Photosynthesis and respiration decline with light intensity in dominant and suppressed Eucalyptus globulus canopies
A. P. O’Grady A D , D. Worledge B C , A. Wilkinson A C and M. Battaglia B CA School of Plant Science, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tas. 7001, Australia.
B CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Private Bag 12, Hobart, Tas. 7001, Australia.
C CRC for Forestry, Private Bag 12, Hobart, Tas. 7001, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: anthony.ogrady@utas.edu.au
E This paper originates from a presentation at EcoFIZZ 2007, Richmond, New South Wales, Australia, September 2007.
Functional Plant Biology 35(6) 439-447 https://doi.org/10.1071/FP08127
Submitted: 14 March 2008 Accepted: 4 June 2008 Published: 4 August 2008
Abstract
Within canopy gradients in light-saturated photosynthesis (Amax), foliar nitrogen ([N]area) and leaf dark respiration (R15) were studied in the canopies of dominant and suppressed trees within an even-aged (4-year-old) Eucalyptus globulus (Labill) stand in southern Tasmania. Despite being an even-aged stand growing in a relatively uniform environment with respect to nutrient and water availability, the stand exhibited considerable structural complexity. Diameter at 1.3 m ranged between 3 cm and 21 cm, trees average 12 m height and stand leaf area index was ~6 m2 m–2 leading to strong gradients in light availability. We were interested in understanding the processes governing canopy production in trees of contrasting dominance classes. Vertical gradients in photosynthesis and foliar respiration were studied within the canopies of dominant and suppressed trees during 2006 and 2007. Amax varied from ~18 μmol m–2 s–1 in the upper canopy to 3 μmol m–2 s–1 at lower canopy positions. On average, Amax were higher in the dominant trees than in the suppressed trees. However, at any given height, Amax were similar in suppressed and dominant trees and were strongly related to leaf nitrogen content. Dark respiration varied from ~1.4 μmol m–2 s–1 in the upper canopy to 0.2 μmol m–2 s–1 in the lower canopy positions. In contrast to the patterns for Amax, dark respiration rates in the suppressed trees were higher than dominant trees at similar canopy positions. Respiration rates were also strongly related to [N]area and to Amax.
Acknowledgements
This research was conducted with support provided by an Australian Research Council linkage grant (LP0454287). Dugald Close, Libby Pinkard and two anonymous reviewers have provided useful comments on this manuscript. We thank Charles and Robin Lewis for their ongoing support of the Pittwater research site on Milford Farm in Tasmania.
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