Shifting impacts of climate change: long-term patterns of plant response to elevated CO2, drought, and warming across ecosystems

Andresen, L.C.; Müller, C.; de Dato, G.; Dukes, J.S.; Emmett, B.A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2713-4389; Estiarte, M.; Jentsch, A.; Kröel-Dulay, G.; Lüscher, A.; Niu, S.; Peñuelas, J.; Reich, P.B.; Reinsch, S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4649-0677; Ogaya, R.; Schmidt, I.K.; Schneider, M.K.; Sternberg, M.; Tietema, A.; Zhu, K.; Bilton, M.C.. 2016 Shifting impacts of climate change: long-term patterns of plant response to elevated CO2, drought, and warming across ecosystems. Advances in Ecological Research, 55. 437-474. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.aecr.2016.07.001

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Abstract/Summary

Field experiments that expose terrestrial ecosystems to climate change factors by manipulations are expensive to maintain, and typically only last a few years. Plant biomass is commonly used to assess responses to climate treatments and to predict climate change impacts. However, response to the treatments might be considerably different between the early years and a decade later. The aim of this data analysis was to develop and apply a method for evaluating changes in plant biomass responses through time, in order to provide a firm basis for discussing how the ‘short-term’ response might differ from the ‘long-term’ response. Across 22 sites situated in the northern hemisphere, which covered three continents, and multiple ecosystems (grasslands, shrublands, moorlands, forests, and deserts), we evaluated biomass datasets from long-term experiments with exposure to elevated CO2 (eCO2), warming, or drought. We developed methods for assessing biomass response patterns to the manipulations using polynomial and linear (piecewise) model analysis and linked the responses to site-specific variables such as temperature and rainfall. Polynomial patterns across sites indicated changes in response direction over time under eCO2, warming, and drought. In addition, five distinct pattern types were confirmed within sites: ‘no response’, ‘delayed response’, ‘directional response’, ‘dampening response’, and ‘altered response’ patterns. We found that biomass response direction was as likely to change over time as it was to be consistent, and therefore suggest that climate manipulation experiments should be carried out over timescales covering both short- and long-term responses, in order to realistically assess future impacts of climate change.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.aecr.2016.07.001
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Emmett
ISBN:	9780081009352
ISSN:	0065-2504
Additional Keywords:	response curve, log response ratio, long-term field experiments, FACE, drought, warming, ClimMani, break point analysis
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	03 Oct 2016 09:12 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/514680

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