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ABSTRACT: Accurate information on the optical properties (reflectance and transmittance spectra) of single leaves is important for an ecophysiological understanding of light use by leaves, radiative transfer models, and remote sensing of terrestrial ecosystems. In general, leaf optical properties are measured with an integrating sphere and a spectroradiometer. However, this method is usually difficult to use with grass leaves and conifer needles, because they are too narrow to cover the sample port of a typical integrating sphere. Although ways to measure the optical properties of narrow leaves have been suggested, they have problems. We propose a new measurement protocol and calculation algorithms. The protocol does not damage sample leaves and is valid for various types of leaves, including green and senescent. We tested our technique with leaves of Aucuba japonica, an evergreen broadleaved shrub, and compared the spectral data of whole leaves and narrow strips of the leaves. The reflectance and transmittance of the strips matched those of the whole leaves, indicating that our technique can accurately estimate the optical properties of narrow leaves. Tests of conifer needles confirmed the applicability.
Plant Cell and Environment 03/2013; · 5.22 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Measuring light, temperature, soil moisture, and growth provides a better understanding of net ecosystem production (NEP),
ecosystem respiration (R
eco), and their response functions. Here, we studied the variations in NEP and R
eco in a grassland dominated by a perennial warm-season C4 grass, Zoysia japonica. We used the chamber method to measure NEP and R
eco from August to September 2007. Biomass and leaf area index (LAI) were also measured to observe their effects on NEP and R
eco. Diurnal variations in NEP and R
eco were predicted well by light intensity (PPFD) and by soil temperature, respectively. Maximum NEP (NEPmax) values on days of year 221, 233, 247, and 262, were 2.44, 2.55, 3.90, and 4.17μmolm−2s−1, respectively. Throughout the growing period, the apparent quantum yield (α) increased with increasing NEPmax that ranged from 0.0154 to 0.0515, and NEP responded to the soil temperature changes by 44% and R
eco changes by 48%, and R
eco responded from 88 to 94% with the soil temperature diurnally. NEP’s light response and R
eco’s temperature response were affected by soil water content; more than 27% of the variation in NEP and 67% of the variation
in R
eco could be explained by this parameter. NEP was strongly correlated with biomass and LAI, but R
eco was not, because environmental variables affected R
eco more strongly than growth parameters. Using the light response of NEP, the temperature response of R
eco, and meteorological data, daily NEP and R
eco were estimated at 0.67, 0.81, 1.17, and 1.56gCm−2, and at 2.88, 2.50, 3.51, and 3.04gCm−2, respectively, on days of year 221, 233, 247, and 262. The corresponding daily gross primary production (NEP+R
eco) was 3.5, 3.3, 4.6, and 4.6gCm−2.
Keywords
Zoysia japonica grassland-Chamber method-Net ecosystem production-Ecosystem respiration-Growing period
Ecological Research 04/2012; 25(2):483-493. · 1.57 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Recent studies have suggested that gross primary production (GPP) of terrestrial vegetation can be estimated directly with
the satellite-based Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI). However, the reported EVI–GPP relationships showed wide variability,
with the regression functions showing widely scattered data. In the present study, we examined the possible reasons for this
variability in the EVI–GPP relationship using daily EVI values from satellite and field measurements and daily flux-based
GPP in a cool-temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest in Japan. The variability appears to be caused by noise due to cloud
contamination in the satellite data as well as the different seasonality of EVI and GPP, especially during the leaf-expansion
period. Our findings indicate that improvement of cloud screening and consideration of the leaf-expansion period are critical
when applying the EVI–GPP relationship.
KeywordsEnhanced Vegetation Index-Gross primary production-Deciduous broad-leaved forest-Ground verification-MODIS
Ecological Research 04/2012; 25(2):359-365. · 1.57 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We investigated the occurrence of patchy stomatal behavior in leaves of saplings and a forest canopy tree of Quercus crispula Blume. Through a combination of leaf gas-exchange measurements and numerical simulation, we detected patterns of stomatal closure (either uniform or patchy bimodal) coupled with depression of net assimilation rate (A). There was a clear inhibition of A associated with stomatal closure in leaves of Q. crispula during the day, but the magnitude of inhibition varied among days and growing conditions. Comparisons of observed and simulated A values for both saplings and the canopy tree identified patterns of stomatal behavior that shifted flexibly between uniform and patchy frequency distributions depending on environmental conditions. Bimodal stomatal closure explained severe depression of A in saplings under conditions of relatively high leaf temperature and vapor pressure deficit. Model simulations of A depression through bimodal stomatal closure were corroborated by direct observations of stomatal aperture distribution using Suzuki's Micro-Printing method; these demonstrated that there was a real bimodal frequency distribution of stomatal apertures. Although there was a heterogeneous distribution of stomatal apertures both within and among patches, induction of heterogeneity in intercellular CO₂ concentration among patches, and hence severe depression of A, resulted only from bimodal stomatal closure among patches (rather than within patches).
