CO2 exchange in a temperate Japanese cypress forest compared with that in a cool-temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest

To examine the characteristics of carbon exchange in coniferous forests, we analysed the seasonal and diurnal patterns of CO, exchange, as measured using the eddy covariance method, in a Japanese cypress forest in the Kiryu Experimental Watershed (KEW) in central Japan. The net CO2 exchange data during periods of low-friction velocity conditions and during periods of missing data were interpolated. The daily CO2 uptake was observed throughout the year, with maximum values occurring in early summer. Periods of low carbon uptake were seen in late summer owing to high respiratory CO2, efflux. The diurnal and seasonal patterns of daytime CO2 exchange at KEW were compared with those in a cool-temperate deciduous forest of the Tomakomai Experimental Forest (TOEF) in Japan. The environmental differences between evergreen and deciduous forests affected the seasonal patterns of carbon uptake. Although there were great differences in the mean monthly air temperatures between the sites, the mean monthly daytime carbon uptake was almost equal at both sites during the peak growing period. The carbon-uptake values at the same PAR level were greater before noon than after noon, especially at TOEF, suggesting the stomatal regulation of carbon uptake.