Risk assessment of ozone impact on the carbon absorption of Japanese representative conifers

• Published in: European journal of forest research Vol. 129; no. 3; pp. 421 - 430
• Main Authors: Watanabe, Makoto, Matsuo, Naoki, Yamaguchi, Masahiro, Matsumura, Hideyuki, Kohno, Yoshihisa, Izuta, Takeshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Berlin/Heidelberg : Springer-Verlag 01.05.2010; Springer-Verlag; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Absorption; Annual carbon absorption; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Carbon; Environmental impact; Forestry; Japanese conifers; Larix kaempferi; Life Sciences; Original Paper; Oxidizing agents; Ozone; Pinus densiflora; Plant Ecology; Plant Sciences; Plant species; Risk assessment; Risk factors; Vegetation surveys; Japan; INW, Japan; Ozone; Annual carbon absorption; Japanese conifers; Risk assessment
• ISSN: 1612-4669; 1612-4677
• DOI: 10.1007/s10342-009-0316-0

A risk assessment of ozone (O₃) impact on the annual carbon absorption (ACA) of Japanese representative conifers was conducted based on the results of an experimental study, monitoring data of oxidant concentrations and vegetation surveys. The areas with high O₃-induced reduction in ACA did not necessarily correspond to the areas with relatively high O₃-exposure. Widespread distribution of O₃-sensitive tree species such as Pinus densiflora and Larix kaempferi, and high ACA were important factors that induced a high risk of O₃ impact on the ACA. Therefore, we concluded that not only the accumulated O₃-exposure but also the variety of tree habitat, the tree sensitivity to O₃ and the ACA among the tree species must be taken into account to assess the risk of O₃ impact on the ACA of Japanese conifers. The O₃-induced reduction in the total ACA of the three tree species in Japan was estimated to be 0.8%.