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Carbon Storage in Trees: Does Relative Carbon Supply Decrease with Tree Size?

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Size- and Age-Related Changes in Tree Structure and Function

Part of the book series: Tree Physiology ((TREE,volume 4))

Abstract

Until very recently, age- and size-related declines in productivity of individual trees and stands have been attributed to reductions of carbon availability due either to progressive increases in carbon sinks other than growth (Respiration hypothesis) or to decreases carbon sources (Assimilation hypothesis). Although the validity of these hypotheses is now questioned and new alternative explanations have been proposed, actual data on size-dependent changes of stored mobile carbon in mature trees (used as indicators of carbon balance between source and sink activities) are surprisingly limited. Based on available data for mature trees and consistent with evidence that mature trees under current atmospheric CO2 concentrations are not carbon limited, the relative carbon supply in trees does not become increasingly limited as they grow large. In spite of many uncertainties, research to date points to the need to question the historically carbon-centric mechanisms proposed to explain age-related growth declines in trees and forests. Future research should focus on whether and when alternative growth limiting factors (e.g. turgor, long distance transport of assimilates, nutrients) may contribute to growth limitations in tall trees.

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Acknowledgements

Two anonymous reviewers provided very useful comments to improve this manuscript. Funding for this research was provided in part by NSF (DEB- 05–15756) and subsequent REU supplement to support WF.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Biological Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT, 59812, USA

    Anna Sala & Willa Fouts

  2. Institute of Botany, University of Basel, Schönbeinstrasse 6, CH-4056, Basel, Switzerland

    Günter Hoch

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  1. Anna Sala
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  2. Willa Fouts
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  3. Günter Hoch
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Correspondence to Anna Sala .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Forestry Sciences Lab., Ecosystem Processes Program, USDA Forest Service, SW. Jefferson Way 3200, Corvallis, 97331, Oregon, USA

    Frederick C. Meinzer

  2. , Department of Wood Science and Engineeri, Oregon State University, Richardson Hall 119, Corvallis, 97331, Oregon, USA

    Barbara Lachenbruch

  3. Dept. Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, 94720, California, USA

    Todd E. Dawson

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Sala, A., Fouts, W., Hoch, G. (2011). Carbon Storage in Trees: Does Relative Carbon Supply Decrease with Tree Size?. In: Meinzer, F., Lachenbruch, B., Dawson, T. (eds) Size- and Age-Related Changes in Tree Structure and Function. Tree Physiology, vol 4. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1242-3_11

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