Combining isotopic and sap flux data to estimate GPP: an alternative ecophysiological approach to eddy-covariance based data

Author(s):  
Antoine Vernay ◽  
Xianglin Tian ◽  
Jose Lopez ◽  
Niles Hasselquist ◽  
Annikki Mäkelä ◽  
...  

<p>Stand-scale estimates of gross primary production (GPP) commonly depend on eddy-covariance or eddy-covariance derived models. Chamber-based methods provide an alternative, but they are tricky to scale up to the stand. We estimate GPP by combining isotopic δ<sup>13</sup>C of phloem sugars with sap-flow measurements. The method consists of calculating intrinsic water-use efficiency and transpiration to determine GPP. We have improved this approach by considering mesophyll conductance and seasonal variation in photosynthetic capacity and then compared our results to a semi-empirical eddy-covariance based model, PRELES. We compared a fertilised plot and an unfertilised plot in a monospecific Scots pine forest in northern Sweden. The method captured both the stand response to fertilisation and seasonal patterns, as PRELES did. Our results demonstrate the importance of considering a finite mesophyll conductance value to avoid an unreasonable overestimate of GPP. We have now applied the method in a mixed boreal forest where we will partition total stand GPP among the three dominant tree species (pine, spruce, and birch). This approach provides an independent test of GPP estimates and provides a means of estimating GPP where eddy-covariance assumptions are not met.</p>

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quentin Beauclaire ◽  
Louis Gourlez de la Motte ◽  
Heinesch Bernard ◽  
Longdoz Bernard

<p>Water stress in one of the main limiting factors in agro-systems, causing a reduction in gross primary production (GPP) and by extend, yields. However, it is still unclear to attribute whether the limitations of photosynthesis originate from a strict stomatal control (SOL) or from other non-stomatal limitations (NSOL). In this study, we investigated the effects of drought on potato crop by using eddy covariance data at the Lonzée Terrestrial Observatory during three consecutive cultivation periods (2010, 2014 and 2018). Regardless the years and the timing of the drought appearance, the maximum carboxylation rate V<sub>cmax</sub> (one of the NSOL) was reduced with decreasing REW, while the stomatal sensitivity to GPP parameter in the Medlyn et al. model (G<sub>1</sub>-SOL) remained constant. We showed that below the REW threshold of 0.55 ± 0.05, the non-consideration of NSOL in the ecosystem CO<sub>2</sub> model led to an overestimation of the modelled GPP, which was about three times higher than its unstressed corresponding value. As a result, decreasing V<sub>cmax</sub> while maintaining G<sub>1</sub> constant was sufficient to reproduce GPP and canopy conductance dynamics during drought. At a sub-daily scale, the intrinsic water-use efficiency did not vary during drought, neither its dependence on VPD nor its hourly dynamics. This reinforced the hypothesis of direct and feedback effects of NSOL on canopy conductance and photosynthesis, which was supported by the uniform coupling between carbon and water fluxes. We recommend the implementation of NSOL in ecosystem CO<sub>2 </sub>models since non-stomatal factors were responsible for the decrease in potato crop GPP during drought.</p>


2007 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 647-656 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Jung ◽  
G. Le Maire ◽  
S. Zaehle ◽  
S. Luyssaert ◽  
M. Vetter ◽  
...  

Abstract. Three terrestrial biosphere models (LPJ, Orchidee, Biome-BGC) were evaluated with respect to their ability to simulate large-scale climate related trends in gross primary production (GPP) across European forests. Simulated GPP and leaf area index (LAI) were compared with GPP estimates based on flux separated eddy covariance measurements of net ecosystem exchange and LAI measurements along a temperature gradient ranging from the boreal to the Mediterranean region. The three models capture qualitatively the pattern suggested by the site data: an increase in GPP from boreal to temperate and a subsequent decline from temperate to Mediterranean climates. The models consistently predict higher GPP for boreal and lower GPP for Mediterranean forests. Based on a decomposition of GPP into absorbed photosynthetic active radiation (APAR) and radiation use efficiency (RUE), the overestimation of GPP for the boreal coniferous forests appears to be primarily related to too high simulated LAI - and thus light absorption (APAR) – rather than too high radiation use efficiency. We cannot attribute the tendency of the models to underestimate GPP in the water limited region to model structural deficiencies with confidence. A likely dry bias of the input meteorological data in southern Europe may create this pattern. On average, the models compare similarly well to the site GPP data (RMSE of ~30% or 420 gC/m2/yr) but differences are apparent for different ecosystem types. In terms of absolute values, we find the agreement between site based GPP estimates and simulations acceptable when we consider uncertainties about the accuracy in model drivers, a potential representation bias of the eddy covariance sites, and uncertainties related to the method of deriving GPP from eddy covariance measurements data. Continental to global data-model comparison studies should be fostered in the future since they are necessary to identify consistent model bias along environmental gradients.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Joiner ◽  
Yasuko Yoshida ◽  
Yao Zhang ◽  
Gregory Duveiller ◽  
Martin Jung ◽  
...  

