Joost van Haren

Dynamics of carbon, biomass, and structure in two Amazonian forests

(1) Amazon forests are potentially globally significant sources or sinks for atmospheric carbon dioxide. In this study, we characterize the spatial trends in carbon storage and fluxes in both live and dead biomass (necromass) in two Amazonian forests, the Biological Dynamic of Forest Fragments Project (BDFFP), near Manaus, Amazonas, and the Tapajos National Forest (TNF) near Santarem, Para´. We assessed coarse woody debris (CWD) stocks, tree growth, mortality, and recruitment in ground-based plots distributed across the terra firme forest at both sites. Carbon dynamics were similar within each site, but differed significantly between the sites. The BDFFP and the TNF held comparable live biomass (167 ± 7.6 MgCha � 1 versus 149 ± 6.0 MgCha � 1 , respectively), but stocks of CWD were 2.5 times larger at TNF (16.2 ± 1.5 MgCha � 1 at BDFFP, versus 40.1 ± 3.9 MgCha � 1 at TNF). A model of current forest dynamics suggests that the BDFFP was close to carbon balance, and its size class structure approximated a steady state. The TNF, by contrast, showed rapid carbon accrual to live biomass (3.24 ± 0.22 MgCha � 1 � a � 1 in TNF, 2.59 ± 0.16 MgCha � 1 � a � 1 in BDFFP), which was more than offset by losses from large stocks of CWD, as well as ongoing shifts of biomass among size classes. This pattern in the TNF suggests recovery from a significant disturbance. The net loss of carbon from the TNF will likely last 10-15 years after the initial disturbance (controlled by the rate of decay of coarse woody debris), followed by uptake of carbon as the forest size class structure and composition continue to shift. The frequency and longevity of forests showing such disequilibruim dynamics within the larger matrix of the Amazon remains an essential question to understanding Amazonian carbon balance.

OXYGEN ISOTOPE RECORD OF FLUID INFILTRATION AND MASS TRANSFER DURING REGIONAL METAMORPHISM OF PELITIC SCHIST, CONNECTICUT, USA

Abstract We present petrologic and oxygen isotopic evidence for the interaction of deep crustal fluids with kyanite zone pelitic schist during amphibolite facies metamorphism of the Wepawaug Schist, south-central Connecticut. We focus on a sample of schist (sample MBW-1) cut by a 2–6 cm wide quartz vein. The vein is surrounded by zones of wallrock alteration (selvages) that are rich in micas relative to quartz and feldspar, have low Si Al and Na Al , contain staurolite and kyanite, and vary in thickness from about 1–5 cm. Staurolite and kyanite are rare or absent beyond the selvage margins. We have measured the δ18O of quartz, plagioclase, muscovite, garnet, kyanite, staurolite, garnet, and biotite along several mm-scale resolution traverses across the quartz vein and the adjacent schist. Garnets in the selvages record core-to-rim increases in δ18O of nearly 2%. Modeling of prograde reaction histories indicates that this zonation requires the infiltration of external fluids. Beyond the selvage margins, isotopic zonation in garnet is about 0.8% from core-to-rim and is consistent with prograde reaction with little or no infiltration. We suggest, therefore, that the selvages were zones of significant fluid infiltration and that the region now occupied by the quartz vein was the major fluid conduit. Earlier petrologic studies (Ague, 1994b) indicated that quartz veins and adjacent selvages were conduits for major down-temperature flow of H2O-rich fluids with time-integrated fluid fluxes of ∼3 × 105 m3 m−2. Isotopic modeling of advective flow suggests that down-temperature fluxes of this magnitude would have increased bulk δ18O by ∼1‰, consistent with the isotopic record preserved by zoned selvage garnets. Quartz in veins surrounded by selvages from five other localities throughout the amphibolite facies have δ18O that is statistically indistinguishable from that of the bulk of the quartz in MBW-1. Thus, we conclude that the amphibolite facies portion of the Wepawaug Schist was a zone of major, channelized outflow of metamorphic fluids down the regional temperature gradient. During the latter stages of amphibolite facies metamorphism subsequent to the bulk of vein and selvage formation, MBW-1 was infiltrated by isotopically light fluids that were probably derived from synmetamorphic igneous intrusions. This infiltration modified the isotopic composition of plagioclase throughout the rock and, therefore, we suggest that the infiltration was pervasive. Muscovite retains its pre-infiltration isotopic composition, however, which suggests short timescales of fluid-rock interaction on the order of 103–104 years. The total duration of flow may have been longer than this because our calculations do not take episodic flow into account. Modeling of possible isotopic shifts resulting from diffusion of oxygen isotopes between matrix phases during slow cooling indicates that MBW-1 must have been dry for most of its retrograde cooling history.

Floral CO2 emission may indicate food abundance to nectar-feeding moths

As part of a study of the roles of the sensory subsystem devoted to CO2 in the nectar-feeding moth Manduca sexta, we investigated CO2 release and nectar secretion by flowers of Datura wrightii, a preferred hostplant of Manduca. Datura flowers open at dusk and wilt by the following noon. During the first hours after dusk, when Manduca feeds, the flowers produce considerable amounts of nectar and emit levels of CO2 that should be detectable by moths nearby. By midnight, however, both nectar secretion and CO2 release decrease significantly. Because nectar production requires high metabolic activity, high floral CO2 emission may indicate food abundance to the moths. We suggest that hovering moths could use the florally emitted CO2 to help them assess the nectar content before attempting to feed in order to improve their foraging efficiency.

