Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

13C discrimination during CO2 assimilation by the terrestrial biosphere

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Oecologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Estimates of the extent of the discrimination against13CO2 during photosynthesis (ΔA) on a global basis were made using gridded data sets of temperature, precipitation, elevation, humidity and vegetation type. Stomatal responses to leaf-to-air vapour mole fraction difference (D, leaf-to-air vapour pressure difference divided by atmospheric pressure) were first determined by a literature review and by assuming that stomatal behaviour results in the optimisation of plant water use in relation to carbon gain. Using monthly time steps, modelled stomatal responses toD were used to calculate the ratio of stomatal cavity to ambient CO2 mole fractions and then, in association with leaf internal conductances, to calculate ΔA. Weighted according to gross primary productivity (GPP, annual net CO2 asimilation per unit ground area), estimated ΔA for C3 biomes ranged from 12.9‰ for xerophytic woods and shrub to 19.6‰ for cool/cold deciduous forest, with an average value from C3 plants of 17.8‰. This is slightly less than the commonly used values of 18–20‰. For C4 plants the average modelled discrimination was 3.6‰, again slightly less than would be calculated from C4 plant dry matter carbon isotopic composition (yielding around 5‰). From our model we estimate that, on a global basis, 21% of GPP is by C4 plants and for the terrestrial biosphere as a whole we calculate an average isotope discrimination during photosynthesis of 14.8‰. There are large variations in ΔA across the globe, the largest of which are associated with the precence or absence of C4 plants. Due to longitudinal variations in ΔA, there are problems in using latitudinally averaged terrestrial carbon isotope discriminations to calculate the ratio of net oceanic to net terrestrial carbon fluxes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Atkinson CJ, Winner WE (1987) Gas exchange characteristics ofHeteromeles arbutifolia during fumigation with sulphur dioxide. New Phytol 106:423–436

    Google Scholar 

  • Badger MR, Björkman O, Armond PA (1982) An analysis of photosynthetic response and adaption to temperature in higher plants: temperature acclimation in the desert evergreenNerium oleander L. Plant Cell Environ 5:85–99

    Google Scholar 

  • Ball MC, Cowan IR, Farquhar GD (1988) Maintenance of leaf temperature and the optimisation of carbon gain in relation to water loss in a tropical mangrove forest. Aust J Plant Physiol 15:263–276

    Google Scholar 

  • Batten D, Lloyd J, McConchie C (1992) Seasonal variation in stomatal responses of two cultivars of lychee (Litchi chinensis Sonn.). Aust J Plant Physiol 19:317–329

    Google Scholar 

  • Bassman JH, Zwier JC (1991) Gas exchange characteristics ofPopulus trichocarpa, Populus deltoides andPopulus trichocarpaxPopulus deltoides clones. Tree Physiol 8:145–159

    Google Scholar 

  • Bender M (1968) Mass spectrometric studies of carbon-13 variations in corn and other grasses. Radiocarbon 10:468–472

    Google Scholar 

  • Berninger F, Hari P (1993) Optimal regulation of gas exchange: evidence from field data. Ann Bot 71:135–140

    Google Scholar 

  • Berry JA (1994) Global distribution of C4 plants. Carnegie Inst Washington Yearb 1992/93:60–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Caemmerer S von, Evans JR (1991) Determination of the average partial pressure of CO2 in chloroplasts from leaves of several C3 species. Aust J Plant Physiol 18:287–305

    Google Scholar 

  • Caemmerer S von, Evans JR, Hudson GS, Andrews TJ (1994) The kinetics of Rubisco inferred from measurements of photosynthesis in leaves of transgenic tobacco with reduced Rubisco content. Planta (in press)

  • Cavagnaro JB (1988) Distribution of C3 and C4 grasses at different altitudes in a temperate arid region of Argentina. Oecologia 76:273–277

    Google Scholar 

  • Ciais P, Tans PP, White JC, Trolier M, Francey RJ, Berry JA, Randall DR, Sellers PJ, Collatz JG, Schimel DS (1994) Partitioning of ocean and land uptake of CO2 as inferred by δ13C measurements from the NOAA/CMDL global air sampling network. J Geophys Res (in press)