We estimate global terrestrial gross primary production (GPP) based on models that use satellite data within a simplified light-use efficiency framework that does not rely upon other meteorological inputs. Satellite-based geometry-adjusted reflectances are from the MODerate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and provide information about vegetation structure and chlorophyll content at both high temporal (daily to monthly) and spatial (∼1 km) resolution. We use satellite-derived solar-induced fluorescence (SIF) to identify regions of high productivity crops and also evaluate the use of downscaled SIF to estimate GPP. We calibrate a set of our satellite-based models with GPP estimates from a subset of distributed eddy covariance flux towers (FLUXNET 2015). The results of the trained models are evaluated using an independent subset of FLUXNET 2015 GPP data. We show that variations in light-use efficiency (LUE) with incident PAR are important and can be easily incorporated into the models. Unlike many LUE-based models, our satellite-based GPP estimates do not use an explicit parameterization of LUE that reduces its value from the potential maximum under limiting conditions such as temperature and water stress. Even without the parameterized downward regulation, our simplified models are shown to perform as well as or better than state-of-the-art satellite data-driven products that incorporate such parameterizations. A significant fraction of both spatial and temporal variability in GPP across plant functional types can be accounted for using our satellite-based models. Our results provide an annual GPP value of ∼140 Pg C year - 1 for 2007 that is within the range of a compilation of observation-based, model, and hybrid results, but is higher than some previous satellite observation-based estimates.


2007 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 1353-1375 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Jung ◽  
G. Le Maire ◽  
S. Zaehle ◽  
S. Luyssaert ◽  
M. Vetter ◽  
...  

Abstract. We evaluate three terrestrial biosphere models (LPJ, Orchidee, Biome-BGC) with respect to their capacity to simulate climate related trends in gross primary production (GPP) of forests in Europe. We compare simulated GPP and leaf area index (LAI) with GPP estimates based on flux separated eddy covariance measurements of net ecosystem exchange (NEE) and LAI measurements along a gradient in mean annual temperature from the boreal to the Mediterranean.The three models capture qualitatively the pattern suggested by the site data: an increase in GPP from boreal to temperate and a subsequent decline from temperate to Mediterranean climates. The models consistently predict higher GPP for boreal and lower GPP for Mediterranean forests. Based on a decomposition of GPP into absorbed photosynthetic active radiation (APAR) and radiation use efficiency (RUE), the overestimation of GPP for the boreal zone appears to be primarily related to too high simulated LAI - and thus light absorption (APAR) – rather than too high radiation use efficiency. On average, the models compare similarly well to the site GPP data (RMSE of ~30% or 420 gC/m2/yr) but differences are apparent for different ecosystem types. Given uncertainties about the accuracy in model drivers, a potential representation bias of the eddy covariance sites, and uncertainties related to the method of deriving GPP from eddy covariance measurements data, we find the agreement between site data and simulations acceptable, providing confidence in simulations of GPP for European forests.


2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 3089-3108 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Zanotelli ◽  
L. Montagnani ◽  
G. Manca ◽  
M. Tagliavini

