Tree Biomass Sensitivity to Ozone Exposure: Insights From a Decade of Free‐Air Experiments

TL;DR

A decade of experiments shows that ozone exposure reduces tree biomass more in deciduous species than evergreens, with roots being most affected.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into how ozone affects biomass and carbon allocation strategies in different tree types using long-term free-air experiments.

Findings

Deciduous species show greater biomass reduction at lower ozone doses compared to evergreens.

Root biomass is the most vulnerable to ozone exposure in both deciduous and evergreen species.

Flux-based metrics effectively quantify ozone-induced biomass loss and reveal differences in carbon allocation strategies.

Abstract

Tropospheric ozone (O3) is a pervasive stressor that impairs forest biomass and alters carbon allocation strategies. This study assessed biomass responses across 17 woody taxa under free‐air controlled exposure (FACE), integrating a decade of experiments conducted with an analogous exposure regime applied to deciduous and evergreen species. The analysis provided a comparative evaluation of existing flux‐based metrics. Statistical analyses revealed consistent reductions in relative total (RTB), aboveground (RTAB), and belowground (RTBB) biomass with increasing O3 uptake in terms of phytotoxic ozone dose (POD1 mmol m−2). Deciduous species reached the 4% biomass reduction threshold (CL4) at lower POD1 levels for RTBB (10.21), RTAB (13.16), and RTB (10.77) and displayed relatively small △POD1 values for RTBB (2.75), RTAB (5.70), and RTB (3.31), where △POD1 represents the increment in O3 uptake required to reach the CL4 threshold. In contrast, evergreen species showed higher CL4 for RTBB (11.48), RTAB (15.40), and RTB (13.86) and larger △POD1 values for RTBB (8.40), RTAB (12.32), and RTB (10.78), reflecting a slower biomass decline. Contrasting relationships suggest that leaf habit‐specific patterns are associated with divergent carbon allocation strategies under O3 stress. In deciduous species, POD1 and Leaf Index Flux (LIF) were negatively correlated with shoot‐to‐root ratio (S/R), whereas in evergreen species, both indices were positively correlated with leaf area ratio (LAR) and S/R. In conclusion, flux‐based metrics provided a biologically robust framework for quantifying O3‐induced biomass losses, revealing higher sensitivity in deciduous species than in evergreens and highlighting the root as the most vulnerable compartment under O3 exposure. The findings should be interpreted considering the spatial and temporal constraints of a single‐site FACE experiment and the focus on O3 as a stand‐alone stressor without interaction effects. Future research should combine O3 uptake with multi‐stressor frameworks to better predict biomass and carbon responses in complex field conditions.

Using a decade of free‐air controlled exposure (FACE) experiments across 17 woody taxa, we evaluated biomass responses to O3 uptake using flux‐based metrics. Increasing phytotoxic ozone dose (POD1) caused consistent declines in relative total (RTB), aboveground (RTAB), and belowground (RTBB) biomass. Deciduous species reached the 4% biomass reduction threshold (CL4) at lower POD1 values and exhibited smaller △POD1, indicating higher sensitivity, particularly in root biomass. Evergreen species showed higher CL4 values and larger △POD1, reflecting slower biomass decline. Carbon allocation responses diverged by leaf habit: POD1 and Leaf Index Flux (LIF) were negatively associated with shoot‐to‐root ratio in deciduous species, but positively related to leaf area ratio and shoot‐to‐root ratio in evergreens. Overall, flux‐based metrics provide a biologically robust framework for quantifying O3‐induced biomass loss, highlighting the greater vulnerability of deciduous species and roots under chronic ozone exposure.

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