In:
Soil Science Society of America Journal, Wiley, Vol. 81, No. 6 ( 2017-11), p. 1668-1688
Abstract:
Core Ideas We compared spatial vs. temporal variation in C cycle processes and drivers in a bog. The bog was indistinguishable as a C source or sink because of high spatial variation. Sensitive C cycle parameters in the model differed under ambient vs. warming scenarios. Characterizing pretreatment variability is necessary when interpreting warming effects. We are conducting a large‐scale, long‐term climate change response experiment in an ombrotrophic peat bog in Minnesota to evaluate the effects of warming and elevated CO 2 on ecosystem processes using empirical and modeling approaches. To better frame future assessments of peatland responses to climate change, we characterized and compared spatial vs. temporal variation in measured C cycle processes and their environmental drivers. We also conducted a sensitivity analysis of a peatland C model to identify how variation in ecosystem parameters contributes to model prediction uncertainty. High spatial variability in C cycle processes resulted in the inability to determine if the bog was a C source or sink, as the 95% confidence interval ranged from a source of 50 g C m –2 yr –1 to a sink of 67 g C m –2 yr –1 . Model sensitivity analysis also identified that spatial variation in tree and shrub photosynthesis, allocation characteristics, and maintenance respiration all contributed to large variations in the pretreatment estimates of net C balance. Variation in ecosystem processes can be more thoroughly characterized if more measurements are collected for parameters that are highly variable over space and time, and especially if those measurements encompass environmental gradients that may be driving the spatial and temporal variation (e.g., hummock vs. hollow microtopographies, and wet vs. dry years). Together, the coupled modeling and empirical approaches indicate that variability in C cycle processes and their drivers must be taken into account when interpreting the significance of experimental warming and elevated CO 2 treatments.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0361-5995
,
1435-0661
DOI:
10.2136/sssaj2016.12.0422
Language:
English
Publisher:
Wiley
Publication Date:
2017
detail.hit.zdb_id:
241415-6
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2239747-4
detail.hit.zdb_id:
196788-5
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1481691-X
SSG:
13
SSG:
21
Permalink
