Leaf dark respiration as a function of canopy position in Nothofagus fusca trees grown at ambient and elevated CO2 partial pressures for 5 years

Abstract

Summary Mass‐based and area‐based rates of respiration, leaf nitrogen content, leaf total protein content, non‐structural carbohydrates and leaf mass per unit area (LMA) all decreased with depth in the canopy of Nothofagus fusca (Hook. F.) Oerst. (Red beech) trees grown for 5 years at ambient (36 Pa) or elevated (66 Pa) CO2 partial pressures. Elevated CO2 partial pressure had a strong effect on dark respiration, decreasing both mass‐based and area‐based rates at all canopy positions, but had little or no effect on leaf physical and biochemical properties. Leaf sugars, starch, protein, N and LMA were all correlated with respiration rate, and are therefore strong predictors of area‐based dark respiration rates. The y axis intercept of regressions of respiration rate on mean leaf N, protein, starch and LMA was lower for plants grown at elevated compared to ambient CO2 partial pressures because of the differential effect of growth at elevated CO2 partial pressure on leaf gas‐exchange, chemical and physical characteristics. The lower respiration rates for leaves from trees grown at elevated CO2 partial pressure resulted in a significant increase in the ratio of light‐saturated net photosynthesis to respiration, increasing the potential carbon‐use efficiency of these leaves.