Investigating old‐growth ponderosa pine physiology using tree‐rings, δ ¹³ C, δ ¹⁸ O, and a process‐based model

Abstract

In dealing with predicted changes in environmental conditions outside those experienced today, forest managers and researchers rely on process‐based models to inform physiological processes and predict future forest growth responses. The carbon and oxygen isotope ratios of tree‐ring cellulose (δ¹³C_cell, δ¹⁸O_cell) reveal long‐term, integrated physiological responses to environmental conditions. We incorporated a submodel of δ¹⁸O_cell into the widely used Physiological Principles in Predicting Growth (3‐PG) model for the first time, to complement a recently added δ¹³C_cell submodel. We parameterized the model using previously reported stand characteristics and long‐term trajectories of tree‐ring growth, δ¹³C_cell, and δ¹⁸O_cell collected from the Metolius AmeriFlux site in central Oregon (upland trees). We then applied the parameterized model to a nearby set of riparian trees to investigate the physiological drivers of differences in observed basal area increment (BAI) and δ¹³C_cell trajectories between upland and riparian trees. The model showed that greater available soil water and maximum canopy conductance likely explain the greater observed BAI and lower δ¹³C_cell of riparian trees. Unexpectedly, both observed and simulated δ¹⁸O_cell trajectories did not differ between the upland and riparian trees, likely due to similar δ¹⁸O of source water isotope composition. The δ¹⁸O_cell submodel with a Peclet effect improved model estimates of δ¹⁸O_cell because its calculation utilizes 3‐PG growth and allocation processes. Because simulated stand‐level transpiration (E) is used in the δ¹⁸O submodel, aspects of leaf‐level anatomy such as the effective path length for transport of water from the xylem to the sites of evaporation could be estimated.

Citation

Ulrich, Danielle E. M.; Still, Christopher; Brooks, J. Renée; Kim, Youngil; Meinzer, Frederick C. 2019. Investigating old‐growth ponderosa pine physiology using tree‐rings, δ ¹³ C, δ ¹⁸ O, and a process‐based model. Ecology. 140: e02656-. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.2656.