TY - CHAP

T1 - Ecophysiological isotope tools for characterising the drought sensitivity of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii Mirb. Franco)

AU - Sohrt, Jakob

AU - Jansen, Kirstin

AU - Gessler, Arthur

PY - 2010

Y1 - 2010

N2 - The stable isotope ratio of Carbon and/or Oxygen (δ13C resp. δ18O, d) in whole wood and incellulose is directly linked to environmental factors as well as to the physiological response of the trees to these factors – at the time when the organic material was formed. Thus the isotopic signature in tree rings can be used directly as a physiological archive. Physiological isotope investigations combined with molecular biological methods can in future enable efficient and time-saving tests for climatic sensitivity of provenances of a tree species.Within this paper, we present a study of δ18O and δ13C in the late wood of different Douglas fir provenances assessed retrospectively in an altitudinal transect (Oberrheinebene Schwarzwald) by isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Special attention has been payed to the physiological reaction of the provenances in years with extreme atmospheric conditions (e.g. the extreme dry year 2003) and in the following years. Isotope ratio measurements were conducted for treerings formed in the years 2002 until 2007.The results of the isotope ratio measurements showed clear distinctions between different Douglas fir provenances in their physiological reaction to rigorous drought, as observed in 2003. Isotope ratio measurements revealed that some but not all provenances intensively closed the stomata to reduce water consumption as a consequence of the drought in 2003.

AB - The stable isotope ratio of Carbon and/or Oxygen (δ13C resp. δ18O, d) in whole wood and incellulose is directly linked to environmental factors as well as to the physiological response of the trees to these factors – at the time when the organic material was formed. Thus the isotopic signature in tree rings can be used directly as a physiological archive. Physiological isotope investigations combined with molecular biological methods can in future enable efficient and time-saving tests for climatic sensitivity of provenances of a tree species.Within this paper, we present a study of δ18O and δ13C in the late wood of different Douglas fir provenances assessed retrospectively in an altitudinal transect (Oberrheinebene Schwarzwald) by isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Special attention has been payed to the physiological reaction of the provenances in years with extreme atmospheric conditions (e.g. the extreme dry year 2003) and in the following years. Isotope ratio measurements were conducted for treerings formed in the years 2002 until 2007.The results of the isotope ratio measurements showed clear distinctions between different Douglas fir provenances in their physiological reaction to rigorous drought, as observed in 2003. Isotope ratio measurements revealed that some but not all provenances intensively closed the stomata to reduce water consumption as a consequence of the drought in 2003.

KW - Ecosystems Research

M3 - Published abstract in conference proceedings

T3 - Berichte Freiburger Forstliche Forschung

SP - 47

BT - Opportunities and risks for Douglas fir in a changing climate

A2 - Spiecker, Heinrich

A2 - Kohnle, U.

A2 - Makkonen-Spiecker, K.

A2 - von Teuffel, K.

PB - Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg

T2 - Conference on Opportunities and risks for Douglas-Fir in a changing climate - 2010

Y2 - 18 October 2010 through 20 October 2010

ER -