Effect of waterlogging on carbon isotope discrimination during photosynthesis in <i>Larix gmelinii</i>

<p>Soil moisture is a major factor controlling carbon isotope discrimination (Δ¹³C), which has been demonstrated to decrease under dry conditions in many studies; however, few studies on Δ¹³C under waterlogging condition have been conducted. In this study, a pot experiment was conducted with <i>Larix gmelinii</i>, a major larch species in the east Siberian Taiga, to investigate the effect of waterlogging on Δ¹³C during photosynthesis. Assimilation rate and Δ¹³C_RD (instantaneous Δ¹³C calculated with Rayleigh distillation equation) decreased drastically soon after waterlogging, followed by recovery in their values, which was caused by a change in stomatal conductance. Thereafter, assimilation rate decreased gradually, whereas Δ¹³C_RD decreased more gently. These results were thought to be caused by the decrease in both stomatal conductance and carboxylation. Our results indicate that extreme wet events may cause a decrease in Δ¹³C, which is important information for detecting flooding events in the past using tree-ring isotope analyses and for studying impacts of flooding on plants in areas where waterlogging might occur.</p

Spatial variations in larch needle and soil δ¹⁵N at a forest–grassland boundary in northern Mongolia

<p>The spatial patterns of plant and soil δ¹⁵N and associated processes in the N cycle were investigated at a forest–grassland boundary in northern Mongolia. Needles of <i>Larix sibirica</i> Ledeb. and soils collected from two study areas were analysed to calculate the differences in δ¹⁵N between needle and soil (Δδ¹⁵N). Δδ¹⁵N showed a clear variation, ranging from −8 ‰ in the forest to −2 ‰ in the grassland boundary, and corresponded to the accumulation of organic layer. In the forest, the separation of available N produced in the soil with ¹⁵N-depleted N uptake by larch and ¹⁵N-enriched N immobilization by microorganisms was proposed to cause large Δδ¹⁵N, whereas in the grassland boundary, small Δδ¹⁵N was explained by the transport of the most available N into larch. The divergence of available N between larch and microorganisms in the soil, and the accumulation of diverged N in the organic layer control the variation in Δδ¹⁵N.</p