Inter- and intra-specific responses to elevated ozone and chamber climate in northern birches

We studied the responses of micropropagated, northern provenances of downy, mountain and silver birches to elevated ozone (O3) and changing climate using open-top chambers (OTCs). Contrary to our hypothesis, northern birches were sensitive to O3, i.e. O3 levels of 31–36 ppb reduced the leaf and root biomasses by −10%, whereas wood biomass was affected to a lesser extent. The warmer and drier OTC climate enhanced growth in general, though there were differences among the species and clones, e.g. in bud burst and biomass production. Inter- and intra-specific responses to O3 and changing climate relate to traits such as allocation patterns between the above- and belowground parts (i.e. root/shoot ratio), which further relate to nutrient and water economy. Our experiments may have mimicked future conditions quite well, but only long-term field studies can yield the information needed to forecast responses at both tree and ecosystem levels.