Journal of Plant Research 01/2012; 125(3):339-49. · 1.75 Impact Factor
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Plant Ecology & Diversity 03/2011; 4(1):79-89. · 1.04 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The daily total photosynthetically active radiation (400-700 nm, PAR) and near-infrared radiation (700-1000 nm, NIR) were measured in the understory beneath the canopy (PARt and NIRt) and above the canopy (PARi and NIRi) of a Japanese cool-temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest during the snow-free period (May to November). The integration of spectral radiation for NIR and that for PAR, and the daily integrations of instantaneous NIR and PAR, reduced the noises from the optical difference in spectrum and from canopy structure heterogeneity, sky condition and solar elevation. PARi/PARt was linearly related to NIRt/PARt (R² = 0.96). The effect of cloudiness was negligible, because the fluctuation of NIRi/PARi was quite small regardless of season and weather conditions compared with the range of NIRt/PARt in the forest. The ratio of NIRt/PARt beneath the canopy was log-linearly related to the in situ leaf area index (LAI) with a wide range from 0 to 5.25 (R² = 0.97). We conclude that seasonal changes in fAPAR (= 1 - PARt/PARi) and LAI of a canopy can be estimated with high accuracy by transmitted NIRt and PARt beneath the canopy.
Journal of Plant Research 01/2011; 124(1):99-106. · 1.75 Impact Factor
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Journal of Plant Research 07/2010; · 1.75 Impact Factor
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Journal of Plant Research 04/2010; 123(4):391-2. · 1.75 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We investigated carbon dioxide (CO(2)) exchange and its environmental response during two years with contrasting climate (2006 and 2007) in a cool-temperate mixed evergreen coniferous forest dominated by Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) and Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa). The study, which was conducted in a mountainous region of central Japan, used the eddy-covariance technique. Our results (crosschecked using the common u (*) approach and van Gorsel's alternative approach) showed that annual gross primary production (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (RE) were at least 6% higher in the dry year than in the wet year, whereas net ecosystem exchange (NEE) was similar in both years. Without soil water stress, strong light stress or seasonality of plant area index during most of the study period, the forest had high metabolic activity. GPP and RE differed greatly between the two years, especially in spring (April-May) and summer (July-September), respectively. The spring GPP difference (>20%) was influenced by different winter air temperatures and snow melt timing, which controlled photosynthetic capacity in spring, and by different spring light intensities. The annual NEE differed depending on the evaluation method used, but the mean 2-year NEE estimated by the u (*) threshold approach [-3.39 +/- 0.11 (SD) MgC ha(-1) year(-1)] appears more reasonable in comparison with results from other forests.
Journal of Plant Research 02/2010; 123(4):473-83. · 1.75 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Revealing the seasonal and interannual variations in forest canopy photosynthesis is a critical issue in understanding the ecological mechanisms underlying the dynamics of carbon dioxide exchange between the atmosphere and deciduous forests. This study examined the effects of temporal variations of canopy leaf area index (LAI) and leaf photosynthetic capacity [the maximum velocity of carboxylation (V (cmax))] on gross primary production (GPP) of a cool-temperate deciduous broadleaf forest for 5 years in Takayama AsiaFlux site, central Japan. We made two estimations to examine the effects of canopy properties on GPP; one is to incorporate the in situ observation of V (cmax) and LAI throughout the growing season, and another considers seasonality of LAI but constantly high V (cmax). The simulations indicated that variation in V (cmax) and LAI, especially in the leaf expansion period, had remarkable effects on GPP, and if V (cmax) was assumed constant GPP will be overestimated by 15%. Monthly examination of air temperature, radiation, LAI and GPP suggested that spring temperature could affect canopy phenology, and also that GPP in summer was determined mainly by incoming radiation. However, the consequences among these factors responsible for interannual changes of GPP are not straightforward since leaf expansion and senescence patterns and summer meteorological conditions influence GPP independently. This simulation based on in situ ecophysiological research suggests the importance of intensive consideration and understanding of the phenology of leaf photosynthetic capacity and LAI to analyze and predict carbon fixation in forest ecosystems.
