Abstract
Monoterpene emissions from the dominant understory species Pteridium aquilinum (Bracken fern) in a mixed temperate forest were measured in the field during the summers of 2006, 2007 and 2008. The results showed that Bracken fern emitted monoterpenes at different rates depending if the plants were located in the understory or in open areas. Understory plants emitted monoterpene levels ranging from 0.002 to 13 μgC gdw−1 h−1. Open area plants emitted monoterpene levels ranging from 0.005 to 2.21 μgC gdw−1 h−1. During the summer of 2008 greenhouse studies were performed to complement the field studies. Only 3% of the greenhouse Bracken fern plants emitted substantial amounts of monoterpenes. The average emission, 0.15 μgC gdw−1 h−1 ± 0.9 μgC gdw−1 h−1, was much lower than that observed in the field. The factors controlling monoterpene emissions are not clear, but this study provides evidence of the potential importance of understory vegetation to ecosystem total hydrocarbon emissions and emphasizes the need for longer-term field studies.
Highlights
Studies of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) from vegetation have focused on emissions of tree species that dominate the landscapes of some terrestrial biomes
Monoterpenes are released to the atmosphere mostly by diffusion through cellular compartments and, temperature plays an important role in monoterpene emissions because of its influence on vapor pressure and diffusion
Results showed that Bracken emissions did not make a significant contribution to total monoterpene emissions from the forest ecosystem investigated
Summary
Studies of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) from vegetation have focused on emissions of tree species that dominate the landscapes of some terrestrial biomes. Understory vegetation has been neglected by these studies and its contribution to regional BVOC emissions is unknown. Within the BVOC’s, monoterpenes (MT e C10H16) stand out as a class due to their various ecological and atmospheric roles (Loreto et al, 2009; Fuentes et al, 2000). Monoterpenes are known to deter herbivores and/or attract their predators. These compounds are known to serve as signaling compounds to attract pollinators (Sell, 2003; Theis, 2006). Monoterpenes are released to the atmosphere mostly by diffusion through cellular compartments and, temperature plays an important role in monoterpene emissions because of its influence on vapor pressure and diffusion
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