Article
Ecology
Luhong Zhou, Shangshi Liu, Yaning Gu, Linfang Wu, Hang-Wei Hu, Ji-Zheng He
Summary: The impact of fire on above-ground biomass has significant consequences on soil carbon dynamics. The study conducted a global meta-analysis to determine the extent to which fire influenced soil respiration. The findings reveal that fires reduce soil respiration and its components, but the negative effects diminish over time. Fire severity, season, type, climate zones, and biomes moderate the influences of fire on soil respiration.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Xuechao Zhao, Peng Tian, Zhaolin Sun, Shengen Liu, Qingkui Wang, Zhangquan Zeng
Summary: Rhizosphere processes are important for plant-mediated carbon cycling in terrestrial ecosystems, but the role of microorganisms in regulating these processes is not well understood. This study conducted a meta-analysis of 110 published articles and measured data to quantify the effects of the rhizosphere on soil organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon, respiration, and enzyme activities. Positive effects of the rhizosphere on these parameters were observed globally, indicating the widespread importance of the rhizosphere in carbon cycling. The results also showed that the rhizosphere effects on microbial biomass and enzyme activities were likely common phenomena. Structural equation modeling revealed that the rhizosphere effects on soil organic carbon and total nitrogen had positive effects on respiration, while effects on fungal and bacterial biomass were negative. This study highlights the significance of microbial-mediated rhizosphere respiration in global soil organic carbon cycling and suggests that incorporating rhizosphere effects in Earth system models can improve predictions of carbon dynamics.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Thanh Le, Kyung-Ja Ha, Deg-Hyo Bae
Summary: The study examines the causal effects of El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on the global carbon cycle, showing significant impact on terrestrial carbon fluxes and storage in various regions. The influence of ENSO on carbon cycling in subtropics and high-latitude regions may be more significant than previously understood. Moreover, there is a stronger response of seasonal carbon stocks to ENSO compared to seasonal carbon fluxes.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Xiaofei Lu, Enqing Hou, Jieyun Guo, Frank S. Gilliam, Jianlong Li, Songbo Tang, Yuanwen Kuang
Summary: The study highlights that nitrogen enrichment can increase the diameter of soil aggregates, proportion of macroaggregates, and affect macroaggregate C significantly; in addition, N enrichment can lead to soil acidification and is correlated with aggregate C. Despite the varied effects on soil aggregation depending on ecosystem type and fertilization regime, overall, it enhances the formation of soil aggregates and their sequestration of organic C.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
William H. Schlesinger
Summary: Potassium presents a dilemma for biogeochemists. While it is inefficiently cycled at the plant level, it seems to be conserved at the ecosystem level, sometimes limiting net primary productivity. The increasing demand for K fertilizer in agriculture, especially in highly weathered tropical soils, may control the distribution and productivity of natural vegetation. However, the molar ratios of N/K in herbaceous plants, global fertilizer applications, and commodity price of fertilizer suggest that nitrogen is overused and potassium is overpriced in modern agriculture.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Estefania Munoz, Ingrid Chanca, Carlos A. Sierra
Summary: The response of terrestrial ecosystems to increased CO2 concentrations is not fully understood. Although there is consensus that increased CO2 affects instant processes, such as photosynthesis, uncertainties remain regarding the fate of assimilated carbon. This study proposes the use of transit time distributions to assess the fate of newly assimilated carbon and calls for its adoption to improve our understanding of ecosystem responses to increased CO2.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Maoyuan Feng, Shushi Peng, Yilong Wang, Philippe Ciais, Daniel S. Goll, Jinfeng Chang, Yunting Fang, Benjamin Z. Houlton, Gang Liu, Yan Sun, Yi Xi
Summary: Nitrogen loss due to soil denitrification in global natural ecosystems is overestimated by almost two times in current earth system models, highlighting the need for improvement. The study quantifies the loss using an isotope-benchmarking method and produces a global map of natural soil N-15 abundance. The overestimation of denitrification in models has implications for the assessment of CO2 mitigation and plant growth responses.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Gordon B. Bonan, Danica L. Lombardozzi, William R. Wieder
Summary: Uncertainty in model initialization affects climate simulations and hinders the assessment of trends in the terrestrial carbon cycle. Climate scientists use initial-condition ensembles to separate forced climate change signals from unforced internal variability, but this uncertainty in initialization can still lead to spurious trends. Through analyzing an 11-member ensemble, it is shown that multiple possible histories could have been observed due to internal variability, leading to ambiguity in the magnitude and direction of carbon cycle trends.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
M. E. Whelan, Mingjie Shi, Wu Sun, Linda Kooijmans-de Vries, Ulli Seibt, Kadmiel Maseyk
