Dataset Information

Environmental drivers of increased ecosystem respiration in a warming tundra.

ABSTRACT: Arctic and alpine tundra ecosystems are large reservoirs of organic carbon^1,2. Climate warming may stimulate ecosystem respiration and release carbon into the atmosphere^3,4. The magnitude and persistency of this stimulation and the environmental mechanisms that drive its variation remain uncertain^5-7. This hampers the accuracy of global land carbon-climate feedback projections^7,8. Here we synthesize 136 datasets from 56 open-top chamber in situ warming experiments located at 28 arctic and alpine tundra sites which have been running for less than 1 year up to 25 years. We show that a mean rise of 1.4 °C [confidence interval (CI) 0.9-2.0 °C] in air and 0.4 °C [CI 0.2-0.7 °C] in soil temperature results in an increase in growing season ecosystem respiration by 30% [CI 22-38%] (n = 136). Our findings indicate that the stimulation of ecosystem respiration was due to increases in both plant-related and microbial respiration (n = 9) and continued for at least 25 years (n = 136). The magnitude of the warming effects on respiration was driven by variation in warming-induced changes in local soil conditions, that is, changes in total nitrogen concentration and pH and by context-dependent spatial variation in these conditions, in particular total nitrogen concentration and the carbon:nitrogen ratio. Tundra sites with stronger nitrogen limitations and sites in which warming had stimulated plant and microbial nutrient turnover seemed particularly sensitive in their respiration response to warming. The results highlight the importance of local soil conditions and warming-induced changes therein for future climatic impacts on respiration.

SUBMITTER: Maes SL

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11062900 | biostudies-literature | 2024 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Environmental drivers of increased ecosystem respiration in a warming tundra.

Maes S L SL Dietrich J J Midolo G G Schwieger S S Kummu M M Vandvik V V Aerts R R Althuizen I H J IHJ Biasi C C Björk R G RG Böhner H H Carbognani M M Chiari G G Christiansen C T CT Clemmensen K E KE Cooper E J EJ Cornelissen J H C JHC Elberling B B Faubert P P Fetcher N N Forte T G W TGW Gaudard J J Gavazov K K Guan Z Z Guðmundsson J J Gya R R Hallin S S Hansen B B BB Haugum S V SV He J-S JS Hicks Pries C C Hovenden M J MJ Jalava M M Jónsdóttir I S IS Juhanson J J Jung J Y JY Kaarlejärvi E E Kwon M J MJ Lamprecht R E RE Le Moullec M M Lee H H Marushchak M E ME Michelsen A A Munir T M TM Myrsky E M EM Nielsen C S CS Nyberg M M Olofsson J J Óskarsson H H Parker T C TC Pedersen E P EP Petit Bon M M Petraglia A A Raundrup K K Ravn N M R NMR Rinnan R R Rodenhizer H H Ryde I I Schmidt N M NM Schuur E A G EAG Sjögersten S S Stark S S Strack M M Tang J J Tolvanen A A Töpper J P JP Väisänen M K MK van Logtestijn R S P RSP Voigt C C Walz J J Weedon J T JT Yang Y Y Ylänne H H Björkman M P MP Sarneel J M JM Dorrepaal E E

Nature 20240417 8010

Arctic and alpine tundra ecosystems are large reservoirs of organic carbon1,2. Climate warming may stimulate ecosystem respiration and release carbon into the atmosphere3,4. The magnitude and persistency of this stimulation and the environmental mechanisms that drive its variation remain uncertain5-7. This hampers the accuracy of global land carbon-climate feedback projections7,8. Here we synthesize 136 datasets from 56 open-top chamber in situ warming ...[more]

PMID: 38632407

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Project description:Species' response to rapid climate change can be measured through shifts in timing of recurring biological events, known as phenology. The Gulf of Maine is one of the most rapidly warming regions of the ocean, and thus an ideal system to study phenological and biological responses to climate change. A better understanding of climate-induced changes in phenology is needed to effectively and adaptively manage human-wildlife conflicts. Using data from a 20+ year marine mammal observation program, we tested the hypothesis that the phenology of large whale habitat use in Cape Cod Bay has changed and is related to regional-scale shifts in the thermal onset of spring. We used a multi-season occupancy model to measure phenological shifts and evaluate trends in the date of peak habitat use for North Atlantic right (Eubalaena glacialis), humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae), and fin (Balaenoptera physalus) whales. The date of peak habitat use shifted by +18.1 days (0.90 days/year) for right whales and +19.1 days (0.96 days/year) for humpback whales. We then evaluated interannual variability in peak habitat use relative to thermal spring transition dates (STD), and hypothesized that right whales, as planktivorous specialist feeders, would exhibit a stronger response to thermal phenology than fin and humpback whales, which are more generalist piscivorous feeders. There was a significant negative effect of western region STD on right whale habitat use, and a significant positive effect of eastern region STD on fin whale habitat use indicating differential responses to spatial seasonal conditions. Protections for threatened and endangered whales have been designed to align with expected phenology of habitat use. Our results show that whales are becoming mismatched with static seasonal management measures through shifts in their timing of habitat use, and they suggest that effective management strategies may need to alter protections as species adapt to climate change.

Dataset Information

Environmental drivers of increased ecosystem respiration in a warming tundra.

Publications

Environmental drivers of increased ecosystem respiration in a warming tundra.

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