  • Collatz J, Ferrar PJ, Slatyer RO (1976) Effects of water stress and differential hardening treatments of photosynthetic characteristics of a xeromorphic shrub,Eucalyptus socialis, F Muell. Oecologia 23:95–105

    Google Scholar 

  • Conroy JP, Küppers M, Küppers B, Virgona J, Barlow EWR (1988) The influence of CO2 enrichment, phosphorus deficiency and water stress on growth, conductance and water use ofPinus radiata D. Don. Plant Cell Environ 11:91–98

    Google Scholar 

  • Cowan IR (1977) Stomatal behaviour and environment. Adv Bot Res 4:117–228

    Google Scholar 

  • Cowan IR, Farquhar GD (1977) Stomatal function in relation to leaf metabolism and environment. Symp Soc Exp Biol 31:471–505

    Google Scholar 

  • Craig H (1953) The geochemistry of the stable carbon isotopes. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 12:133–149

    Google Scholar 

  • Delucia EH (1986) Effect of low root temperature on net photosynthesis, stomatal conductances and carbohydrate concentration in Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm.) seedlings. Tree Physiol 2:143–154

    Google Scholar 

  • Diehl WS (1925) Standard atmosphere — tables and data (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics Report 218)

  • Eamus D, Fowler D (1990) Photosynhetic and stomatal conductance responses to acid mist of red spruce seedlings. Plant Cell Environ 13:349–357

    Google Scholar 

  • Ehleringer JR (1993) Carbon and water relations of desert plants: an isotopic perspective. In: Ehleringer JR, Hall AE, Farquhar GD (eds) Stable isotopes in plant carbon-water relations. Academic Press, San Diego, pp 155–172

    Google Scholar 

  • Ehleringer JR (1994) Variation in gas exchange characteristics among desert plants. In: Schulze ED, Caldwell MM (eds) Ecophysiology of photosynthesis (Ecological Studies 100). Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 361–392

    Google Scholar 

  • Ehleringer JR, Cooper T (1988) Correlations between carbon isotope discrimination and microhabitat in desert plants. Oecologia 76:562–566

    Google Scholar 

  • Ehleringer JR, Hall AE, Farquhar GD (1993) Stable isotopes and plant carbon-water relations. Academic Press, San Diego, pp 1–527

    Google Scholar 

  • Enting IG, Francey RJ, Trudinger CM (1994) Synthesis study of the atmospheric CO2 and13CO2 budgets. Tellus (in press)

  • Evans JR (1983) Nitrogen and photosynthesis in the flag leaf of wheat,Triticum aestivum. Plant Physiol 72:297–302

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans JR, Sharkey TD, Berry JA, Farquhar GD (1986) Carbon isotope discrimination measured concurrently with gas exchange to investigate CO2 diffusion in leaves of higher plants. Aust J Plant Physiol 13:281–293

    Google Scholar 

  • Farquhar GD (1983) On the nature of carbon isotope discrimination in C4 species. Aust J Plant Physiol 10:205–226

    Google Scholar 

  • Farquhar GD (1989) Models of integrated photosynthesis of cells and leaves. Philos Trans R Soc B 323:357–368

    Google Scholar 

  • Farquhar GD, Lloyd J (1993) Carbon and oxygen isotope effects in the exchange of carbon dioxide between terrestrial plants and the atmosphere. In: Ehleringer JR, Hall AE, Farquhar GD (eds) Stable isotopes in plant carbon-water relations. Academic Press, San Diego, pp 47–70

    Google Scholar 

  • Farquhar GD, Richards R (1984) Isotopic composition of plant carbon correlates with water use efficiency of wheat genotypes. Aust J Plant Physiol 11:539–557

    Google Scholar 

  • Farquhar GD, Schulze ED, Küppers M (1980) Responses to humidity by stomata ofNicotiana glauca L. andCorylus avellana L. are consistent with the optimization of carbon dioxide uptake with respect to water loss. Aust J Plant Physiol 7:315–327