Journal of Plant Research 12/2009; 123(4):563-76. · 1.75 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We examined factors controlling temporal changes in net ecosystem production (NEP) in a high Arctic polar semi-desert ecosystem in the snow-free season. We examined the relationships between NEP and biotic and abiotic factors in a dominant plant community (Salix polaris-moss) in the Norwegian high Arctic. Just after snowmelt in early July, the ecosystem released CO(2) into the atmosphere. A few days after snowmelt, however, the ecosystem became a CO(2) sink as the leaves of S. polaris developed. Diurnal changes in NEP mirrored changes in light incidence (photosynthetic photon flux density, PPFD) in summer. NEP was significantly correlated with PPFD when S. polaris had fully developed leaves, i.e., high photosynthetic activity. In autumn, NEP values decreased as S. polaris underwent senescence. During this time, CO(2) was sometimes released into the atmosphere. In wet conditions, moss made a larger contribution to NEP. In fact, the water content of the moss regulated NEP during autumn. Our results indicate that the main factors controlling NEP in summer are coverage and growth of S. polaris, PPFD, and precipitation. In autumn, the main factor controlling NEP is moss water content.
Journal of Plant Research 09/2009; 123(1):79-85. · 1.75 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: There is a growing requirement for ecosystem science to help inform a deeper understanding of the effects of global climate change and land use change on terrestrial ecosystem structure and function, from small area (plot) to landscape, regional and global scales. To meet these requirements, ecologists have investigated plant growth and carbon cycling processes at plot scale, using biometric methods to measure plant carbon accumulation, and gas exchange (chamber) methods to measure soil respiration. Also at the plot scale, micrometeorologists have attempted to measure canopy- or ecosystem-scale CO(2) flux by the eddy covariance technique, which reveals diurnal, seasonal and annual cycles. Mathematical models play an important role in integrating ecological and micrometeorological processes into ecosystem scales, which are further useful in interpreting time-accumulated information derived from biometric methods by comparing with CO(2) flux measurements. For a spatial scaling of such plot-level understanding, remote sensing via satellite is used to measure land use/vegetation type distribution and temporal changes in ecosystem structures such as leaf area index. However, to better utilise such data, there is still a need for investigations that consider the structure and function of ecosystems and their processes, especially in mountainous areas characterized by complex terrain and a mosaic distribution of vegetation. For this purpose, we have established a new interdisciplinary approach named 'Satellite Ecology', which aims to link ecology, remote sensing and micrometeorology to facilitate the study of ecosystem function, at the plot, landscape, and regional scale.
Journal of Plant Research 11/2008; 122(1):3-20. · 1.75 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Studies on terrestrial ecosystems in the high Arctic region have focused on the response of these ecosystems to global environmental change and their carbon sequestration capacity in relation to ecosystem function. We report here our study of the photosynthetic characteristics and biomass distribution of the dominant vascular plant species, Salix polaris, Dryas octopetala and Saxifraga oppositifolia, in the high Arctic tundra ecosystem at Ny-Alesund, Svalbard (78.5 degrees N, 11.5 degrees E). We also estimated net primary production (NPP) along both the successional gradient created by the proglacial chronosequence and the topographical gradient. The light-saturated photosynthesis rate (A (max)) differed among the species, with approximately 124.1 nmol CO(2) g(-1)leaf s(-1) for Sal. polaris, 57.8 for D. octopetala and 24.4 for Sax. oppositifolia, and was highly correlated with the leaf nitrogen (N) content for all three species. The photosynthetic N use efficiency was the highest in Sal. polaris and lowest in Sax. oppositifolia. Distributions of Sal. polaris and D. octopetala were restricted to the area where soil nutrient availability was high, while Sax. oppositifolia was able to establish at the front of a glacier, where nutrient availability is low, but tended to be dominated by other vascular plants in high nutrient areas. The NPP reflected the photosynthetic capacity and biomass distribution in that it increased with the successional status; the contribution of Sal. polaris reached as high as 12-fold that of Sax. oppositifolia.