Carbon dioxide efflux from a 550 m3 soil across a range of soil temperatures

Because of scaling problems point measurements of soil CO2 efflux on a small volume of soil may not necessarily reflect an overall community response. The aim of this study was to test this hypothesis in the Biosphere 2 facility and achieve the following broad goals: (1) investigate soil net CO2 exchange‐temperature relationship at the community level; (2) compare soil net CO2 exchange at the community level to the traditional sample point estimates of CO2 efflux scaled up to the community level; (3) evaluate the usefulness of a facility such as Biosphere 2 for conducting community level experiments for studying response to a climatic perturbation under controlled environmental conditions. A 550 m 3 volume of soil with 282, 15 cm tree stumps was enclosed at the Biosphere 2 Center and warmed from 10 to 25 8C over a period of 34 days. Net CO2 exchange from this community was measured at various points on the soil surface with 78.5 cm 2 chambers and for the whole community using each of the three bays at Biosphere 2 Center as a closed system. Soil CO2 efflux rates obtained by point measurements showed tremendous variability from location to location. At the community level and with point measurements, net CO2 exchange increased exponentially with increasing soil temperatures. Q10 values from both the point and community level measurements ranged from 1.7 to 2.5. Scaling of point measurements by soil surface area and time overestimated community rates by 36% revealing some of the limitations of point measurements. This experiment demonstrates how Biosphere 2 facility could be used to study behavior of individual components and measure responses at the community level and test our capacity to scale point in time and space measures of community processes to the community level. # 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Phytogenic biosynthesis and emission of methyl acetate

Acetylation of plant metabolites fundamentally changes their volatility, solubility and activity as semiochemicals. Here we present a new technique termed dynamic (13) C-pulse chasing to track the fate of C1-3 carbon atoms of pyruvate into the biosynthesis and emission of methyl acetate (MA) and CO2 . (13) C-labelling of MA and CO2 branch emissions respond within minutes to changes in (13) C-positionally labelled pyruvate solutions fed through the transpiration stream. Strong (13) C-labelling of MA emissions occurred only under pyruvate-2-(13) C and pyruvate-2,3-(13) C feeding, but not pyruvate-1-(13) C feeding. In contrast, strong (13) CO2 emissions were only observed under pyruvate-1-(13) C feeding. These results demonstrate that MA (and other volatile and non-volatile metabolites) derive from the C2,3 atoms of pyruvate while the C1 atom undergoes decarboxylation. The latter is a non-mitochondrial source of CO2 in the light generally not considered in studies of CO2 sources and sinks. Within a tropical rainforest mesocosm, we also observed atmospheric concentrations of MA up to 0.6 ppbv that tracked light and temperature conditions. Moreover, signals partially attributed to MA were observed in ambient air within and above a tropical rainforest in the Amazon. Our study highlights the potential importance of acetyl coenzyme A (CoA) biosynthesis as a source of acetate esters and CO2 to the atmosphere.

Improving the accuracy of the gradient method for determining soil carbon dioxide efflux

NSF [1417101, 1331408]; Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship within the Seventh European Community, DIESEL project [625988]

CO2 diffusion into pore spaces limits weathering rate of an experimental basalt landscape

Basalt weathering is a key control over the global carbon cycle, though in situ measurements of carbon cycling are lacking. In an experimental, vegetation-free hillslope containing 330 m 3 of ground basalt scoria, we measured real-time inorganic carbon dynamics within the porous media and seepage flow. The hillslope carbon flux (0.6–5.1 mg C m –2 h –1 ) matched weathering rates of natural basalt landscapes (0.4–8.8 mg C m –2 h –1 ) despite lacking the expected field-based impediments to weathering. After rainfall, a decrease in CO 2 concentration ([CO 2 ]) in pore spaces into solution suggested rapid carbon sequestration but slow reactant supply. Persistent low soil [CO 2 ] implied that diffusion limited CO 2 supply, while when sufficiently dry, reaction product concentrations limited further weathering. Strong influence of diffusion could cause spatial heterogeneity of weathering even in natural settings, implying that modeling studies need to include variable soil [CO 2 ] to improve carbon cycling estimates associated with potential carbon sequestration methods.

Isoprene emission structures tropical tree biogeography and community assembly responses to climate

The prediction of vegetation responses to climate requires a knowledge of how climate-sensitive plant traits mediate not only the responses of individual plants, but also shifts in the species and functional compositions of whole communities. The emission of isoprene gas - a trait shared by one-third of tree species - is known to protect leaf biochemistry under climatic stress. Here, we test the hypothesis that isoprene emission shapes tree species compositions in tropical forests by enhancing the tolerance of emitting trees to heat and drought. Using forest inventory data, we estimated the proportional abundance of isoprene-emitting trees (pIE) at 103 lowland tropical sites. We also quantified the temporal composition shifts in three tropical forests - two natural and one artificial - subjected to either anomalous warming or drought. Across the landscape, pIE increased with site mean annual temperature, but decreased with dry season length. Through time, pIE strongly increased under high temperatures, and moderately increased following drought. Our analysis shows that isoprene emission is a key plant trait determining species responses to climate. For species adapted to seasonal dry periods, isoprene emission may tradeoff with alternative strategies, such as leaf deciduousness. Community selection for isoprene-emitting species is a potential mechanism for enhanced forest resilience to climatic change.