    Google Scholar 

  • Farquhar GD, O'Leary MHO, Berry JA (1982) On the relationship between carbon isotope discrimination and the intercellular carbon dioxide concentration in leaves. Aust J Plant Physiol 9:121–137

    Google Scholar 

  • Farquhar GD, Ehleringer JR, Hubick KT (1989) Carbon isotope discrimination during photosynthesis. Annu Rev Plant Physiol Mol Biol 40:503–537

    Google Scholar 

  • Farquhar GD, Lloyd J, Taylor JA, Flanagan LB, Syvertsen JP, Hubick KT, Wong SC, Ehleringer JR (1993) Vegetation effects on the isotopic composition of oxygen in atmospheric CO2. Nature 363:439–443

    Google Scholar 

  • Field C, Berry JA, Mooney HA (1982) A portable system for measuring carbon dioxide and water vapour exchange of leaves. Plant Cell Environ 5:179–182

    Google Scholar 

  • Fites JA, Teskey RO (1988) CO2 and water vapour exchange inPinus taeda in relation to stomatal behaviour: test of an optimisation hypothesis. Can J For Res 18:150–157

    Google Scholar 

  • Francey RJ, Tans PP (1987) Latitudinal variation in oxygen-18 in atmospheric CO2. Nature 327:495–497

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedlingstein PC, Delire C, Muller JF, Gerard JC (1992) The climate induced variation on the continental biosphere: a model simulation of the last glacial maximum. Geophys Res Lett 19:897–900

    Google Scholar 

  • Gates WL, Nelson AB (1975) A new (revised) tabulation of the Scripps topography on a 1 degree global grid. Part I: terrain heights. (R-1276-1-ARPA), Rand Corporation

  • Gollan T, Turner NC, Schulze E-D (1985) The responses of stomata and leaf gas exchange to vapour pressure deficits and soil water content III. On the sclerophyllous woody speciesNerium oleander. Oecologia 65:356–362

    Google Scholar 

  • Grieu P, Guehl JM, Aussenac C (1988) The effects of soil and atmospheric drought on photosynthesis and stomatal control of gas exchange in three coniferous species. Physiol Plant 73:97–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Guehl JM, Aussenac G (1987) Photosynthesis decrease and stomatal control of gas exchange inA bies alba Mill. in response to vapor pressure difference. Plant Physiol 83:316–332

    Google Scholar 

  • Guy RD, Fogel ML, Berry JA (1993) Photosynthetic fractionation of stable isotopes of oxygen and carbon. Plant Physiol 101:37–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall AE, Schulze ED (1980) Stomatal response to environment an a possible interrelation between stomatal effects on transpiration and CO2 assimilation. Plant Cell Environ 3:467–474

    Google Scholar 

  • Hattersley PW (1983) The distribution of C3 and C4 grasses in Australia is relation to climate. Oecologia 57:113–128

    Google Scholar 

  • Hattersley PW (1992) C4 photosynthetic pathway in grasses (Poaceae): its significance for arid and semi-arid lands. In: Chapman GP (ed) Desertified grasslands: their biology and management (Linnaean Society Symposium Series 13). Academic Press, London, pp 181–212

    Google Scholar 

  • Henderson SA, Caemmerer S von, Farquhar GD (1992) Short-term measurements of carbon isotope discrimination in several C4 species. Aust J Plant Physiol 19:263–285

    Google Scholar 

  • Henderson SA, Hattersley P, Caemmerer S von, Osmond CB (1994) Are C4 plants threatened by global climatic change? In: Schulze ED, Caldwell MM (eds) Ecophysiology of photosynthesis (Ecological Studies 100). Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 529–549

    Google Scholar 

  • Houghton RA, Boone RD, Fruci JR, Hobbie JE, Melillo JM, Palm CA, Peterson BJ, Shaver GR, Woodwell GM, Moore B, Skole DL, Myers N (1987) The flux of carbon from terrestrial ecosystems for the atmosphere in 1980 due to changes in land use: geographic distribution of the global flux. Tellus 39B:122–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunt ER, Weber JA, Gates DM (1985) Effects of nitrite application onAmaranthus powellii Wats. II. Stomatal response to vapour pressure difference is consistent with optimisation of stomatal conductance. Plant Physiol 79:614–618

    Google Scholar 

  • Kays WM (1966) Convective heat and mass transfer. McGraw-Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Keeling CD (1958) The concentrations and isotopic abundances of atmospheric carbon dioxide in rural areas. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 13:322–334

    Google Scholar 

  • Keeling CD (1961) The concentration and isotopic abundances of carbon dioxide in rural and marine air. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 24:277–298

    Google Scholar 

  • Keeling CD (1962) A mechanism for cyclic enrichment of carbon-12 in terrestrial plants. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 24:299–313

    Google Scholar 

  • Keeling CD, Bacastow RB, Carter AF, Piper SC, Whorf TP, Heimann M, Mook WG, Roeloffzen H (1989a) A three dimensional analysis of atmospheric CO2 transport based on observed winds 1. Analysis of observational data. In: Peterson JH (ed) Aspects of climatic variability in the Pacific and western Americas (Geophysical Monograph 55). American Geophysical Union, Washington DC, pp 165–236

    Google Scholar 

  • Keeling CD, Piper SC, Heimann M (1989b) A three dimensional analysis of atmospheric CO2 transport based on observed winds 4. Mean annual gradients and interannual variations. In: Peterson JH (ed) Aspects of climatic variability in the Pacific and western Americas (Geophysical Monograph 55). American Geophysical Union, Washington DC, pp 305–363

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirschbaum MUF, Tomkins D (1990) Photosynthetic responses to phosphorous nutrition inEucalyptus grandis seedlings. Aust J Plant Physiol 17:527–535

    Google Scholar 

  • Körner C, Farquhar GD, Roksandik Z (1988) A global survey of carbon isotope discrimination in plants from high altitude. Oecologia 74:623–632

    Google Scholar 

  • Körner C, Farquhar GD, Wong SC (1991) Carbon isotope discrimination by plants follows latitudinal and altitudinal trends. Oecologia 88:30–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Kwesiga FR, Grace J, Sandford AP (1986) Some photosynthetic characteristics of tropical timber trees as affected by light regime during growth. Ann Bot 58:23–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Lancaster J (1990) Carbon-13 fractionation in carbon dioxide emitting diurnally from soils and vegetation at ten sites on the North American continent. Ph D thesis, University of California, San Diego, USA

  • Larigauderie A, Hilbert DW, Oechel WC (1988) Effect of CO2 enrichment and nitrogen availability on resource acquisition and resource allocation in a grass,Bromus mollis. Oecologia 77:544–549

    Google Scholar 

  • Leavitt SW (1993) Seasonal13C/12C changes in tree rings: species and site coherence and a possible drought influence. Can J For Res 23:210–218

    Google Scholar 

  • Leemans R, Cramer W (1991) The IIASA climate database for mean monthly values of temperature precipitation and cloudiness on a terrestrial grid (RR-9118). IIASA, Laxenberg

    Google Scholar 

  • Lloyd J (1991) Modelling stomatal response ofMacadamia integrifolia. Aust J Plant Physiol 18:649–660

    Google Scholar 

  • Lloyd J, Kriedemann PE, Syvertsen JP (1987) Gas exchange, water relations and ion concentrations of leaves of salt stressed 3 ‘Valencia’ orange,Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck. Aust J Plant Physiol 14:387–396

    Google Scholar 

  • Lloyd J, Syvertsen JP, Kriedemann PE, Farquhar GD (1992) Low conductances of CO2 diffusion from stomata to the sites of carboxylation in leaves of woody species. Plant Cell Environ 15:873–899

    Google Scholar 

  • Loreto F, Harley PC, Di Marco G, Sharkey TD (1992) Estimation of mesophyll conductance to CO2 by three different methods. Plant Physiol 98:1437–1443

    Google Scholar 

  • Lowden J, Dyck W (1974) Seasonal variations in the isotope ratios of carbon in maple leaves and other plants. Can J Earth Sci 11:79–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Matyssek R, Schulze E-D (1988) Carbon uptake and respiration in above-ground parts of aLarix decidua×leptolepis tree. Trees 1:233–241

    Google Scholar 

  • McVetty PBE, Austin RB, Morgan CL (1989) A comparison of growth, photosynthesis stomatal conductance and water use efficiency ofMoricandia andBrassica species. Ann Bot 64:87–94

    Google Scholar 

  • Meinzer FC (1982) The effect of light on stomatal control of gas exchange in Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) saplings. Oecologia 54:270–274

    Google Scholar 

  • Meinzer FC, Goldestein G, Marisol J (1984) The effect of atmospheric humidity on stomatal control of gas exchange in two tropical coniferous species. Can J Bot 62:591–595

    Google Scholar 

  • Meinzer FC, Saliendra NZ, Crisosto CH (1992) Carbon isotope discrimination and gas exchange inCoffea arabica during adjustment to different soil moisture regimes. Aust J Plant Physiol 19:171–184

    Google Scholar 

  • Monson RK, Sackschewsky MR, Williams GJ III (1986) Fields measurements of photosynthesis, water use efficiency inAgropyron smithii (C3) andBouteloua gracilis (C4) in the Colorado shortgrass steppe. Oecologia 68:400–409

    Google Scholar 

  • Mook WG, Bommerson JC, Staveman WH (1974) Carbon isotope fractionation between dissolved bicarbonate and gaseous carbon dioxide. Earth Planet Sci Lett 22:169–176

    Google Scholar 

  • Mooney HA, Chu C (1983) Stomatal responses to humidity of coastal and interior populations of a Californian shrub. Oecologia 57:148–150

    Google Scholar 

  • Mooney HA, Field C, Williams WI, Berry JA, Björkman O (1983) Photosynthetic characteristics of plants of a Californian cool coastal environment. Oecologia 58:38–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Morison JR, Gifford RM (1983) Stomatal sensitivity to carbon dioxide and humidity: A comparison of two C3 and two C4 species. Plant Physiol 71:789–796

    Google Scholar 

  • Mott KA, Parkhurst DF (1991) Stomatal responses to humidity in air and helox. Plant Cell Environ 14:509–515

    Google Scholar 

  • Nier AO, Gulbransen EA (1939) Variations in the relative abundance of the carbon isotopes. J Am Chem Soc 61:678–698

    Google Scholar 

  • Nonami H, Schulze E-D, Zeigler H (1990) Mechanisms of stomatal movement in response to air humidity, irradiance and xylem water potential. Planta 183:57–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Norby RJ, O'Neill EG (1991) Leaf area compensation and nutrient interactions in CO2-enriched seedlings of yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipera L.) New Phytol 117:515–528

    Google Scholar 

  • Oberbauer SF, Oechel WC (1989) Maximum CO2-assimilation rates of vascular plants on an Alaskan arctic tundra slope. Holarct Ecol 12:312–316

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Leary MH (1981) Carbon isotope fractionation in plants. Phytochemistry 20:554–567

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Leary MH (1984) Mechanism of isotope fractionation associated with diffusion of carbon dioxide in aqueous solution. J Phys Chem 88:823–825

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Leary MH, Rife JE, Slater JD (1981) Kinetic and isotope effect studies of maize phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase. Biochemistry 20:7308–7314

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearcy RW (1987) Photosynthetic gas exchange responses of Australian tropical forest trees in canopy, gap und understorey micro-environments. Funct Ecol 1:169–178

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearman GI, Hyson P (1986) Global transport and inter-reservoir exchange of carbon dioxide with particular reference to stable isotope distribution. J Atmos Chem 4:81–124

    Google Scholar 

  • Pezeshki SR (1987) Gas exchange response of tupelo-gum (Nyssa aquatica L.) to flooding and salinity. Photosynthetica 21:489–493

    Google Scholar 

  • Pezeshki SR, Chambers JL (1986) Effect of soil salinity on stomatal conductance and photosynthesis of green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica). Can J For Res 16:569–573

    Google Scholar 

  • Poorter H (1993) Interspecific variation in the growth responses of plants to an elevated ambient CO2 concentration. Vegetatio 104/105:77–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Prentice IC, Cramer W, Harrison SP, Leemans R, Monserud RA, Solomon AM (1992) A global biomes model based on plant physiology and dominance, soil properties and climate. J Biogeog 19:117–134

    Google Scholar 

  • Quay P, King S, Wilbur D, Wofsey S, Richey J (1989)13C/12C of atmospheric CO2 in the Amazon Basin: River and forest sources. J Geophys Res 94:18327–18336

    Google Scholar 

  • Quay P, Tilbrook B, Wong CS (1992) Oceanic uptake of fossil fuel CO2: carbon-13 evidence. Science 256:74–79

    Google Scholar 

  • Raven JA, Farquhar GD (1990) The influence of N metabolism and organic synthesis on the natural abundance of C isotopes in plants. New Phytol 116:505–529

    Google Scholar 

  • Riddoch I, Lehto T, Grace J (1991) Photosynthesis of tropical tree seedlings in relation to light and humidity supply. Ann Bot 69:137–147

    Google Scholar 

  • Roeske CA, O'Leary MH (1984) Carbon isotope effects on the enzyme catalysed carboxylation of ribulose bisphosphate. Biochemistry 23:6275–6284

    Google Scholar 

  • Rooney MA (1988) Short term carbon isotope fractionation of plants. Ph D Thesis, University of Wisconsin, Madison USA

  • Rundel PW, Sharifi MR (1993) Carbon isotope discrimination and resource availability in the desert shrubLarrea tridentata. In: Ehleringer JR, Hall AE, Farquhar GD (eds) Stable isotopes in plant carbon-water relations. Academic Press, San Diego, pp 173–186

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruthenberg H (1980) Farming systems in the tropics, 3rd edn. Clarendon Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryle GJA, Woledge J, Tewson V, Powell CE (1992) Influence of elevated CO2 and temperature on the photosynthesis and respiration of white clover dependent on N2 fixation. Ann Bot 70:213–220

    Google Scholar 

  • Sandford AP, Jarvis PG (1986) Stomatal response to humidity in selected conifers. Tree Physiol 2:89–103

    Google Scholar 

  • Schulze E-D (1982) Plant life forms as related to plant carbon, water and nutrient relations. In: Lange OL, Nobel PS, Osmond CB, Ziegler H (eds) Physiological plant ecology II (Encyclopedia of plant physiology, NS, vol 12B). Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 615–676

    Google Scholar 

  • Schulze E-D, Hall AE (1982) Stomatal control of water loss. In: Lange OL, Nobel PS, Osmond CB, Ziegler H (eds) Physiological plant ecology II (Encyclopedia of plant physiology, NS, vol 12B). Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 181–230

    Google Scholar 

  • Schulze E-D, Schulze W, Kelliher FM, Vygodskaya NN, Zeigler W, Kobak KI, Koch H, Arneth H, Kusnetsova WA, Sogatchev A, Issajev A, Bauer G, Hollonger DY (1994) Above-ground biomass and nitrogen nutrition in a chronosequence of pristine DahurianLarix stands in eastern Siberia. Can J For Res (in press)

  • Smedley MP, Dawson TE, Comstock JP, Donovan LA, Sherrill DE, Cook CS, Ehleringer JR (1991) Seasonal carbon isotopic discrimination in a grassland community. Oecologia 85:314–320

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith WHF, Wessel P (1990) Gridding with continuous curvature splines in tension. Geophysics 55:293–305

    Google Scholar 

  • Sobrado MA (1991) Cost-benefit relationships in deciduous and evergreen leaves of tropical dry forest species. Funct Ecol 5:608–616

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun GC, Ehleringer JR (1986) Gas exchange inSchima superba, a subtropical monsoonal rainforest tree. Photosynthetica 20:158–163

    Google Scholar 

  • Syvertsen JP, Nickell GL, Spellenberg RW, Cummingham CL (1976) Carbon reduction pathways and standing crop in three Chihuahuan Desert plant communities. Southw Nat 21:311–320

    Google Scholar 

  • Syvertsen JP, Lloyd J, McConchie CA, Kriedemann PE, Farquhar GD (1994) On the relationship between leaf anatomy and CO2 diffusion through the mesophyll of hypostomatous leaves. Plant Cell Environ (in press)

