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Temperature thresholds of ecosystem respiration at a global scale
Alice S A Johnston1,2, Andrew Meade3, Jonas Ardö4
1School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Bedford, UK. a.s.johnston@cranfield.ac.uk.
Nature Ecology & Evolution
|February 23, 2021
Summary
Ecosystem respiration, a key part of the global carbon cycle, shows temperature thresholds. Annual respiration is less temperature-dependent than short-term rates, impacting the carbon sink.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Ecology
- Climate Science
Background:
- Ecosystem respiration significantly impacts the global terrestrial carbon cycle.
- Temperature is a primary driver of ecosystem respiration, but its global relationship remains underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the global temperature-ecosystem respiration relationship.
- To identify potential thresholds in this relationship across diverse sites.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of ecosystem respiration data from 210 eddy covariance sites worldwide.
- Testing of linear and threshold models across a wide temperature range.
Main Results:
- Identified temperature thresholds for ecosystem respiration at high/low air and mid-soil temperatures.
- Observed reduced temperature dependence and sensitivity in annual rates compared to half-hourly rates.
- Found a single mid-temperature threshold for both air and soil temperatures on annual timescales.
Conclusions:
- Ecosystem respiration's temperature sensitivity differs between short and long timescales.
- These differences have significant implications for the terrestrial carbon sink under climate change.
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