Variations of δ13C and δ15N in Pinus densiflora tree-rings and their relationship to environmental changes in eastern Korea

Natural abundances of carbon-13 and nitrogen-15 were analyzed in 3-year bands of annual rings of three red pine (Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc.) trees in eastern Korea to elucidate their variations in relation to changing environmental conditions, particularly air pollution. Tree ring width had a trend to decrease with time (r = -0.79, P < 0.001); however, tree-ring indices did not show any consistent pattern of change over time. Tree ring indices were correlated neither with the respective precipitation nor temperature. The delta(13)C (range: -25.7 to -24.4%) of tree rings became less negative as tree ring indices increase (r = 0.43, P < 0.05), suggesting that radial growth of trees might have been affected by environmental factors such as nutrient deficiency and acid rain that affect carboxylation efficiency. Increasing N concentration (range: 0.40 to 0.68 g N kg(-1)) with decreasing delta(15)N (range: +4.2 to -0.6%) of tree rings ( r = -0.84, P < 0.01) during the period (since 1980s) of increasing NOx emission in Korea was consistent with the hypothesis that increasing deposition of N depleted in N-15 may lead to N-15 depletion in tree tissues. However, quantitative information on inter-ring translocation of N which may cause N isotopic fractionation is necessary to use the delta(15)N signal as a reliable indicator of air pollution.