Large seasonal fluctuations in whole-tree carbohydrate reserves: is storage more dynamic in boreal ecosystems?

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Carbon reserves are a critical source of energy and substrates that allow trees to cope with periods of minimal carbon gain and/or high carbon demands, conditions which are prevalent in high-latitude forests. However, we have a poor understanding of carbon reserve dynamics at the whole-tree level in mature boreal trees. We therefore sought to quantify the seasonal changes in whole-tree and organ-level carbon reserve pools in mature boreal Betula papyrifera.

Methods

Non-structural carbohydrate (NSC; soluble sugars and starch) tissue concentrations were measured at key phenological stages throughout a calendar year in the roots, stem (inner bark and xylem), branches and leaves, and scaled up to estimate changes in organ and whole-tree NSC pool sizes. Fine r

SUBMITTER: Fermaniuk C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8577199 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature