Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-wg55d Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-15T09:38:15.658Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Effects of solar UV radiation on birch and pine seedlings in the sub-Arctic

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 October 2009

M. Turunen ,
M.-L. Sutinen ,
K. Derome ,
Y. Norokorpi  and
K. Lakkala
M. Turunen
Affiliation:
Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, FIN-96101 Rovaniemi, Finland
M.-L. Sutinen
Affiliation:
Finnish Forest Research Institute, Kolari Research Station, FIN-95900 Kolari, Finland
K. Derome
Affiliation:
Finnish Forest Research Institute, Rovaniemi Research Station, FIN-96301 Rovaniemi, Finland
Y. Norokorpi
Affiliation:
Finnish Forest Research Institute, Rovaniemi Research Station, FIN-96301 Rovaniemi, Finland
K. Lakkala
Affiliation:
Finnish Meteorological Institute, Arctic Research Centre, FIN-99600 Sodankylä, Finland
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The responses of Betula pubescens Ehr. (European white birch), B. pendula Roth (silver birch) and two provenances of Pinus sylvestris L. (Scots pine) to solar ultraviolet (UV < 400 nm) radiation were investigated in a UV-exclusion field experiment during the 1997–99 growing seasons in Finnish Lapland (68°N). The seedlings were grown from seed under UV-B exclusion (a clear polyester filter) and UV-B/UV-A exclusion (a clear acrylic plate) as compared to control treatment (a polyethene filter) and ambient plants (no plastic filter). The mean daily maximum solar biologically effective UV-B irradiance (UV-BE) was 88 mW m-2, 68 mW m-2, and 91 mW m-2 for 1997, 1998, and 1999. A number of growth and biomass variables, PSII (Photosystem II) efficiency, and total concentration of nitrogen were recorded during and/or at the end of the experiment. Exposure (191 d) to solar UV radiation over three growing seasons did not cause many statistically significant UV effects in the growth or biomass of the seedlings. The only significant impacts of UV exclusion were found in P. sylvestris provenance Enontekiö. During the first growing season, the UVB/ UV-A exclusion treatment significantly accelerated the height increment (18–20%) off. sylvestris, and in the same seedlings, the UV-B exclusion treatment resulted in significantly increased dry weight of one-year-old needles (45–57%) after the second growing season. These UV impacts could not be seen at the end of the experiment or in any other species. The low concentration of N in current foliage was related to increased dry weight, but not to solar UV radiation (control vs UV exclusion). The present study indicated that solar UV radiation had limited, but sometimes transient, impacts on the growth of tree seedlings in the sub-Arctic. Longer-term field studies are needed, however, in order to detect the cumulative characteristics of the UV responses.

Type
Articles
Information
Polar Record , Volume 38 , Issue 206 , July 2002 , pp. 233 - 240
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2002

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Allen, D.J., Nogues, S., and Baker, N.R.. 1998. Ozone depletion and increased UV-B radiation: is there a real threat to photosynthesis? Journal of Experimental Botany 49: 1775–1778.Google Scholar
Baker, N.R., Nogues, S., and Allen, D.J.. 1997. Photosynthesis and photoinhibition. In: Lumsden, P. (editor). Plants and UV-B: responses to environmental change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (Society for Experimental Biology seminar series 64): 95–111.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Caldwell, M.M. 1971. Solar UV irradiation and the growth development of higher plants. In: Giese, C. (editor). Photophysiology volume 6. New York: Academic Press: 131–268.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Day, T.A., Vogelmann, T.C., and DeLucia, E.H.. 1992. Are some life forms more effective than others in screening out ultraviolet-B radiation? Oecologia 92: 513–519.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Deckmyn, G., and Impens, I.. 1997. The ratio of UV-B/ photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) determines the sensitivity of rye to increased UV-B radiation. Environmental and Experimental Botany 37: 3–12.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Drilias, P., Karabourniotis, G., Levizou, E., Nikolopoulos, D., Petropoulou, Y., and Manetas, Y.. 1997. The effects of enhanced UV-B radiation on the Mediterranean evergreen sclerophyll Nerium oleander depend on the extent of summer precipitation. Australian Journal of Physiology 24: 301–306.Google Scholar
FMI. 1997–1999. Monthly reports. Data from Sodankylä Observatory and Muonio Station. Helsinki: Finnish Meteorological Institute.Google Scholar
FMI. 1999a. Air quality measurements 1998. Leinonen, L. (editor). Helsinki: Finnish Meteorological Institute.Google Scholar
FMI.. 1999b. Database. Cloudiness data estimated at noon from Sodankylä Observatory and Muonio Station. June-August 1997–99. Helsinki: Finnish Meteorological Institute.Google Scholar
FMI 1999c. Database. Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) measured at noon from Sammaltunturi Station. June-August 1997–99. Helsinki: Finnish Meteorological Institute.Google Scholar
