Whole Tree Chambers – Ecosystem Research

The twelve Whole Tree Chambers provide fully enclosed, controlled environments for trees up to nine metres tall. In these chambers, researchers can manipulate the environment around a tree including air temperature, soil moisture, irrigation, CO2 levels and humidity to predict the integrated effects of altered climates on tree physiology. Once the trees reach two metres tall, researchers can measure whole system gas and water exchange which enables them to build a detailed and precise picture of the water and gas inflows and outflows through soils and trees at any point in time. At the end of experiments, the trees can be cut and detailed recordings of carbon gain over time can be compared with baseline measures of trees grown in ambient conditions to assess the effects of increasing CO2, higher temperatures or other treatments.

The Chambers work by fully enclosing trees in field-soil conditions along with an outside planting of trees that grow at the same rate to create ‘forest’ conditions of shade and sunlight.

Sensors and pumps create a flow of air that can be held at specific conditions, usually either ambient or +3C above ambient. Through heating and cooling, these temperatures can be held at very stable constant temperatures. There is scope to include elevated CO₂ as needed although not all experiments include this as a condition.

The Chambers enable scientists to monitor carbon uptake and water loss at 15 minute resolution. They also allow researchers to carry out independent short-term manipulation of conditions in order to better understand how plants acclimate to altered conditions.

This information is invaluable to models that can be used to predict the impact of climate change scenarios on future forests.

Experiments currently running in the Whole Tree Chambers explore how elevated CO₂, water and temperature interact to affect eucalypt physiology and water and carbon flow between the soil, trees and the atmosphere.

Insights from these experiments will inform Australian and global carbon and water models to predict effects of future climates on forest health and productivity.

One of the most useful features of these Chambers in measuring tree physiology is the be able to isolate the root environment (rhizosphere) from the above-ground environment.

The Whole Tree Chambers enable us to seal off the rhizosphere and measure the below-ground processes independently. The Chambers are sealed at just above the ground and include access underneath.

Additionally the trees’ roots are sealed into a growing area by underground barriers that extend around one metre into the soil, creating fully isolated conditions while still maintaining the conditions of field-grown trees. Experiments currently running in the Whole Tree Chambers explore how elevated CO₂, water and temperature interact to affect eucalypt physiology and water and carbon flow between the soil, trees and the atmosphere. Insights from these experiments will inform Australian and global carbon and water models to predict effects of future climates on forest health and productivity.

Key questions include:

How does drought and elevated temperature impact on carbon gain, water use and soil microbial functioning?
How do these conditions affect insect communities within eucalypts and what implications emerge for managing ecosystem health?
What changes do these conditions cause in the soil environment and how do these changes impact on eucalypt function?