Abstract
Despite the economic and ecological importance of key carbon (C) traits (concentration, sequestration, and allocation to different tree components), there are few studies on their variation among populations of a tree species and the possible adaptive significance of these traits. We investigated differences in the C traits among 16 white birch populations grown in two provenance trials in northeastern China. Effects of provenance were significant for most combinations of C trait, tree portion, and trial site. Substantial differences among provenances were found in (1) C concentration in the bole wood and in bark, in fine roots, and at the whole tree scale; (2) C amount sequestered in each studied tree component and in the whole tree; and (3) ratios of C partitioning to bole wood, bole bark, leaves, and existing fine roots. Mostly, significant variations in C concentration and partitioning ratios were independent of provenance volume growth, while those in C amount were strongly positively correlated with volume growth. Summer climate at the provenance origin was the best predictor, of C concentration and allocation but clinal patterns in these traits were found for only some tree components. The C sequestration showed a clinal pattern following the mean annual temperature at the provenance origin. While this suggests an adaptive nature of C traits in white birch, site conditions and/or tree density act strongly on expression of these traits. Implications of this study to C budgeting, trading C credits, and to genetic selection are discussed. Our results may interest ecologists studying dynamics of ecosystems in times of climate change.
Published Version
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