Abstract
Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds (BVOC) are largely accepted to contribute to both atmospheric chemistry and ecosystem functioning. While the forest canopy is recognized as a major source of BVOC, emissions from plant litter have scarcely been explored with just a couple of studies being focused on emission patterns over litter decomposition process. The aim of this study was to quantitatively and qualitatively characterize BVOC emissions (C1–C15) from Pinus halepensis litter, one of the major Mediterranean conifer species, over a 15‐month litter decomposition experiment. Senescent needles of P. halepensis were collected and placed in 42 litterbags where they underwent in situ decomposition. Litterbags were collected every 3 months and litter BVOC emissions were studied in vitro using both online (PTR‐ToF‐MS) and offline analyses (GC‐MS). Results showed a large diversity of BVOC (58 compounds detected), with a strong variation over time. Maximum total BVOC emissions were observed after 3 months of decomposition with 9.18 µg gDM −1 hr−1 mainly composed by terpene emissions (e.g., α‐pinene, terpinolene, β‐caryophyllene). At this stage, methanol, acetone, and acetic acid were the most important nonterpenic volatiles representing, respectively, up to 26%, 10%, and 26% of total emissions. This study gives an overview of the evolution of BVOC emissions from litter along with decomposition process and will thus contribute to better understand the dynamics and sources of BVOC emission in Mediterranean pine forests.
Highlights
Terrestrial ecosystems are the major source of Biogenic Volatiles Organic Compounds (BVOC) through emissions from foliage of living plants (Navarro et al, 2014) and, to a lesser extent, leaf litter (Greenberg et al, 2012)
Our study showed that Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds (BVOC) emissions from P. halepensis litter evolved both qualitatively and quantitatively during the decomposition process
When compared to emissions of BVOC from green leaves of P. halepensis that vary from one study to another with a range of emissions between 3.0 and 15.0 μg gDW−1 hr−1 (Llusia & Penuelas, 2000; Ormeño et al, 2007), our study shows that emission from P. halepensis litter can highly contribute to the total emissions in P. halepensis forests, with a major contribution after 3 and 6 months of decomposition
Summary
Terrestrial ecosystems are the major source of Biogenic Volatiles Organic Compounds (BVOC) through emissions from foliage of living plants (Navarro et al, 2014) and, to a lesser extent, leaf litter (Greenberg et al, 2012). Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds emissions from living plants, well characterized since the 80s, consist of terpene compounds (the major class), methanol and its catabolic products (formaldehyde, formic acid), fatty acid derivatives (e.g., low chain alkanes), and phenylpropanoids including benzenoids (benzaldehyde) and simple phenolics (Gómez & Baldasano, 1999; Keenan et al, 2009; Owen et al, 1997, 2001) Factors driving their emission are well known, with light, temperature, and water availability being the main drivers (Degenhardt et al, 2009; Genard-Zielinski, Boissard, et al, 2015; Genard-Zielinski, Ormeño, et al, 2014; Guenther et al, 2000; Kesselmeier & Staudt, 1999; Saunier, Ormeño, Boissard, et al, 2017; Saunier, Ormeño, Wortham, et al, 2017)
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