Green, A., Sawada, T., and Shettle, E.P.. 1974. The middle ultraviolet reaching the ground. Photochemistry and Photobiology 19: 351–359.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gwynn-Jones, D., Lee, J.A., Johanson, U., Phoenix, G.K., Callaghan, T.C., and Sonesson, M.. 1999. The responses of plant functional types to enhanced UV-B radiation. In: Rozema, J. (editor). Stratospheric ozone depletion: the effects of enhanced UV-B radiation on terrestrial ecosystems. Leiden: Backhuys Publishers: 173–185.Google Scholar
Jansen, M.A.K., Gaba, V., and Greenberg, B.M.. 1998. Higher plants and UV-B radiation: balancing damage, repair and acclimation. Trends in Plant Science 3:131–135.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Johanson, U., Gehrke, C., Björn, L.-O., and Callaghan, T.V.. 1995. The effects of enhanced UV-B radiation on the growth of dwarf shrubs in a subarctic heathland. Functional Ecology 9: 713–719.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kaundun, S.S., Lebreton, P., and Fady, B.. 1998. Geographical variability of Pinus halepensis Mill, as revealed by foliar flavonoids. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 26: 83–96.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Krywult, M., Turunen, M., Sutinen, M.-L., Derome, K., and Norokorpi, Y.. 2002. Nitrate reductase activity in some subarctic species and UV influence in Betula pendula Roth, foliage. Science of the Total Environment 284: 149–155.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Laakso, K., and Huttunen, S.. 1998. Effects of the ultraviolet B radiation (UV-B) on conifers: a review. Environmental Pollution 99: 319–328.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Laakso, K., Sullivan, J.H., and Huttunen, S.. 2000. The effects of UV-B radiation on epidermal anatomy in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). Plant Cell and Environment 23: 461–474.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lavola, A. 1998. Accumulation of flavonoids and related compounds in birch induced by UV-B irradiance. Tree Physiology 18: 53–58.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lovelock, C.E., Clough, B.F., and Woodrow, I.E.. 1992. Distribution and accumulation of ultraviolet-radiationabsorbing compounds in leaves of tropical mangroves. Planta 188: 143–154.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Madronich, S. 1993. UV radiation in the natural and perturbed atmosphere. In: Tevini, M. (editor). UV-B radiation and ozone depletion: effects on humans, animals, plants, microorganisms, and materials. Boca Raton, FL: Lewis Publishers: 17–69.Google Scholar
McLeod, A.R., and Newsham, K.K.. 1997. Impacts of elevated UV-B on forest ecosystems. In: Lumsden, P. (editor). Plants and UV-B: responses to environmental change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (Society for Experimental Biology seminar series 64): 247–281.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nagel, L.M., Bassman, J.H., Edwards, G.E., Robberecht, R., and Franceshi, V.R.. 1999. Leaf anatomical changes in Populus trichocarpa, Quercus rubra, Pseudotsuga menziesii and Pinus ponderosa exposed to enhanced ultraviolet-B radiation. Physiologia Plantarum 104: 385–396.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Naidu, S.L., Sullivan, J.H., Teramura, A.H., and DeLucia, E.H.. 1993. The effects of ultraviolet-B radiation on photosynthesis of different aged needles in field-grown loblolly pine. Tree Physiology 12: 151–162.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Newman, P., Gleason, J.F., McPeters, R.D., and Stolarski, R.S.. 1997. Anomalously low ozone over the Arctic. Geophysical Research Letters 24: 2689–2692.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Phoenix, G.K., Gwynn-Jones, D., Callaghan, T.V., Sleep, D., and Lee, J.A.. 2001. Effects of global change on a sub-Arctic heath: effects of enhanced UV-B radiation and increased summer precipitation. Journal of Ecology 89: 256–267.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Phoenix, G.K., Gwynn-Jones, D., Lee, J.A., and Callaghan, T.V.. 2000. The impacts of UV-B radiation on the regeneration of a sub-arctic heath community. Plant Ecology 146: 67–75.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pleijel, H., Skärby, L., Ojanperä, K., and Sellden, G.. 1994. Exposure of oats, Avena sativa L., to filtered air and unfiltered air in open top chambers: effects on grain yield and quality. Environmental Pollution 86: 129–134.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Raitio, H., and Merilä, P.. 1998. Seasonal variation in the size and chemical composition of Scots pine and Norway spruce needles in different weatherconditions. Technical report of the European programme for the intensive monitoring of forest ecosystems/Level II, Finland. Parjkano Research Station: Finnish Forest Research Institute.Google Scholar
