Vertical variation in canopy structure and CO(2) exchange of oak-maple forests: influence of ozone, nitrogen, and other factors on simulated canopy carbon gain.

Stand-level and physiological measurements were made for oak and maple species common in Wisconsin forests. Scaling relationships were identified to allow the development of a model for estimating net carbon exchange at the levels of a leaf, canopy stratum, and whole canopy. Functional relationships were determined between tissue gas exchange rates and perceived controlling variables. Vertical variation in leaf properties and in the distribution of foliage by weight, area, and species were characterized for several closed canopy forests. Forest canopies were divided into four horizontal strata to develop predictive models for canopy gas exchange. Leaf and canopy layer carbon dioxide exchange rates were predicted using leaf nitrogen concentration, leaf mass per area, ozone exposure, predawn leaf water potential, photosynthetically active radiation, and vapor pressure deficit as driving variables. Direct measurements of leaf gas exchange were used to validate the components (subroutines) of the model. Net carbon dioxide exchange was simulated for canopy layers at 5-min intervals over a diurnal time course. Simulations of canopy CO(2) exchange were made for a 30-m tall, mixed oak-maple forest under hypothetical ambient and greater-than-ambient ozone pollution regimes. Daily canopy net CO(2) exchange was predicted for seven forest stands and compared with estimates of aboveground net primary production, N availability, leaf area index, and canopy N.