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Global subsoil organic carbon turnover times dominantly controlled by soil properties rather than climate.

ABSTRACT: Soil organic carbon (SOC) in the subsoil below 0.3?m accounts for the majority of total SOC and may be as sensitive to climate change as topsoil SOC. Here we map global SOC turnover times (?) in the subsoil layer at 1?km resolution using observational databases. Global mean ? is estimated to be [Formula: see text] yr (mean with 95% confidence interval), and deserts and tundra show the shortest ([Formula: see text] yr) and longest ([Formula: see text] yr) ? respectively. Across the globe, mean ? ranges from 9 (the 5% quantile) to 6332 years (the 95% quantile). Temperature is the most important factor negatively affecting ?, but the overall effect of climate (including temperature and precipitation) is secondary compared with the overall effect of assessed soil properties (e.g., soil texture and pH). The high-resolution mapping of ? and the quantification of its controls provide a benchmark for diagnosing subsoil SOC dynamics under climate change.

SUBMITTER: Luo Z

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6695437 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Global subsoil organic carbon turnover times dominantly controlled by soil properties rather than climate.

Luo Zhongkui Z Wang Guocheng G Wang Enli E

Nature communications 20190815 1

Soil organic carbon (SOC) in the subsoil below 0.3 m accounts for the majority of total SOC and may be as sensitive to climate change as topsoil SOC. Here we map global SOC turnover times (τ) in the subsoil layer at 1 km resolution using observational databases. Global mean τ is estimated to be [Formula: see text] yr (mean with 95% confidence interval), and deserts and tundra show the shortest ([Formula: see text] yr) and longest ([Formula: see text] yr) τ respectively. Across the globe, mean τ ...[more]

PMID: 31417092

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Project description:AimGeographic, climatic, and soil factors are major drivers of plant beta diversity, but their importance for dryland plant communities is poorly known. This study aims to: i) characterize patterns of beta diversity in global drylands, ii) detect common environmental drivers of beta diversity, and iii) test for thresholds in environmental conditions driving potential shifts in plant species composition.Location224 sites in diverse dryland plant communities from 22 geographical regions in six continents.MethodsBeta diversity was quantified with four complementary measures: the percentage of singletons (species occurring at only one site), Whittake's beta diversity (β(W)), a directional beta diversity metric based on the correlation in species occurrences among spatially contiguous sites (β(R2)), and a multivariate abundance-based metric (β(MV)). We used linear modelling to quantify the relationships between these metrics of beta diversity and geographic, climatic, and soil variables.ResultsSoil fertility and variability in temperature and rainfall, and to a lesser extent latitude, were the most important environmental predictors of beta diversity. Metrics related to species identity (percentage of singletons and β(W)) were most sensitive to soil fertility, whereas those metrics related to environmental gradients and abundance ((β(R2)) and β(MV)) were more associated with climate variability. Interactions among soil variables, climatic factors, and plant cover were not important determinants of beta diversity. Sites receiving less than 178 mm of annual rainfall differed sharply in species composition from more mesic sites (> 200 mm).Main conclusionsSoil fertility and variability in temperature and rainfall are the most important environmental predictors of variation in plant beta diversity in global drylands. Our results suggest that those sites annually receiving ~ 178 mm of rainfall will be especially sensitive to future climate changes. These findings may help to define appropriate conservation strategies for mitigating effects of climate change on dryland vegetation.

Dataset Information

Global subsoil organic carbon turnover times dominantly controlled by soil properties rather than climate.

Publications

Global subsoil organic carbon turnover times dominantly controlled by soil properties rather than climate.

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