Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen stable isotope ratios of whole wood, cellulose and lignin methoxyl groups of Picea abies as climate proxies. (12th December 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gori, Y.; Wehrens, R.; Greule, M.; Keppler, F.; Ziller, L.; La Porta, N.; Camin, F.
• Is Part Of: Rapid communications in mass spectrometry. Volume 27:Number 1(2013)
• Page Start: 265
• Page End: 275
• Publication Date: 2012-12-12
• Subjects: Mass spectrometry -- Periodicals; 543.65
• DOI: 10.1002/rcm.6446
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0951-4198

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="rcm6446-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>RATIONALE</title> <p>Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen (C, H and O) stable isotope ratios of whole wood and components are commonly used as paleoclimate proxies. In this work we consider eight different proxies in order to discover the most suitable wood component and stable isotope ratio to provide the strongest climate signal in <italic>Picea abies</italic> in a southeastern Alpine region (Trentino, Italy).</p> </sec> <sec id="rcm6446-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>METHODS</title> <p>δ<sup>13</sup>C, δ<sup>18</sup>O and δ<sup>2</sup>H values in whole wood and cellulose, and δ<sup>13</sup>C and δ<sup>2</sup>H values in lignin methoxyl groups were measured. Analysis was performed using an Isotopic Ratio Mass Spectrometer coupled with an Elemental Analyser for measuring <sup>13</sup>C/<sup>12</sup>C and a Pyrolyser for measuring <sup>2</sup>H/<sup>1</sup>H and <sup>18</sup>O/<sup>16</sup>O. The data were evaluated by Principal Component Analysis, and a simple Pearson's correlation between isotope chronologies and climatic features, and multiple linear regression were performed to evaluate the data.</p> </sec> <sec id="rcm6446-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>RESULTS</title> <p>Each stable isotope ratio in cellulose and lignin methoxyl differs significantly from the same stable isotope ratio in whole wood, the values begin higher in cellulose and lignin except for the lignin δ<sup>2</sup>H values. Significant correlations were found between the whole wood and the cellulose fractions for each isotope ratio. Overall, the highest correlations with temperature were found with the δ<sup>18</sup>O and δ<sup>2</sup>H values in whole wood, whereas no significant correlations were found between isotope proxies and precipitation.</p> </sec> <sec id="rcm6446-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>CONCLUSIONS</title> <p>δ<sup>18</sup>O and δ<sup>2</sup>H values in whole wood provide the best temperature signals in <italic>Picea abies</italic> in the northern Italian study area. Extraction of cellulose and lignin and analysis of other isotopic ratios do not seem to be necessary. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.</p> </sec> </abstract>