Monoterpene and isoprene emissions from 15 Eucalyptus species in Australia

Abstract

Monoterpene and isoprene emission rates of 15 Eucalyptus species were measured using an air exchange chamber technique and GC-FID analysis. The normalised monoterpene emission rates (leaf temperature 30°C) of these Eucalyptus species ranged from zero for E. forrestiana to 5.4±2.2 μg g −1 h −1 (or 871±33 μg m −2 h −1) for E. globulus. The dominant monoterpene compounds emitted from these Eucalyptus species were α-pinene, 1,8-cineole, β-pinene and limonene. The normalised isoprene emission rates (leaf temperature 30°C, PAR flux 1000 μmol m −2 s −1) ranged from 5.3±1.6 ( E. botryoides) to 69±34 μg g −1 h −1 ( E. globulus) or from 0.74 ( E. cladocalyx) to 9.5 mg m −2 h −1 ( E. rudis). Based on monoterpene emission rate data from four Eucalyptus species ( E. globulus, E. robusta, E. rudis, and E. sargentii), there were clear exponential relationships between leaf temperature and monoterpene emission rate for these Eucalyptus species. The mean exponential value ( β value) of the four Eucalyptus species was 0.103±0.012 K −1.