Abstract. Carbon use efficiency (CUE), the ratio of net primary production (NPP) over gross primary production (GPP), is a functional parameter that could possibly link the current increasingly accurate global GPP estimates with those of net ecosystem exchange, for which global predictors are still unavailable. Nevertheless, CUE estimates are actually available for only a few ecosystem types, while information regarding agro-ecosystems is scarce, in spite of the simplified spatial structure of these ecosystems that facilitates studies on allocation patterns and temporal growth dynamics. We combined three largely deployed methods, eddy covariance, soil respiration and biometric measurements, to assess monthly values of CUE, NPP and allocation patterns in different plant organs in an apple orchard during a complete year (2010). We applied a measurement protocol optimized for quantifying monthly values of carbon fluxes in this ecosystem type, which allows for a cross check between estimates obtained from different methods. We also attributed NPP components to standing biomass increments, detritus cycle feeding and lateral exports. We found that in the apple orchard, both net ecosystem production and gross primary production on a yearly basis, 380 ± 30 g C m−2 and 1263 ± 189 g C m−2 respectively, were of a magnitude comparable to those of natural forests growing in similar climate conditions. The largest differences with respect to forests are in the allocation pattern and in the fate of produced biomass. The carbon sequestered from the atmosphere was largely allocated to production of fruit: 49% of annual NPP was taken away from the ecosystem through apple production. Organic material (leaves, fine root litter, pruned wood and early fruit falls) contributing to the detritus cycle was 46% of the NPP. Only 5% was attributable to standing biomass increment, while this NPP component is generally the largest in forests. The CUE, with an annual average of 0.71 ± 0.12, was higher than the previously suggested constant values of 0.47–0.50. Low nitrogen investment in fruit, the limited root apparatus, and the optimal growth temperature and nutritional condition observed at the site are suggested to be explanatory variables for the high CUE observed.


2014 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 568 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eisrat Jahan ◽  
Jeffrey S. Amthor ◽  
Graham D. Farquhar ◽  
Richard Trethowan ◽  
Margaret M. Barbour

CO2 diffusion from substomatal intercellular cavities to sites of carboxylation in chloroplasts (mesophyll conductance; gm) limits photosynthetic rate and influences leaf intrinsic water-use efficiency (A/gsw). We investigated genotypic variability of gm and effects of gm on A/gsw among eleven wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes under light-saturated conditions and at either 2 or 21% O2. Significant variation in gm and A/gsw was found between genotypes at both O2 concentrations, but there was no significant effect of O2 concentration on gm. Further, gm was correlated with photosynthetic rate among the 11 genotypes, but was unrelated to stomatal conductance. The effect of leaf age differed between genotypes, with gm being lower in older leaves for one genotype but not another. This study demonstrates a high level of variation in gm between wheat genotypes; 0.5 to 1.0 μmol m−2 s−1 bar−1. Further, leaf age effects indicate that great care must be taken to choose suitable leaves in studies of genotypic variation in gm and water-use efficiency.


2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 297-309 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Christina ◽  
Y. Nouvellon ◽  
J.P. Laclau ◽  
J.L. Stape ◽  
O.C Campoe ◽  
...  

Understanding the consequences of changes in climatic and biological drivers on tree carbon and water fluxes is essential in forestry. Using a metamodeling approach, sensitivity and uncertainty analyses were carried out for a tree-scale model (MAESPA) to isolate the effects of climate, morphological and physiological traits, and intertree competition on the absorption of photosynthetically active radiation (APAR), gross primary production (GPP), transpiration (TR), light use efficiency (LUE), and water use efficiency (WUE) in clonal Eucalyptus plantations. The metamodel predicting daily TR was validated using one year of sap flow measurements and showed close agreement with the measurements (mean percentage error = 11%, n = 2155). Simulations showed that APAR, GPP, and TR were very sensitive to the tree morphology and to a competition index representing its local environment. LUE and WUE were, in addition, very sensitive to the natural variability of the physiological leaf and root parameters. A maximum percentage error of 10% in these parameters leads to 18%, 17%, 16%, 9%, and 18% uncertainty for APAR, GPP, TR, LUE, and WUE, respectively. The uncertainties in TR were highest for the smallest trees. This study highlighted the need to take account of the spatial and temporal variability of tree traits and environmental conditions for simulations at the tree scale.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl M. Attard ◽  
Ronnie N. Glud

Abstract. Light-use efficiency defines the ability of primary producers to convert sunlight energy to primary production and is computed as the ratio between the gross primary production and the intercepted photosynthetic active radiation. While this measure has been applied broadly within the atmospheric sciences to investigate resource-use efficiency in terrestrial habitats, it remains underused within the aquatic realm. This report provides a conceptual framework to compute hourly and daily light-use efficiency using underwater O2 eddy covariance, a recent technological development that produces habitat-scale rates of primary production under unaltered in situ conditions. The analysis, tested on two flux datasets, documents that hourly light-use efficiency may approach the maximum theoretical limit of 0.125 O2 photon−1 under low light conditions but it decreases rapidly towards the middle of the day and is typically an order of magnitude lower on a 24 h basis. Overall, light-use efficiency provides a useful measure of habitat functioning and facilitates site comparison in time and space.


2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 965-982 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Flexas ◽  
A. Díaz-Espejo ◽  
M. A. Conesa ◽  
R. E. Coopman ◽  
C. Douthe ◽  
...  

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