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Leaf carbon gain simulation for tree seedlings acclimatized to microsite light regimes of a temperate pine forest
Author(s) -
Washitani Izumi
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
ecological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.628
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1440-1703
pISSN - 0912-3814
DOI - 10.1007/bf02348499
Subject(s) - microsite , photosynthesis , understory , zoology , acclimatization , botany , atmospheric sciences , temperate rainforest , biology , ecology , environmental science , canopy , seedling , physics , ecosystem
Leaf carbon gain simulation was performed for Quercus serrata seedlings with previously reported 6 day photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) histograms from 20 understorey microsites of a pine forest (Washitani & Tang 1991). This simulation was performed with or without an assumption of the acclimatization of photosynthetic capacity (P max ) to microsite light availability. A constant ratio of respiration rate to P max , within, the range of 0.07–0.1, was assumed as a constraint. In relatively well illuminated microsites with a diffuse site factor above 0.1, predicted optimal P max was about 5 μmol m −2 s −1 , with the predicted mean daily net carbon gain being about 50 mmol m −2 day −1 . Each of the predicted optimal P max and the simulated mean daily net carbon gains with a constant P max (5 μmol m −2 s −1 ) or the predicted optimal P max was linearly related to the microsite light availability index, diffuse site factor. Simulated net carbon gain was negative at diffuse site factors below 0.04, if the constant of P max was assumed. The predicted linear relationship between net carbon gain and diffuse site factor could provide an ecophysiological basis for the observed linear dependency of the relative growth rate of biomass of Q. serrata seedlings on the microsite diffuse site factor (Washitani & Tang 1991).