Tree Biomass Sensitivity to Ozone Exposure: Insights From a Decade of Free-Air Experiments.

ABSTRACT: Tropospheric ozone (O₃) is a pervasive stressor that impairs forest biomass and alters carbon allocation strategies. This study assessed biomass responses across 17 woody taxa under free-air controlled exposure (FACE), integrating a decade of experiments conducted with an analogous exposure regime applied to deciduous and evergreen species. The analysis provided a comparative evaluation of existing flux-based metrics. Statistical analyses revealed consistent reductions in relative total (RTB), aboveground (RTAB), and belowground (RTBB) biomass with increasing O₃ uptake in terms of phytotoxic ozone dose (POD₁ mmol m^-2). Deciduous species reached the 4% biomass reduction threshold (CL₄) at lower POD₁ levels for RTBB (10.21), R

SUBMITTER: Ghosh A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12853240 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature