Anthropogenic NOx emissions alter the intrinsic water-use efficiency (WUEi) for Quercus cerris stands under Mediterranean climate conditions

Environmental Pollution
Rossella GuerrieriMarco Borghetti

Abstract

We investigated the effect of N deposition (Ndep) on intrinsic water-use efficiency (WUEi), the ratio of photosynthesis (A) to stomatal conductance (gs), for two Quercus cerris stands at different distances to an oil refinery in Southern Italy. We used delta13C in tree rings for assessing changes in WUEi; while the influence of climate and NOx emission was explored through delta18O and delta15N, respectively. Differences in WUEi between the two sites were significant, with trees exposed to different degrees of NOx emissions showing an abrupt increase with the onset of pollution. Assuming similar gs at the two sites, as inferred through delta18O, the higher N availability at the polluted site caused the shift of the A/gs ratio in favour of A. Overall, our result suggests that an increase of Ndep may enhance tree WUE under a scenario of reduction of precipitation predicted for Mediterranean area.

References

Oct 3, 2001·Tree Physiology·R A Monserud, J D Marshall
Jun 25, 2002·Ambio·Peter M VitousekSteven Allison
Jun 28, 2007·Environmental Science & Technology·Andrew R Bukata, T Kurtis Kyser
Feb 28, 2009·Environmental Science & Technology·Martine M SavardElise Rioux-Paquette
Jun 24, 2009·Ecological Applications : a Publication of the Ecological Society of America·J Renée Brooks, Rob Coulombe
Dec 22, 2009·Environmental Pollution·Martine M Savard

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