  • Tans P, Keeling RF, Berry JA (1993) Oceanic13C data. A new window on CO2 uptake by the oceans. Global Biogeochem Cycles 7:353–368

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor G, Dobson MC (1989) Photosynthetic characteristics, stomatal responses and water relations ofFagus sylvatica: impact of air quality at a site in southern Britain. New Phytol 133:265–273

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor JA, Lloyd J (1992) Sources and sinks of CO2. Aust J Bot 40:407–418

    Google Scholar 

  • Teeri JA, Stowe LG (1976) Climatic patterns and the distribution of C4 grasses in North America. Oecologia 23:1–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Terashima I, Wong SC, Osmond CB, Farquhar GD (1988) Characterisation of non-uniform photosynthesis induced by abscisic acid in leaves having different mesophyll anatomies. Plant Cell Physiol 29:385–394

    Google Scholar 

  • Teskey RO, Fites JA, Samuelson J, Bongarten BC (1986) Stomatal and nonstomatal limitations to net photosynthesis inPinus taeda L. under different environmental conditions. Tree Physiol 2:131–142

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson WA, Huang L-K, Kriedemann PE (1992) Photosynthetic response to light and nutrients in sun-tolerant and shade-tolerant rainforest trees II. Leaf gas exchange and component processes of photosynthesis. Aust J Plant Physiol 19:19–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Tyrell LE, Boemer RKJ (1987)Larix larcinia andPicea marina: relationships among leaf life-span, foliar nutrient patterns, nutrient conservation and growth efficiency. Can J Bot 65:1570–1577

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Ives NE, Lechowicz MJ (1992) The relation of foliar phenology to xylem embolism in trees. Funct Ecol 6:469–475

    Google Scholar 

  • Wessel P, Smith WHF (1991) Free software helps map and display data. EOS Trans Am Geophys U 72:441, 445–446

    Google Scholar 

  • Wickman FE (1952) Variations in the relative abundance of carbon isotopes in plants. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 2:243–252

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams WE (1983) Optimal water use of a Californian shrub. Plant Cell Environ 6:145–151

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson MF, Henderson-Sellers A (1985) A global archive of land cover and soils data for use in general circulation climate models. J Climatol 5:119–143

    Google Scholar 

  • Winter K (1981) C4 plants of high biomass in arid regions of Asia — occurrence of C4 photosynthesis in Chenopodiaceae and Polygonaceae from the Middle East and USSR. Oecologia 48:100–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Woledge J, Bunce JA, Tewson V (1989) The effect of air humidity on photosynthesis of ryegrass and white clover at three temperatures. Ann Bot 63:271–279

    Google Scholar 

  • Wong SC, Cowan IR, Farquhar GD (1978) Leaf conductance in relation to assimilation inEucalyptus pauciflora Sieb. ex Spreng. Influence of irradiance and partial pressure of carbon dioxide. Plant Physiol 62:670–674

    Google Scholar 

  • Wong SC, Cowan IR, Farquhar GD (1985a) Leaf conductance in relation to rate of CO2 assimilation I. Influence of nitrogen nutrition, phosphorous nutrition, photon flux density and ambient partial pressure of CO2 during ontogeny. Plant Physiol 78:821–825

    Google Scholar 

  • Wong SC, Cowan IR, Farquhar GD (1985b) Leaf conductance in relation to rate of CO2 assimilation II. Effects of short term exposures to different photon flux densities. Plant Physiol 78:826–829

    Google Scholar 

  • Ziska LH, Hogan KP, Smith AP, Drake BG (1991) Growth and photosynthetic response if nine tropical species with long term exposure to elevated carbon dioxide. Oecologia 86:383–389

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Biology Group, Research School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Advanced Studies, Australian National University, GPO Box 475, 2601, Canberra, ACT, Australia

    Jon Lloyd & Graham D. Farquhar

Authors
  1. Jon Lloyd
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Graham D. Farquhar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lloyd, J., Farquhar, G.D. 13C discrimination during CO2 assimilation by the terrestrial biosphere. Oecologia 99, 201–215 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00627732

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00627732

Key words

Search

Navigation