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Tree-ring isotopes capture interannual vegetation productivity dynamics at the biome scale

Author

Listed:
  • Mathieu Levesque

    (Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETH Zurich
    Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University)

  • Laia Andreu-Hayles

    (Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University)

  • William Kolby Smith

    (University of Arizona)

  • A. Park Williams

    (Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University)

  • Martina L. Hobi

    (University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Snow and Landscape Research)

  • Brady W. Allred

    (University of Montana
    University of Montana)

  • Neil Pederson

    (Harvard University)

Abstract

Historical and future trends in net primary productivity (NPP) and its sensitivity to global change are largely unknown because of the lack of long-term, high-resolution data. Here we test whether annually resolved tree-ring stable carbon (δ13C) and oxygen (δ18O) isotopes can be used as proxies for reconstructing past NPP. Stable isotope chronologies from four sites within three distinct hydroclimatic environments in the eastern United States (US) were compared in time and space against satellite-derived NPP products, including the long-term Global Inventory Modeling and Mapping Studies (GIMMS3g) NPP (1982–2011), the newest high-resolution Landsat NPP (1986–2015), and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS, 2001–2015) NPP. We show that tree-ring isotopes, in particular δ18O, correlate strongly with satellite NPP estimates at both local and large geographical scales in the eastern US. These findings represent an important breakthrough for estimating interannual variability and long-term changes in terrestrial productivity at the biome scale.

Suggested Citation

  • Mathieu Levesque & Laia Andreu-Hayles & William Kolby Smith & A. Park Williams & Martina L. Hobi & Brady W. Allred & Neil Pederson, 2019. "Tree-ring isotopes capture interannual vegetation productivity dynamics at the biome scale," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-08634-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-08634-y
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