Journal of Plant Research 04/2008; 121(2):137-45. · 1.75 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Primula nutans Georgi is widely distributed in hummock-and-hollow wetlands on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. To assess the ecophysiology of this species in responding to microenvironments, we examined the photosynthetic characteristics and individual carbon gain of plants growing in different microsites from a hummock-and-hollow wetland on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and under laboratory conditions. Plants from wetland hummock microsites showed significantly higher light-saturated photosynthetic CO(2) uptake (A (max)) than those from microsites in hollows at a controlled temperature of 15 degrees C in leaf chamber. Leaf dark respiration rate (R) was only significantly higher in plants from hummocks than hollows at the measuring temperature of 35 degrees C. Optimum temperature for A (max) was 15 degrees C for all plants in the field despite different microsites. In plants growing under laboratory conditions differing in light and temperature, both A (max) and R were significantly higher under higher growth light (photosynthetic photon flux density, PPFD: 800 or 400 micromol m(-2) s(-1)) than low light of 90 micromol m(-2) s(-1). No statistically significant differences in A (max) and R existed in plants differing in growing temperatures. Estimates derived from the photosynthetic parameters of field plants, and microsite environmental measures including PPFD, air temperature and soil temperature showed that the optimum mean daily temperature for net daily carbon gain was around 10 degrees C and the net daily carbon gain was largely limited under lower daily total PPFD. These results suggest that the differences in A (max) and R in P. nutans are strongly affected by growing light regimes but not by temperature regimes.
Journal of Plant Research 04/2008; 121(2):191-200. · 1.75 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Primula sieboldii E. Morren is a clonal herbaceous species with a short foliar period from spring to early summer. We have studied the temperature-dependence of the rate of respiration at the whole-ramet level throughout the phenological stages of P. sieboldii to reveal its photosynthate-utilization strategy. P. sieboldii ramets were grown in a chamber enabling simulation of seasonal changes in temperature. Rates of respiration were measured at three phenological stages--the foliar period, the before-chilling defoliated (BCD) period, and the after--chilling defoliated (ACD) period. In the foliar period the rate of respiration, on a biomass basis at 20 degrees C (R (20)), of the above-ground plant parts was 2.5 times that of the below-ground parts. The R (20) of the below-ground parts in the foliar period was 6.5 times that in the BCD period and 1.6 times that in the ACD period. Estimation of the ramet carbon balance under these growth conditions showed that ramets respired 87% of total photosynthate production during the experimental period (8.5 months). Respiratory consumption in the foliar period accounted for 70% of the yearly total, whereas 24 and 6% were consumed in the BCD and ACD periods, respectively. An extremely low rate of respiration during the long defoliated period led to a positive net annual carbon balance for P. sieboldii ramets.
Journal of Plant Research 06/2007; 120(3):375-83. · 1.75 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Seasonal changes in gross primary production (GPP) and net ecosystem production (NEP) in temperate deciduous forests are mostly driven by environmental conditions and the phenology of leaf demography. This study addresses another factor, temporal changes in leaf properties, i.e., leaf aging from emergence to senescence. A process-based model was used to link the ecosystem-scale carbon budget with leaf-level properties on the basis of field observation and scaling procedures; temporal variations in leaf thickness (leaf mass per area, LMA), photosynthetic rubisco (Vcmax) and electron-transport (Jmax) capacity, and dark respiration (Rd) were empirically parameterized. The model was applied to a cool-temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest at Takayama, in central Japan, and validated with data of net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE=–NEP) measured using the eddy-covariance method. NEP of the Takayama site varied seasonally from 3g C m–2 day–1 net source in late winter to 5g C m–2 day–1 net sink in early to mid-summer. A sensitivity experiment showed that removing the leaf-aging effect changed the seasonal CO2 exchange pattern, and led to overestimation of annual GPP by 6% and annual NEP by 38%. We found that seasonal variation in Vcmax affected the seasonal pattern and annual budget of CO2 exchange most strongly; LMA and Rd had moderate influences. The rapid change in Vcmax and Rd during leaf emergence and senescence was important in evaluating GPP and NEP of the temperate deciduous forest.
Ecological Research 12/2005; 21(1):137-149. · 1.57 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Sun and shade environments place markedly different constraints on the photosynthetic performance of plants. Leaf-level photosynthetic responses to sun and shade have been extensively investigated, whereas there has been much less research on the functional role of crown architecture in these environments. This paper focuses on the role of architecture in maximizing light capture and photosynthesis in shaded understories and in minimizing exposure to excess radiation in open high light environments. Understanding these contrasting roles of architecture is facilitated by application of a three-dimensional structural-functional model, Y-plant. Surveys of understory plants reveal a diversity of architectures but a strong convergence at only modest light-capture efficiencies because of significant self-shading. Simulations with Psychotria species revealed that increasing internode lengths would increase light-capture efficiencies and whole plant carbon gain. However, the costs of the additional required biomechanical support was high, which, in terms of relative growth rates, would override the advantage provided by higher light-capture efficiencies. In high light environments, leaf angles and self-shading provide structural photoprotection, minimizing potential damage from photoinhbition. Simulations reveal that without these structural protections photoinhibition of photosynthesis is likely to be much greater with daily carbon gain significantly reduced.
