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C:N:P stoichiometry in terrestrial ecosystems in China
Jiahui Zhang1, Mingxu Li2, Li Xu2
1Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
The Science of the Total Environment
|July 10, 2021
Summary
Ecological stoichiometry, using carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus (C:N:P) ratios, was calculated using community biomass-weighted means across 66 Chinese ecosystems. This study provides crucial data to improve ecological models by reducing uncertainty in elemental ratios.
Area of Science:
- Ecological stoichiometry
- Biogeochemistry
- Ecosystem ecology
Background:
- Ecological stoichiometry examines the balance of elements like carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P), crucial for ecological models.
- Previous estimations of C:N:P ratios using simple means introduced high uncertainty for model parameters.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively calculate C:N:P ratios from organs to ecosystems for 66 natural ecosystems in China.
- To provide a systematic dataset of C:N:P ratios to improve ecological models.
Main Methods:
- Calculated C:N:P ratios using the community biomass-weighted mean (CWM) for 3229 site-species combinations.
- Analyzed ratios across organs (leaves, branches, trunks, roots), ecosystems, plant communities, litter, and soils.
- Investigated latitudinal patterns and the influence of environmental conditions on C:N:P ratios.
Main Results:
- Established specific C:N:P ratios for various components (e.g., leaves 427:19:1, soils 55:4:1).
- Observed significant variations in C:N:P ratios among ecosystem types and biomes, with higher ratios in forests.
- Found that C:P and N:P ratios decreased with increasing latitude, particularly in forests.
Conclusions:
- This study systematically demonstrates biome-scale C:N:P stoichiometry variations and influencing factors in terrestrial ecosystems.
- The developed dataset of C:N:P ratios from plot to biome scale can enhance the accuracy of ecological models.
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