Chronically elevated tropospheric ozone (O3) concentrations are known to affect tree growth and competitiveness. Using the stable isotopes 13C and 15N as tracer, carbon and nitrogen allocation was studied in juvenile and adult beech (
Fagus sylvatica) and spruce (
Picea abies) trees that were exposed to twice-ambient O3 concentrations. Juvenile trees were, additionally, grown in mono- and mixed cultures to excamine intra- and interspecific competition effects. Investigations on saplings were carried out in phytotrons. C allocation to stem respiration was lowered under elevated O3 in juvenile beech, but increased in spruce in mixture with beech, although treatment effects on tree biomass were absent. Interspecific competition stimulated the 15N uptake of spruce, but had no effect on the 15N acquisition in beech. Elevated O3 favoured the C allocation into the fine root biomass of beech, along with an increased fine root biomass development. In the absence of O3 effects, interspecific competition stimulated the C and N allocation into spruce needles. At the forest site, O3-fumigated adult beech was similarly sensitive to ozone as were beech saplings, showing reduced C allocation to the stem and lowered stem volume growth. The effects may, in the longterm, substanially mitigate the C sink strength of trees.
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Chronically elevated tropospheric ozone (O3) concentrations are known to affect tree growth and competitiveness. Using the stable isotopes 13C and 15N as tracer, carbon and nitrogen allocation was studied in juvenile and adult beech (
Fagus sylvatica) and spruce (
Picea abies) trees that were exposed to twice-ambient O3 concentrations. Juvenile trees were, additionally, grown in mono- and mixed cultures to excamine intra- and interspecific competition effects. Investigations on saplings were carri...
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