New Phytologist 07/2005; 166(3):791-800. · 6.64 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The Arctic terrestrial ecosystem is thought to be extremely susceptible to climate change. However, because of the diverse responses of ecosystem components to change, an overall response of the ecosystem carbon cycle to climate change is still hard to predict. In this review, we focus on several recent studies conducted to clarify the pattern of the carbon cycle on the deglaciated area of Ny-Alesund, Svalbard in the high Arctic. Vegetation cover and soil carbon pools tended to increase with the progress of succession. However, even in the latter stages of succession, the size of the soil carbon pool was much smaller than those reported for the low Arctic tundra. Cryptogams contributed the major proportion of phytomass in the later stages. However, because of water limitation, their net primary production was smaller than that of the vascular plants. The compartment model that incorporated major carbon pools and flows suggested that the ecosystem of the later stages is likely to be a net sink of carbon at least for the summer season. Based on the eco-physiological characteristics of the major ecosystem components, we suggest several possible scenarios of future changes in the ecosystem carbon cycle.
Journal of Plant Research 07/2005; 118(3):173-9. · 1.75 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To examine a possible convergence in leaf photosynthetic characteristics and leaf display responses to light environment in seedlings of three canopy and two shrub tree species in understorey of cool-temperate deciduous broadleaf forest, relationships between light environment, leaf orientation and leaf light-photosynthetic response were measured. Light capture of the seedlings (17-24 individuals with 2-12 leaves for each species) was assessed with a three dimensional geometric modeling program Y-plant. Leaf photosynthetic characteristics of the five species were found to have acclimated to the understorey light environment, i.e., low light compensation point and high apparent quantum yield. In addition, light-saturated photosynthetic rates were higher in seedlings inhabiting microsites with higher light availability. Efficiencies of light capture and carbon gain of the leaf display were evaluated by simulating the directionalities of light capture and daily photosynthesis for each seedling using hemispherical canopy photography. The results showed that most of the seedlings orientated their leaves in a way to increase the daily photosynthesis during the direct light periods (sunflecks) rather than maximize daily photosynthesis by diffuse light. Simulations also showed that daily photosynthesis would increase only 10% of that on actual leaf display when the leaves orientated to maximize the diffuse light interception. Simulations in which leaf orientations were varied showed that when the leaf display fully maximized direct light interception, the time that leaves were exposed to excessive photon flux density of >800 mumol photons m(-2) s(-1) were doubled. The understorey seedlings studied responded to the given light environments in a way to maximize the efficiency of acquisition and use of light during their short (approximately 3 month) seasonal growth period.
Oecologia 06/2003; 135(4):500-9. · 3.41 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The effects of soil-water availability on leaf light acclimation and whole-plant carbon gain were examined in Arisaema heterophyllum Blume, a riparian deciduous forest understorey plant. Photosynthesis, above-ground morphology and ramet biomass accumulation (relative growth rate: RGR of a corm for a full leaf life-span) were measured on plants raised under three light treatments combined with two soil water conditions. The two higher light treatments during growth (high: max. 550 micro mol photons m(-2) s(-1); medium: 150 micro mol photons m(-2) s(-1)) resulted in a twofold increase in RGRs, 30% higher photosynthetic capacities and 20% less photosynthetic low-light use efficiency than those under a low light condition (50 micro mol photons m(-2) s(-1)). Leaf area was the smallest and leaf mass area ratio was the largest under the high light treatment. Water stress decreased both photosynthetic rate and leaf area and, hence, RGR in all the light regimes. However, water stress did not alter the general patterns of physiological and morphological responses to different light regimes. We estimated that higher photosynthetic low-light use efficiency and larger leaf area in the low light leaf would lead to a threefold carbon gain as compared with the high light leaf under simulated low light conditions. Both experimental and simulation results suggest that the physiological and morphological acclimations tend to be beneficial to carbon gain when light availability is low, whereas they favor increased water use efficiency when light availability is sufficiently high.
Journal of Plant Research 01/2003; 115(6):419-27. · 1.75 Impact Factor
