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Forskningsartikel2020Vetenskapligt granskadÖppen tillgång

Rhizosphere allocation by canopy-forming species dominates soil CO2 efflux in a subarctic landscape

Parker, Thomas C.; Clemmensen, Karina E.; Friggens, Nina L.; Hartley, Iain P.; Johnson, David; Lindahl, Bjorn D.; Olofsson, Johan; Siewert, Matthias B.; Street, Lorna E.; Subke, Jens-Arne; Wookey, Philip A.

Sammanfattning

In arctic ecosystems, climate change has increased plant productivity. As arctic carbon (C) stocks predominantly are located belowground, the effects of greater plant productivity on soil C storage will significantly determine the net sink/source potential of these ecosystems, but vegetation controls on soil CO2 efflux remain poorly resolved.In order to identify the role of canopy-forming species in belowground C dynamics, we conducted a girdling experiment with plots distributed across 1 km(2) of treeline birch (Betula pubescens) forest and willow (Salix lapponum) patches in northern Sweden and quantified the contribution of canopy vegetation to soil CO2 fluxes and belowground productivity.Girdling birches reduced total soil CO2 efflux in the peak growing season by 53%, which is double the expected amount, given that trees contribute only half of the total leaf area in the forest. Root and mycorrhizal mycelial production also decreased substantially. At peak season, willow shrubs contributed 38% to soil CO2 efflux in their patches.Our findings indicate that C, recently fixed by trees and tall shrubs, makes a substantial contribution to soil respiration. It is critically important that these processes are taken into consideration in the context of a greening arctic because productivity and ecosystem C sequestration are not synonymous.

Nyckelord

Arctic; ectomycorrhizal fungi; girdling; rhizosphere; shrub expansion; soil CO2 efflux; treeline

Publicerad i

New Phytologist
2020, Volym: 227, nummer: 6, sidor: 1818-1830
Utgivare: WILEY

      SLU författare

      • Globala målen

      Skydda, återställa och främja ett hållbart nyttjande av landbaserade ekosystem, hållbart bruka skogar, bekämpa ökenspridning, hejda och vrida tillbaka markförstöringen samt hejda förlusten av biologisk mångfald

      UKÄ forskningsämne

      Ekologi

      Publikationens identifierare

      DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.16573

      Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

      https://res.slu.se/id/publ/105693