US EPA

4309454 

Journal Article 

Leaf chlorophyll content as a proxy for leaf photosynthetic capacity 

Croft, H; Chen, JM; Luo, X; Bartlett, P; Chen, B; Staebler, RM 

2017 

Yes 

Global Change Biology
ISSN: 1354-1013
EISSN: 1365-2486 

23 

9 

3513-3524 

English 

27976452 

10.1111/gcb.13599 

WOS:000406812100009 

Improving the accuracy of estimates of forest carbon exchange is a central priority for understanding ecosystem response to increased atmospheric CO2levels and improving carbon cycle modelling. However, the spatially continuous parameterization of photosynthetic capacity (Vcmax) at global scales and appropriate temporal intervals within terrestrial biosphere models (TBMs) remains unresolved. This research investigates the use of biochemical parameters for modelling leaf photosynthetic capacity within a deciduous forest. Particular attention is given to the impacts of seasonality on both leaf biophysical variables and physiological processes, and their interdependent relationships. Four deciduous tree species were sampled across three growing seasons (2013-2015), approximately every 10 days for leaf chlorophyll content (ChlLeaf) and canopy structure. Leaf nitrogen (NArea) was also measured during 2014. Leaf photosynthesis was measured during 2014-2015 using a Li-6400 gas-exchange system, with A-Ci curves to model Vcmax. Results showed that seasonality and variations between species resulted in weak relationships between Vcmax normalized to 25°C (Vcmax25) and NArea(R2 = 0.62, P < 0.001), whereas ChlLeafdemonstrated a much stronger correlation with Vcmax25 (R2 = 0.78, P < 0.001). The relationship between ChlLeafand NAreawas also weak (R2 = 0.47, P < 0.001), possibly due to the dynamic partitioning of nitrogen, between and within photosynthetic and nonphotosynthetic fractions. The spatial and temporal variability of Vcmax25 was mapped using Landsat TM/ETM satellite data across the forest site, using physical models to derive ChlLeaf. TBMs largely treat photosynthetic parameters as either fixed constants or varying according to leaf nitrogen content. This research challenges assumptions that simple NArea-Vcmax25 relationships can reliably be used to constrain photosynthetic capacity in TBMs, even within the same plant functional type. It is suggested that ChlLeafprovides a more accurate, direct proxy for Vcmax25 and is also more easily retrievable from satellite data. These results have important implications for carbon modelling within deciduous ecosystems.