Publication Date:
2011-12-27
Description:
This study investigated the impact of predicted future climatic and atmospheric conditions on soil respiration ( R S ) in a Danish Calluna-Deschampsia- heathland. A fully factorial in-situ experiment with treatments of elevated atmospheric CO 2 (+130 ppm), raised soil temperature (+0.4 °C) and extended summer drought (5-8% precipitation exclusion) was established in 2005. The average R S , observed in the control over three years of measurements (1.7 μmol CO 2 m −2 sec −1 ), increased 38% under elevated CO 2 , irrespective of combination with the drought or temperature treatments. In contrast, extended summer drought decreased R S by 14%, while elevated soil temperature did not affect R S overall. A significant interaction between elevated temperature and drought resulted in further reduction of R S when these treatments were combined. A detailed analysis of short-term R S dynamics associated with drought periods showed that R S was reduced by ~50% and was strongly correlated with soil moisture during these events. Recovery of R S to pre-drought levels occurred within two weeks of rewetting; however unexpected drought effects were observed several months after summer drought treatment in two of the three years, possibly due to reduced plant growth or changes in soil water holding capacity. An empirical model that predicts R S from soil temperature, soil moisture and plant biomass was developed and accounted for 55% of the observed variability in R S . The model predicted annual sums of R S in 2006 and 2007, in the control, were 672 and 719 g C m −2 y −1 , respectively. For the full treatment combination, i.e. the future climate scenario, the model predicted that soil respiratory C losses would increase by ~21% (140-150 g C m −2 y −1 ). Therefore, in the future climate, stimulation of C storage in plant biomass and litter must be in excess of 21% in order for this ecosystem to not suffer a reduction in net ecosystem exchange.
Print ISSN:
1354-1013
Electronic ISSN:
1365-2486
Topics:
Biology
,
Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering
,
Geography
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