¹³C discrimination during CO₂ assimilation by the terrestrial biosphere

Estimates of the extent of the discrimination against¹³CO₂ during photosynthesis (Δ_A) on a global basis were made using gridded data sets of temperature, precipitation, elevation, humidity and vegetation type. Stomatal responses to leaf-to-air vapour mole fraction difference (D, leaf-to-air vapour pressure difference divided by atmospheric pressure) were first determined by a literature review and by assuming that stomatal behaviour results in the optimisation of plant water use in relation to carbon gain. Using monthly time steps, modelled stomatal responses toD were used to calculate the ratio of stomatal cavity to ambient CO₂ mole fractions and then, in association with leaf internal conductances, to calculate Δ_A. Weighted according to gross primary productivity (GPP, annual net CO₂ asimilation per unit ground area), estimated Δ_A for C₃ biomes ranged from 12.9‰ for xerophytic woods and shrub to 19.6‰ for cool/cold deciduous forest, with an average value from C₃ plants of 17.8‰. This is slightly less than the commonly used values of 18-20‰. For C₄ plants the average modelled discrimination was 3.6‰, again slightly less than would be calculated from C₄ plant dry matter carbon isotopic composition (yielding around 5‰). From our model we estimate that, on a global basis, 21% of GPP is by C₄ plants and for the terrestrial biosphere as a whole we calculate an average isotope discrimination during photosynthesis of 14.8‰. There are large variations in Δ_A across the globe, the largest of which are associated with the precence or absence of C₄ plants. Due to longitudinal variations in Δ_A, there are problems in using latitudinally averaged terrestrial carbon isotope discriminations to calculate the ratio of net oceanic to net terrestrial carbon fluxes.