Forest ecosystems are complex and dynamic and can be challenging to comprehensively understand. Measurements of forest physiology and stable isotopes can provide unique perspectives into forest functions, often revealing mechanisms driving observed trends. For example, predawn water potential can provide information about plant-available water to help explain variability in tree drought resistance. Additionally, photosynthesis, respiration, stomatal conductance, and sap flow are common physiological metrics that can inform on forest function. For stable isotopes, deuterium and 18O signatures in xylem sap water compared to potential source waters (e.g., soil, streams, ground, precipitation, snow, and fog) can inform about current tree water use, while 18O signatures in tree-rings can inform about tree source waters in the past. Additionally, 13C signatures in plant tissue can serve as an integrated measurement of longer-term water stress and reflects processes related to both photosynthesis and stomatal conductance.
Collectively, measurements of physiology and stable isotopes have great potential to improve our understanding about the mechanisms driving forest responses to climate and management. However, these types of measurements often require specialized training and expensive equipment and can be quite time-and labor-intensive. Nevertheless, forests are such an important component of our landscape in terms of renewable resources, wildlife habitats, carbon storage, aesthetics, and human health and recreation, that we feel the value of knowledge gained via these types of measurements warrants the extra cost, time, and effort associated with these measurements. Understanding the mechanisms driving forest trends will maximize our ability to effectively steward forests through synergistic challenges such as climate change, wildfire risks, increasing demands for wood products and urban development, and stressful forest conditions that have arisen due to overgrazing and fire suppression. Fortunately, technologies are improving to make physiological and stable isotope measurements more accessible, via new advances such as the LiCor 6800 and laser-based isotope instruments (e.g., those made by Picarro and Los Gatos Research).
The scope of this research topic is to showcase how measurements of physiology and stable isotopes can improve our understanding of forest function. Ultimately, improved understanding of forest function will maximize our ability to understand and predict forest responses to climate and management. In turn, improved understanding of forest responses to climate and management will strengthen our ability to shepherd forests through the suite of interacting and challenging conditions that currently threaten forest perpetuation. As these conditions are largely human-induced, we have a duty to mitigate these stressors via adaptive and effective management efforts. To this end, it would be very informative to demonstrate, via a collection of papers, how different aspects of forests can be better understood via complementary measurements of physiology and stable isotopes across a broad range of forest types and geographic locations. Reviews, mini reviews, and original research papers are all welcome.
Forest ecosystems are complex and dynamic and can be challenging to comprehensively understand. Measurements of forest physiology and stable isotopes can provide unique perspectives into forest functions, often revealing mechanisms driving observed trends. For example, predawn water potential can provide information about plant-available water to help explain variability in tree drought resistance. Additionally, photosynthesis, respiration, stomatal conductance, and sap flow are common physiological metrics that can inform on forest function. For stable isotopes, deuterium and 18O signatures in xylem sap water compared to potential source waters (e.g., soil, streams, ground, precipitation, snow, and fog) can inform about current tree water use, while 18O signatures in tree-rings can inform about tree source waters in the past. Additionally, 13C signatures in plant tissue can serve as an integrated measurement of longer-term water stress and reflects processes related to both photosynthesis and stomatal conductance.
Collectively, measurements of physiology and stable isotopes have great potential to improve our understanding about the mechanisms driving forest responses to climate and management. However, these types of measurements often require specialized training and expensive equipment and can be quite time-and labor-intensive. Nevertheless, forests are such an important component of our landscape in terms of renewable resources, wildlife habitats, carbon storage, aesthetics, and human health and recreation, that we feel the value of knowledge gained via these types of measurements warrants the extra cost, time, and effort associated with these measurements. Understanding the mechanisms driving forest trends will maximize our ability to effectively steward forests through synergistic challenges such as climate change, wildfire risks, increasing demands for wood products and urban development, and stressful forest conditions that have arisen due to overgrazing and fire suppression. Fortunately, technologies are improving to make physiological and stable isotope measurements more accessible, via new advances such as the LiCor 6800 and laser-based isotope instruments (e.g., those made by Picarro and Los Gatos Research).
The scope of this research topic is to showcase how measurements of physiology and stable isotopes can improve our understanding of forest function. Ultimately, improved understanding of forest function will maximize our ability to understand and predict forest responses to climate and management. In turn, improved understanding of forest responses to climate and management will strengthen our ability to shepherd forests through the suite of interacting and challenging conditions that currently threaten forest perpetuation. As these conditions are largely human-induced, we have a duty to mitigate these stressors via adaptive and effective management efforts. To this end, it would be very informative to demonstrate, via a collection of papers, how different aspects of forests can be better understood via complementary measurements of physiology and stable isotopes across a broad range of forest types and geographic locations. Reviews, mini reviews, and original research papers are all welcome.