Peichl, Matthias
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
- University College Cork
Abstract
Metabolic theory and body size constraints on biomass production and decomposition suggest that differences in the intrinsic potential net ecosystem production (NEPPOT) should be small among contrasting C-3 grasslands and therefore unable to explain the wide range in the annual apparent net ecosystem production (NEPAPP) reported by previous studies. We estimated NEPPOT for nine C-3 grasslands under contrasting climate and management regimes using multiyear eddy covariance data. NEPPOT converged within a narrow range, suggesting little difference in the net carbon dioxide uptake capacity among C-3 grasslands. Our results indicate a unique feature of C-3 grasslands compared with other terrestrial ecosystems and suggest a state of stability in NEPPOT due to tightly coupled production and respiration processes. Consequently, the annual NEPAPP of C-3 grasslands is primarily a function of seasonal and short-term environmental and management constraints, and therefore especially susceptible to changes in future climate patterns and associated adaptation of management practices.
Keywords
Climate; ecosystem traits; eddy covariance; grassland ecosystem functioning; inter-comparison; management practices; metabolic theory
Published in
Ecology Letters
2013, volume: 16, number: 4, pages: 502-512
Publisher: WILEY-BLACKWELL
SLU Authors
Global goals (SDG)
UKÄ Subject classification
Forest Science
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.12075
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/50452