The concentration and efflux of tree stem CO₂ and the role of xylem sap flow

Abstract

The accurate assessment of actual tree stem respiration and its relation with temperature plays a considerable role in investigating the forest carbon cycle. An increasing number of research reports have indicated that tree stem respiration determined with the commonly-applied chamber gas exchange measuring system does not follow expectations regarding temperature relationships. This method is based on the nowadays widely-accepted theory that the respired CO₂ in a tree stem would all diffuse outward into the atmosphere. However, it neglects partial CO₂ that is dissolved in the xylem sap and is carried away by the transpirational stream. Scientists have started to realize that the respired CO₂ measured with the chamber gas exchange method is only a portion of the total stem respiration (CO₂ efflux), while the other portion, which is sometimes very substantial in quantity (thought to occupy maybe 15%-75% of the total stem respiration), is transported to the upper part of the stem and to the canopy by sap flow. This suggests that the CO₂ produced by respiration is re-allocated within the stem. Accordingly, the change in CO₂ efflux could be reflected in the rates of sap flow in addition to its dependence on temperature. Proper methods and instruments are required to quantify the internal and external CO₂ fluxes in the trunk and their interaction with related environmental factors.

Keywords

sap flow rates / respired CO₂ in the stem / re-translocation of stem respiration

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Acknowledgements

Authors are grateful to the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 30770328) and the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (No. 07006917) for support.

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