Biotic, abiotic, and management controls on the net ecosystem CO2 exchange of European mountain grassland ecosystems

Wohlfahrt, Georg; Anderson-Dunn, Margaret; Bahn, Michael; Balzarolo, Manuela; Berninger, Frank; Campbell, Claire; Carrara, Arnaud; Cescatti, Alessandro; Christensen, Torben; Dore, Sabina; Eugster, Werner; Friborg, Thomas; Furger, Markus; Gianelle, Damiano; Gimeno, Cristina; Hargreaves, Ken; Hari, Pertti; Haslwanter, Alois; Johansson, Torbjorn; Marcolla, Barbara; Milford, Celia; Nagy, Zoltan; Nemitz, Eiko ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1765-6298; Rogniers, Nele; Sanz, Maria J.; Siegwolf, Rolf T. W.; Susiluto, Sanna; Sutton, Mark ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6263-6341; Tuba, Zoltan; Ugolini, Francesca; Valentini, Riccardo; Zorer, Roberto; Cernusca, Alexander. 2008 Biotic, abiotic, and management controls on the net ecosystem CO2 exchange of European mountain grassland ecosystems. Ecosystems, 11 (8). 1338-1351. 10.1007/s10021-008-9196-2

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Abstract/Summary

The net ecosystem carbon dioxide (CO2) exchange (NEE) of nine European mountain grassland ecosystems was measured during 2002–2004 using the eddy covariance method. Overall, the availability of photosynthetically active radiation (PPFD) was the single most important abiotic influence factor for NEE. Its role changed markedly during the course of the season, PPFD being a better predictor for NEE during periods favorable for CO2 uptake, which was spring and autumn for the sites characterized by summer droughts (southern sites) and (peak) summer for the Alpine and northern study sites. This general pattern was interrupted by grassland management practices, that is, mowing and grazing, when the variability in NEE explained by PPFD decreased in concert with the amount of aboveground biomass (BMag). Temperature was the abiotic influence factor that explained most of the variability in ecosystem respiration at the Alpine and northern study sites, but not at the southern sites characterized by a pronounced summer drought, where soil water availability and the amount of aboveground biomass were more or equally important. The amount of assimilating plant area was the single most important biotic variable determining the maximum ecosystem carbon uptake potential, that is, the NEE at saturating PPFD. Good correspondence, in terms of the magnitude of NEE, was observed with many (semi-) natural grasslands around the world, but not with grasslands sown on fertile soils in lowland locations, which exhibited higher maximum carbon gains at lower respiratory costs. It is concluded that, through triggering rapid changes in the amount and area of the aboveground plant matter, the timing and frequency of land management practices is crucial for the short-term sensitivity of the NEE of the investigated mountain grassland ecosystems to climatic drivers.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1007/s10021-008-9196-2
Programmes:	CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Biogeochemistry > CC01B Land-surface Feedbacks in the Climate System > CC01.8 Land-surface feedbacks through energy and water cycles CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Biogeochemistry > BG01 Measuring and modelling trace gas, aerosol and carbon > BG01.3 Nitroeurope NEU advanced flux network, fluxes pools and budgets
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Billett (to November 2013)
ISSN:	1432-9840
Additional Keywords:	biomass, Carbomont, ecosystem respiration, eddy covariance, green area index, grazing, light response, mowing
NORA Subject Terms:	Atmospheric Sciences
Date made live:	23 Mar 2009 16:38 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/5342

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