Examining the response of needle carbohydrates from Siberian larch trees to climate using compound-specific [delta]13C and concentration analyses

Little is known about the dynamics of concentrations and carbon isotope ratios of individual carbohydrates in leaves in response to climatic and physiological factors. Improved knowledge of the isotopic ratio in sugars will enhance our understanding of the tree ring isotope ratio and will help to decipher environmental conditions in retrospect more reliably. Carbohydrate samples from larch (Larix gmelinii) needles of two sites in the continuous permafrost zone of Siberia with differing growth conditions were analysed with the Compound-Specific Isotope Analysis (CSIA). We compared concentrations and carbon isotope values ([delta]13C) of sucrose, fructose, glucose and pinitol combined with phenological data. The results for the variability of the needle carbohydrates show high dynamics with distinct seasonal characteristics between and within the studied years with a clear link to the climatic conditions, particularly vapour pressure deficit. Compound-specific differences in [delta]13C values as a response to climate were detected. The [delta]13C of pinitol, which contributes up to 50% of total soluble carbohydrates, was almost invariant during the whole growing season. Our study provides the first in-depth characterization of compound-specific needle carbohydrate isotope variability, identifies involved mechanisms and shows the potential of such results for linking tree physiological responses to different climatic conditions. Little is known about the dynamics of individual carbohydrates in leaves in response to climatic and physiological factors. Our study provides the first comparison of compound-specific [delta]13C and concentration analysis of leaf sugars combined with xylogenesis phases of tree ring formation. It uncovers how physiological and environmental factors, e.g. water availability and temperature, drive concentration and [delta]13C variability and uses this knowledge to identify mechanisms underlying the [delta]13C signals of trees. Our study provides the first in depth characterization of compound-specific needle carbohydrate variability, identifies involved mechanisms and shows the potential of such results for linking tree physiological responses to climate change.