Modeling starch dynamics from seasonal variations of photosynthesis, growth and respiration

Abstract Nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs) buffer differences in plant carbon supply (photosynthesis) and demand (respiration, growth, etc.), but the regulation of their dynamics remains unresolved. Seasonal variations in NSCs are well-documented, but differences in the time-average, amplitude, phase and other characteristics across ecosystems and functional types lack explanation; furthermore, observed dynamics do not always match expectations. The failure to match observed and expected dynamics has stimulated debate on whether carbon supply or demand drives NSC dynamics. To gain insight into how carbon supply and demand drive seasonal NSC dynamics, we derive a simple model of NSC dynamics based on carbon mass balance and linearizing the NSC demand to determine how supply-driven and demand-driven seasonal NSC dynamics differ. We find that supply-driven and demand-driven dynamics yield distinct timings of seasonal extrema, and supply overrides demand when carbon supply is low in winter (e.g., at high latitudes). Our results also suggest that NSC dynamics often lag changes carbon mass balance. We also predict differences in NSC dynamics across mass, suggesting that saplings are more dynamic and respond more quickly to the environment than mature trees. Our findings suggest that substrate-dependent regulation with environmental variation is sufficient to generate complex NSC dynamics.