Rousseaux, M.C., Ballare, C.L., Scopel, A.L., Searles, P.S., and Caldwell, M.M.. 1998. Solar ultraviolet-B radiation affects plant-insect interactions in a natural ecosystem of Tierra del Fuego (southern Argentina). Oecologia 116: 528–535.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rousseaux, M.C., Scopel, A.L., Searles, P.S., Caldwell, M.M., Sala, O.E., and Ballare, C.L.. 2001. Responses to solar ultraviolet-B radiation in.a shrub-dominated natural ecosystem of Tierra del Fuego (southern Argentina). Global Change Biology 7: 467–478.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rozema, J. (editor). 1999. Stratospheric ozone depletion: the effects of enhanced UV-B radiation on terrestrial ecosystems. Leiden: Backhuys Publishers.Google Scholar
Ruhland, C.T., and Day, T.. 2000. Effects of ultraviolet-B radiation on leaf elongation, production and phenylpropanoid concentrations of Deschampsia antarctica and Colobanthus quitensis in Antarctica. Physiologia Plantarum 109: 244–251.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schnitzler, J.-P., Jungblut, T.P., Heller, W., Kofferlein, M., Hutzler, P., Heinzmann, U., Schmelzer, E., Ernst, D., Langebartels, C., and Sandermann, H. Jr 1996. Tissue localization of UV-B-screening pigments and of chalcone synthase mRNA in needles of Scots pine seedlings. New Phytologist 32: 247–258.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schnitzler, J.-P., Langebartels, C., Heller, W., Liu, J., Lippert, M., Döhring, T., Bahnweg, G., and Sandermann, H.. 1999. Ameliorating effect of UV-B radiation on the response of Norway spruce and Scots pine to ambient ozone concentrations. Global Change Biology 4: 83–94.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schumaker, M.A., Bassman, J.H., Robberecht, R., and Radamaker, G.K.. 1997. Growth, leaf anatomy, and physiology of Populus clones in response to solar ultraviolet-B radiation. Tree Physiology 17: 617–626.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Searles, P.S., Flint, S.D., Diaz, S.B., Rousseaux, M.C., Ballare, C.L., and Caldwell, M.M.. 1999. Solar ultraviolet-B radiation influence on Spagnum bog and Carex fen ecosystems: first field season findings in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Global Change Biology 5: 225–234.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Searles, P.S., Kropp, B.R., Flint, S.D., and Caldwell, M.M.. 2001. Influence of solar UV-B radiation on peatland microbial communities of southern Argentinia. New Phytologist 152: 213–221.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sullivan, J.H., Howells, B.W., Ruhland, C.T., and Day, T.A.. 1996. Changes in leaf expansion and epidermal screening effectiveness in Liquidambar styraciflua and Pinus taeda in response to UV-B radiation. Physiologia Plantarum 98: 349–357.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sullivan, J.H., and Teramura, A.H.. 1994. The effects of UVB radiation on loblolly pine. 3. Interaction with CO2 enhancement. Plant, Cell and Environment 17: 311–317.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sutinen, M.-L., Repo, T., Sutinen, S., Lasarov, H., Alvila, L., and Pakkanen, T.T.. 2000. Physiological changes in Pinus sylvestris needles during early spring under subarctic conditions. Forest Ecology and Management 135:217–228.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Turunen, M., Heller, W., Stich, S., Sandermann, H., Sutinen, M.-L., and Norokorpi, Y.. 1999a. Effects of UV exclusion on phenolic compounds of young Scots pine seedlings at the subarctic. Environmental Pollution 106: 225–234.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Turunen, M., Sutinen, M.-L., Derome, K., Norokorpi, Y., Heller, W., Stich, S., and Sandermann, H.. 1999b. Effects of UV exclusion on the soluble phenolics of subarctic forest plants. In: Program and abstracts: SPPS XIX Congress, Scandinavian Society for Plant Physiology, 21–23 June, 1999. Joensuu: SPSS 122.Google Scholar
Turunen, M., Vogelmann, T., and Smith, W.K.. 1999c. UV screening in lodgepole pine (Pinus contortassp latifolia) cotyledons and needles. International Journal of Plant Sciences 162: 315–320.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Weatherhead, E.C. 1998. Climate change, ozone, and ultraviolet radiation. In: Wilson, S.J., Murray, J.L., and Huntington, H.P. (editors) AMAP assessment report: Arctic pollution issues. Oslo: Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme: 717–774.Google Scholar
Weih, M., Johanson, U., and Gwynn-Jones, D.. 1998. Growth and nitrogen utilization in seedlings of mountain birch (Betula pubescens ssp. tortuosa) as affected by ultraviolet radiation (UV-A and UV-B) under laboratory and outdoor conditions. Trees 12: 201–207.Google Scholar
WMO. 1996. Atlas of GO3OS total ozone maps for the Northern Hemisphere winter-spring of 1993–1994 and 1994–1995. In: Bojkov, R.D., and Zerefos, C.S. (editors). Global ozone research and monitoring project: report 38. Geneva: World Meteorological Organization.Google Scholar
WMO. 1997. Atlas of GO3OS total ozone maps for the Northern Hemisphere winter-spring of 1995–1996 and 1996–1997. In: Bojkov, R.D., and Zerefos, C.S. (editors). Global ozone research and monitoring project: report 39. Geneva: World Meteorological Organization.Google Scholar
WMO. 1999. Scientific assessment of ozone depletion, 1998. In: Global ozone research and monitoring project: report 44. Geneva: World Meteorological Organization.Google Scholar