Risk assessments for forest trees: The performance of the ozone flux versus the AOT concepts

P. E. Karlsson, S. Braun, M. Broadmeadow, S. Elvira, L. Emberson, B. S. Gimeno, D. Le Thiec, K. Novak, E. Oksanen, M. Schaub, J. Uddling, M. Wilkinson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Published ozone exposure-response relationships from experimental studies with young trees performed at different sites across Europe were re-analysed in order to test the performance of ozone exposure indices based on AOTX (Accumulated exposure Over a Threshold of X nmol mol(-1)) and AF(st)Y (Accumulated Stomatal Flux above a threshold of Y nmol m(-2) s(-1)). AF(st)1.6 was superior, as compared to AOT40, for explaining biomass reductions, when ozone sensitive species with differing leaf morphology were included in the analysis, while this was not the case for less sensitive species. A re-analysis of data with young black cherry trees, subject to different irrigation regimes, indicated that leaf visible injuries were more strongly related to the estimated stomatal ozone uptake, as compared to the ozone concentration in the air. Experimental data with different clones of silver birch indicated that leaf thickness was also an important factor influencing the development of ozone induced leaf visible injury. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)608-616
Number of pages9
JournalEnvironmental Pollution
Volume146
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2007

Keywords

  • ozone
  • forest trees
  • ozone flux
  • AFstY
  • AOT40
  • NORWAY SPRUCE
  • FAGUS-SYLVATICA
  • FRAXINUS-EXCELSIOR
  • BETULA-PENDULA
  • ELEVATED CO2
  • YOUNG TREES
  • GROWTH
  • EXPOSURE
  • EUROPE
  • IMPACT

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