Seasonal and Elevational Variability in Dwarf Birch VOC Emissions in Greenlandic Tundra

Rising temperatures amplify biogenic volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from Arctic vegetation, causing feedbacks to the climate system. Changes in climate also alter plant physiology and vegetation composition, all of which can influence VOC emissions. Moreover, leaf development and biotic s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences
Main Authors: Rieksta, Jolanta, Li, Tao, Davie-Martin, Cleo L., Simin, Tihomir, Brogaard Aeppli, Laurids Christian, Høye, Toke Thomas, Rasmussen, Morten Arendt, Rinnan, Riikka
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2023
Subjects:
climate change
dwarf birch
plant traits
seasonal variation
tundra
volatile organic compounds
Arctic
Greenland
Climate change
Dwarf birch
greenlandic
Narsarsuaq
Tundra
Online Access:https://pure.au.dk/portal/en/publications/ec710643-38ed-4f84-a297-29e762c71312
https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JG007475
http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85175873052&partnerID=8YFLogxK
Description
Summary:Rising temperatures amplify biogenic volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from Arctic vegetation, causing feedbacks to the climate system. Changes in climate also alter plant physiology and vegetation composition, all of which can influence VOC emissions. Moreover, leaf development and biotic stresses cause highly variable emissions during the growing season. Therefore, linking VOC emissions with plant traits and tracking responses to climate change might provide better understanding of VOC emission regulation under future conditions. We measured VOC emissions and other plant traits in dwarf birch (Betula glandulosa) at two elevations in Narsarsuaq, South Greenland. The measurements were performed in warming experiments that have run since 2016. We collected VOCs using the branch enclosure method from early June until late July 2019 (n = 200). Emissions of green leaf volatiles (GLVs), oxygenated monoterpenes (oMTs), and homoterpenes followed a seasonal trend. VOC emission rates and the diversity of the VOC blend decreased at the end of the measurement period. Differences in VOC emission rates between elevations were pronounced early in the season. Majority of the traits did not explain the variation in VOC emissions. We show strong seasonal variability in VOC emissions within the growing season, which is likely driven by leaf phenology. While the diversity of VOCs was greater at the milder low-elevation site, VOC emission rates were higher or similar at the harsher high-elevation site, showing stronger VOC emission potentials than previously assumed. Seasonal variations in the emissions of VOCs are crucial for accurate predictions of current and future VOC emissions from arctic ecosystems.

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