Far North Queensland, Leaf Level Physiology, Chemistry and Structural Traits Data, Daintree Rainforest Observatory, Cape Tribulation Site, 2012 

This record contains data on the leaf level physiology, chemistry and structural traits from the Daintree Rainforest Observatory, Cape Tribulation Site, Far North Queensland measured in 2010. 

We at TERN acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians throughout Australia, New Zealand and all nations. We honour their profound connections to land, water, biodiversity and culture and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
JCU (student grant to Lasantha Weerasinghe to use Canopy Crane); ARC DP09 grant (DP0986823) Out of the darkness: predicting rates of respiration of illuminated leaves along nutrient gradients 

The main objectives of sampling are: (1) Quantify rates of leaf respiration (both in darkness and in the light) and associated leaf traits in a wide range of tropical tree species (2) Establish the extent to which rates of leaf respiration and associated traits change in response to changes in light availability within the canopy. (3). Quantify the temperature dependence of leaf respiration of tropical tree species, using leaves sampled from the top and lower positions of the canopy. 

Experimental design and methods summary: In September 2010, we surveyed rates of light-saturated photosynthesis (measured at ambient and elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentrations, leaf respiratory CO₂ release (both in darkness and in the light) and related leaf traits (area:mass ratios, and concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus and soluble/insoluble carbohydrates) in 16 tropical species growing at the Cape Tribulation Canopy Crane site. Leaves were sampled at two positions in the canopy (sun-exposed/top-canopy and shade-leaves/lower canopy). Light response curves of leaf CO₂ exchange were used to calculate rates of leaf respiration in the light (using the ‘Kok’ method). We will also quantified short-term temperature dependencies of leaf respiration in the upper and lower canopy leaves.

1) Leaf Respiration: Our primary measured response variables were leaf respiration measured in darkness (R_dark) and in the light (R_light – made using the 'Kok' method), estimated by CO₂ release (using LiCOR 6400 gas exchange systems). To address Objectives 1 and 2, leaf net CO₂ exchange was measured at a set CO₂ partial pressure and at several irradiance levels. Net CO₂ exchange was first measured at saturating and growth irradiance, and then at several lower light levels (e.g. from 100 to 1800 umol photons m^-2 s^-1); these measurements provided data on net assimilation (A) under ambient irradiance (A_amb) and light-saturation (A_sat), as well as R_light (calculated using the 'Kok' method) and R_dark. Collectively, the data collected enabled us to calculate the percentage of A that is respired when assuming that R is, and is not, inhibited by light. Whilst cutting does not affect leaf respiration, we have found at other sites that sometimes (<20% of cases) stomatal conductance declines (affecting Asat) – thus, for upper canopy leaves, additional measurements of maximal photosynthesis (A_max, measured at elevated CO₂ and under light-saturation) were made to allow assessment of the balance between respiratory and photosynthetic capacity.

To address Objective 3, we used the LiCOR 6400 to measure temperature responses of R_dark. In most cases, measurements were made on detached branches (sampled in the morning, with the xylem immediately re-cut under water). For leaves sampled at top and lower regions of the canopy, this required 2 hours canopy crane access per day [one hour in the morning (8-9 AM) and one in the afternoon (1-2 PM)]. Detached branches were transported to the laboratory where gas exchange rates would be measured. Immediately after measurements, leaf fresh mass and area were determined – thereafter, leaves were oven dried/weighed and then shipped to Canberra for chemical analysis. In addition to the above work on detached branches, we used an additional 2 hours of canopy crane access during the middle of the day (11AM – 1PM) to allow in situ measurements of light-saturated photosynthesis (both at ambient and elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentration) and leaf respiration in darkness (after 30 mins of darkening to avoid post-illumination transients in respiratory CO2 release).

Measurements were made on species for which were sufficient replicates and for which removal of short branches containing several fully expanded leaves would not have an adverse effect on the growth or health of individual trees. Measurements were measured on four trees from each study species, using leaves sampled from two positions in the canopy (top and lower). For two dominant species, we also determined whether rates of leaf respiration vary diurnally, via sampling branches at different time points in the day (e.g. 6AM, Noon and 6PM). The impact of cutting on leaf respiration and photosynthesis was accessed via first measuring rates of leaf respiration and photosynthesis on attached leaves, then cutting the branches and doing repeated measures of leaf respiration following cutting.

2) Quantify the temperature dependence of leaf respiration of tropical tree species, using leaves sampled from the top and lower positions of the canopy. We quantified the instantaneous temperature response of leaf respiration over a wide temperature range (using a programmable temperature controlled water bath to increase temperatures in a custom-made cuvette by 1°C per min). Data were collected every 10 seconds over the 20-70°C temperature range, enabling high precision temperature response curves to be generated. This will enable us to determine the extent to which the Q₁₀ (i.e. proportional increase in respiration per 10°C rise in temperature) of leaf respiration declined with increasing temperature.