WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM OXYGEN AND HYDROGEN ISOTOPE COMPOSITIONS OF TREE-RING CELLULOSE IN HIGHER PLANTS?
树年轮纤维素稳定同位素比率的生态学意义

Stable isotope ratios in tree-ring cellulose have been shown to be reliable recorders of changes in the ambient climate (Leuenberger et al., 1998). Thus, isotopic fractionations associated with both physical and biochemical processes during cellulose synthesis in higher plants (Epstein & Krishnaumurthy, 1990; Roden et al., 2000; Saurer et al., 1997a; 1997b; 2000) can be used as archives for past climatic indicators. Superimposed on the climatic induced isotopic signal are the long-term responses of plant physiological processes to past changes in environmental conditions including CO2 enrichment.