Summary: This study presents an empirical model, SOCSEM, to assess the potential impact of soil OCS exchange on regional stomatal conductance. The model uses soil moisture and surface temperature as input data and characterizes soil OCS exchange. Comparisons with field-based observations reveal deviations due to missing complexity in the model design. The study also investigates the applicability of the model in agricultural regions with known net emissions and regions with unknown soil OCS responses, such as Arctic tundra. Further research on non-stomatal surfaces and different ecosystems will increase confidence in using OCS as a regional tracer for stomatal conductance.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Miaomiao Wang, Jian Zhao, Shaoqiang Wang, Bin Chen, Zhipeng Li
Summary: The study identified positive NEP extremes in China's terrestrial ecosystems, with significant contributions from evergreen needle-leaf forests and croplands in the subtropical-tropical monsoonal region. The anomalies of Gross Primary Production (GPP) were found to play a decisive role in these extremes, with the best climate conditions for carbon uptake being temperature anomalies of -1.0 to 0.5 degrees C and precipitation anomalies of 0 to 600 mm. The study provides valuable insights for mitigating climate warming in China's terrestrial ecosystem.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ning Wei, Jianyang Xia, Ying-Ping Wang, Xuanze Zhang, Jian Zhou, Chenyu Bian, Yiqi Luo
Summary: Nutrient limitation has significant impacts on the disequilibrium magnitude of the terrestrial carbon cycle, especially nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) limitations. Nutrients restrict the increase in disequilibrium primarily by reducing productivity-driven changes in steady-state carbon storage.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xian-Jin Zhu, Fu-Yao Qu, Ren-Xue Fan, Zhi Chen, Qiu-Feng Wang, Gui-Rui Yu
Summary: This study analyzed the effects of ecosystem types on the spatial variations in annual gross primary productivity (AGPP) in terrestrial ecosystems of China. The results showed significant differences in AGPP among different ecosystem types and vegetation regions, with climate and biotic factors playing important roles in driving the spatial variations in AGPP.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jamie D. Wilson, Oliver Andrews, Anna Katavouta, Francisco de Melo Virissimo, Ros M. Death, Markus Adloff, Chelsey A. Baker, Benedict Blackledge, Fraser W. Goldsworth, Alan T. Kennedy-Asser, Qian Liu, Katie R. Sieradzan, Emily Vosper, Rui Ying
Summary: This study quantifies the future trends in carbon sequestration by the biological carbon pump (BCP) using the latest CMIP6 model projections. The results show that carbon sequestration is expected to increase by 19 to 48 Pg C over the 21st century in the SSP3-7.0 scenario, accounting for 5 to 17% of the total increase in oceanic carbon by 2100. However, export production is projected to decrease globally. The study highlights the importance of considering organic carbon fluxes at 1,000 m as a metric for long-term carbon sequestration in future model studies.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rachel E. Mason, Joseph M. Craine, Nina K. Lany, Mathieu Jonard, Scott Ollinger, Peter M. Groffman, Robinson W. Fulweiler, Jay Angerer, Quentin D. Read, Peter B. Reich, Pamela H. Templer, Andrew J. Elmore
Summary: The productivity and life-supporting capacity of ecosystems depend on access to reactive nitrogen. However, long-term records show that nitrogen availability is declining in many regions of the world. Global changes, such as elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and rising temperatures, are affecting the balance between ecosystem nitrogen supply and demand. This decline in nitrogen availability is limiting primary productivity and reducing the quality of herbivore diets in many ecosystems. We outline the current state of knowledge about declining nitrogen availability and propose actions to address this emerging challenge.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhaoqi Wang, Yuanhao Lin, Lang Cai, Guiling Wu, Kai Zheng, Xiang Liu, Xiaotao Huang
Summary: Soil organic carbon (SOC) is crucial for terrestrial carbon cycle and global climate change. Microbial models coupled with carbon cycle models can improve SOC projections. However, it is unclear if microbial models are superior to other carbon cycle models and the extent of simulation uncertainties of SOC. In this study, we compared the spatial patterns of global SOC simulated by the MIMICS and DCC models with CMIP6 MME and observations to determine the uncertainties of SOC. We found that none of the models satisfactorily simulated SOC, especially in the high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, indicating a need for improvement in SOC simulation in this region.
LAND DEGRADATION & DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Guitong Xing, Xiaofang Wang, Yamin Jiang, Huai Yang, Siwei Mai, Wenxian Xu, Enqing Hou, Xingzhao Huang, Qiu Yang, Wenjie Liu, Wenxing Long
Summary: The study found that during the process of forest succession from plantation to secondary forest and old-growth forest, soil organic carbon (SOC) increased significantly at 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm depths but not at deeper depths. The decrease in soil pH and the increase in total root biomass were the main factors contributing to SOC sequestration. Therefore, forest succession improved SOC accumulation.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Xianzhen Luo, Enqing Hou, Lingling Zhang, Yuangwen Kuang, Dazhi Wen
Summary: Afforestation can greatly affect the stocks of terrestrial carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) by changing soil microbial properties and functions, but the global scale effects of afforestation on soil microbial properties and functions remain unknown.
