The effect of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide mixing ratios on the emission of Volatile organic compounds from Corymbia citriodora and Tristaniopsis laurina

Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds (BVOCs) emitted by plants can affect the climate and play important roles in the chemistry of the troposphere. As ambient atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels are rapidly increasing knowledge of the effect of elevated atmospheric CO₂ on plant BVOC emissions is necessary for the development of global climate models. -- During this study, the effect of elevated atmospheric CO2 mixing ratios on BVOC emissions from Corymbia citriodora (Lemon Scented Gum) and Tristaniopsis laurina (Water Gum) was determined for the first time through the combination of Solid-Phase Microextraction (SPME), Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionisation Detection (GC-FID), Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and an environment chamber. For C. citriodora elevated atmospheric CO₂ led to a decrease in the emission rate of α-pinene, β-pinene, eucalyptol, citronellal and β-caryophyllene, however, elevated CO₂ had no effect on the emission rate of citronellol. The emission profile of T. laurina has been determined for the first time. For T. laurina elevated CO₂ led to a decrease in the emission rate of α-pinene but the emission rates of β-pinene, limonene, eucalyptol and citronellol were unaffected. The results obtained in this work confirm that the effect of elevated atmospheric CO₂ on plant BVOC emissions is species-specific.