Journal article

Publication year: 2016

Pages: 7856-7868

Journal: Ecology and Evolution

Volume number: 6

Issue number: 21

ISSN: 2045-7758

eISSN: 2045-7758

Open access status: Gold

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.2210

Publisher: Wiley

Abstract: 

An increase in mean soil surface temperature has been observed over the last century, and it is predicted to further increase in the future. The effect of increased temperature on ecosystem carbon fluxes in a permanent temperate grassland was studied in a long-term (6years) field experiment, using multiple temperature increments induced by IR lamps. Ecosystem respiration (R-eco) and net ecosystem exchange (NEE) were measured and modeled by a modified Lloyd and Taylor model including a soil moisture component for R-eco (average R-2 of 0.78) and inclusion of a photosynthetic component based on temperature and radiation for NEE (R-2=0.65). Modeled NEE values ranged between 2.3 and 5.3kg CO(2)m(-2)year(-1), depending on treatment. An increase of 2 or 3 degrees C led to increased carbon losses, lowering the carbon storage potential by around 4tonnes of C ha(-1)year(-1). The majority of significant NEE differences were found during night-time compared to daytime. This suggests that during daytime the increased respiration could be offset by an increase in photosynthetic uptake. This was also supported by differences in C-13 and O-18, indicating prolonged increased photosynthetic activity associated with the higher temperature treatments. However, this increase in photosynthesis was insufficient to counteract the 24h increase in respiration, explaining the higher CO2 emissions due to elevated temperature.

Harvard Citation style: Jansen-Willems, A., Lanigan, G., Grünhage, L. and Müller, C. (2016) Carbon cycling in temperate grassland under elevated temperature, Ecology and Evolution, 6(21), pp. 7856-7868. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.2210

APA Citation style: Jansen-Willems, A., Lanigan, G., Grünhage, L., & Müller, C. (2016). Carbon cycling in temperate grassland under elevated temperature. Ecology and Evolution. 6(21), 7856-7868. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.2210