions. All these organisms were net N2O sinks at full rehydration and temperature of 25 °C. The consumption rates were comparable to stem consumption rates measured under field conditions. Cryptogamic stem covers could be a relevant sink of N2O in European beech forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katerina Machacova
- Global Change Research Institute CAS, Belidla 986/4a, 603 00, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Martin Maier
- Chair of Soil Ecology, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Bertoldstrasse 17, 79098, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Katerina Svobodova
- Global Change Research Institute CAS, Belidla 986/4a, 603 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Friederike Lang
- Chair of Soil Ecology, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Bertoldstrasse 17, 79098, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Otmar Urban
- Global Change Research Institute CAS, Belidla 986/4a, 603 00, Brno, Czech Republic
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Limmer M, Burken J. Phytovolatilization of Organic Contaminants. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2016; 50:6632-43. [PMID: 27249664 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b04113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Plants can interact with a variety of organic compounds, and thereby affect the fate and transport of many environmental contaminants. Volatile organic compounds may be volatilized from stems or leaves (direct phytovolatilization) or from soil due to plant root activities (indirect phytovolatilization). Fluxes of contaminants volatilizing from plants are important across scales ranging from local contaminant spills to global fluxes of methane emanating from ecosystems biochemically reducing organic carbon. In this article past studies are reviewed to clearly differentiate between direct- and indirect-phytovolatilization and we discuss the plant physiology driving phytovolatilization in different ecosystems. Current measurement techniques are also described, including common difficulties in experimental design. We also discuss reports of phytovolatilization in the literature, finding that compounds with low octanol-air partitioning coefficients are more likely to be phytovolatilized (log KOA < 5). Reports of direct phytovolatilization at field sites compare favorably to model predictions. Finally, future research needs are presented that could better quantify phytovolatilization fluxes at field scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matt Limmer
- University of Delaware , Department of Plant & Soil Sciences, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
| | - Joel Burken
- Missouri University of Science and Technology , Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, Rolla, Missouri 65409, United States
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Machacova K, Bäck J, Vanhatalo A, Halmeenmäki E, Kolari P, Mammarella I, Pumpanen J, Acosta M, Urban O, Pihlatie M. Pinus sylvestris as a missing source of nitrous oxide and methane in boreal forest. Sci Rep 2016; 6:23410. [PMID: 26997421 PMCID: PMC4800674 DOI: 10.1038/srep23410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2015] [Accepted: 03/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Boreal forests comprise 73% of the world's coniferous forests. Based on forest floor measurements, they have been considered a significant natural sink of methane (CH4) and a natural source of nitrous oxide (N2O), both of which are important greenhouse gases. However, the role of trees, especially conifers, in ecosystem N2O and CH4 exchange is only poorly understood. We show for the first time that mature Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) trees consistently emit N2O and CH4 from both stems and shoots. The shoot fluxes of N2O and CH4 exceeded the stem flux rates by 16 and 41 times, respectively. Moreover, higher stem N2O and CH4 fluxes were observed from wet than from dry areas of the forest. The N2O release from boreal pine forests may thus be underestimated and the uptake of CH4 may be overestimated when ecosystem flux calculations are based solely on forest floor measurements. The contribution of pine trees to the N2O and CH4 exchange of the boreal pine forest seems to increase considerably under high soil water content, thus highlighting the urgent need to include tree-emissions in greenhouse gas emission inventories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katerina Machacova
- Global Change Research Institute CAS, Bělidla 4a, CZ-603 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jaana Bäck
- Department of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, FI-00014, Finland
| | - Anni Vanhatalo
- Department of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, FI-00014, Finland
| | - Elisa Halmeenmäki
- Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 48, FI-00014, Finland
| | - Pasi Kolari
- Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 48, FI-00014, Finland
| | - Ivan Mammarella
- Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 48, FI-00014, Finland
| | - Jukka Pumpanen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Manuel Acosta
- Global Change Research Institute CAS, Bělidla 4a, CZ-603 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Otmar Urban
- Global Change Research Institute CAS, Bělidla 4a, CZ-603 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Mari Pihlatie
- Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 48, FI-00014, Finland.,Department of Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, FI-00014, Finland
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Pangala SR, Gowing DJ, Hornibrook ERC, Gauci V. Controls on methane emissions from Alnus glutinosa saplings. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2014; 201:887-896. [PMID: 24219654 DOI: 10.1111/nph.12561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2013] [Accepted: 09/20/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies have confirmed significant tree-mediated methane emissions in wetlands; however, conditions and processes controlling such emissions are unclear. Here we identify factors that control the emission of methane from Alnus glutinosa. Methane fluxes from the soil surface, tree stem surfaces, leaf surfaces and whole mesocosms, pore water methane concentrations and physiological factors (assimilation rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration) were measured from 4-yr old A. glutinosa trees grown under two artificially controlled water-table positions. Up to 64% of methane emitted from the high water-table mesocosms was transported to the atmosphere through A. glutinosa. Stem emissions from 2 to 22 cm above the soil surface accounted for up to 42% of total tree-mediated methane emissions. Methane emissions were not detected from leaves and no relationship existed between leaf surface area and rates of tree-mediated methane emissions. Tree stem methane flux strength was controlled by the amount of methane dissolved in pore water and the density of stem lenticels. Our data show that stem surfaces dominate methane egress from A. glutinosa, suggesting that leaf area index is not a suitable approach for scaling tree-mediated methane emissions from all types of forested wetland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunitha R Pangala
- Centre for Earth, Planetary, Space and Astronomical Research (CEPSAR), Department of Environment, Earth and Ecosystems, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK
| | - David J Gowing
- Centre for Earth, Planetary, Space and Astronomical Research (CEPSAR), Department of Environment, Earth and Ecosystems, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK
| | - Edward R C Hornibrook
- School of Earth Sciences, Bristol Biogeochemistry Research Centre & Cabot Institute, University of Bristol, Will Memorial Building, Queen's Road, Bristol, BS8 1RJ, UK
| | - Vincent Gauci
- Centre for Earth, Planetary, Space and Astronomical Research (CEPSAR), Department of Environment, Earth and Ecosystems, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK
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