BIOLOGY AND FERTILITY OF SOILS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Enqing Hou, Shuang Ma, Yuanyuan Huang, Yu Zhou, Hyung-Sub Kim, Efren Lopez-Blanco, Lifen Jiang, Jianyang Xia, Feng Tao, Christopher Williams, Mathew Williams, Daniel Ricciuto, Paul J. Hanson, Yiqi Luo
Summary: This study used a matrix approach to analyze the differences in simulating land carbon dynamics between different models and identify their sources. The study found that the differences between models mainly came from differences in baseline carbon residence time and environmental factors, and these differences can be reduced by standardizing model parameters. The findings of this study are important for improving climate change prediction.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zhaoying Zhang, Alessandro Cescatti, Ying-Ping Wang, Pierre Gentine, Jingfeng Xiao, Luis Guanter, Alfredo R. Huete, Jin Wu, Jing M. Chen, Weimin Ju, Josep Penuelas, Yongguang Zhang
Summary: Photosynthesis and evapotranspiration in Amazonian forests have significant impacts on global carbon and water cycles. However, their diurnal patterns and responses to atmospheric warming and drying at regional scale are still not well understood. Using proxies from the International Space Station, we found a significant decrease in afternoon photosynthesis and evapotranspiration during the dry season, while morning photosynthesis showed a positive response to vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and afternoon photosynthesis showed a negative response. Furthermore, we projected that the decrease in afternoon photosynthesis will be compensated by an increase in the morning in future dry seasons. These findings provide new insights into the complex interplay between climate and carbon and water fluxes in Amazonian forests and improve the reliability of future projections.
Article
Soil Science
Shiting Xia, Jun Jiang, Fengcai Liu, Zhongbing Chang, Mengxiao Yu, Chunyi Liu, Ying-Ping Wang, Junhua Yan
Summary: Nitrogen addition drives ecosystems towards phosphorus limitation, while the effect of phosphorus addition on ecosystem nitrogen cycling processes is unclear. A meta-analysis of observational data from 222 independent studies was conducted to assess the responses of plant and soil nitrogen pools, and nitrogen fluxes to phosphorus addition at a global scale. The results showed that phosphorus addition had an overall positive impact on plant nitrogen uptake and ecosystem nitrogen retention, with increases in plant nitrogen pools and microbial nitrogen transformation, and a decrease in soil nitrogen leaching. The role of soil microbes in promoting plant nitrogen uptake was greater in mid-/high-latitude ecosystems, and the sensitivity of nitrogen-cycling variables to phosphorus addition was stronger in acidic or weathered soils. Incorporating these findings into terrestrial ecosystem nutrient-cycling models is crucial.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Yingzi Zhang, Shuguang Liu, Yingping Wang, Haiqiang Gao, Yan Jiang, Danmeng Wei
Summary: This study explored the most suitable detection methods for subtropical forest disturbance in Hunan Province using the LandTrendr algorithm, generating a forest disturbance dataset from 1991 to 2021. The overall accuracy of forest disturbance monitoring in Hunan Province was 86.39%, higher than the Global Forest Change products. Over the past 30 years, a total of 11103.25 km2 of forest has been disturbed in Hunan Province, accounting for 10.54% of the total forest area.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ziqian Zhong, Bin He, Ying-Ping Wang, Hans W. Chen, Deliang Chen, Yongshuo H. Fu, Yaning Chen, Lanlan Guo, Ying Deng, Ling Huang, Wenping Yuan, Xingmin Hao, Rui Tang, Huiming Liu, Liying Sun, Xiaoming Xie, Yafeng Zhang
Summary: The influence of atmospheric vapor pressure deficit (VPD) on plant photosynthesis is well recognized, but its interactions with air temperature and soil moisture hinder a complete understanding of its impact on vegetation production. By excluding interactive effects, this study reveals a diverging response of productivity to VPD in the Northern Hemisphere. The interactions between VPD and temperature/soil moisture not only offset the potential positive impact of warming on vegetation productivity, but also amplify the negative effect of soil drying. Notably, there is a pronounced shift in vegetation productivity's response to VPD in high-latitude ecosystems when VPD surpasses a threshold of 3.5 to 4.0 hectopascals.
Article
Ecology
Jon M. Wells, Maricar Aguilos, Xin Huang, Yuan Gao, Enqing Hou, Wenjuan Huang, Cuijuan Liao, Lin Lin, Ruiying Zhao, Han Qiu, Keanan Allen, John King, Asko Noormets, Lifen Jiang, Yiqi Luo
Summary: This article investigates the drivers of interannual variability (IAV) of net ecosystem exchange (NEE) in forested wetlands and their responses to climate and land use changes. It reveals that static ecosystem models lack the ability to capture dynamic ecological processes, emphasizing the importance of considering these processes in predicting changes in NEE.
Article
Soil Science
Muhammed Mustapha Ibrahim, Zhimin Li, Huijun Ye, Zhaofeng Chang, Huiying Lin, Xianzhen Luo, Enqing Hou
Summary: Many studies have been conducted on the responses of soil CO2 emissions to altered supplies of C and N, but limited information exists on P. This study evaluated the response patterns of CO2 emissions to alkalinity and nine elements in soils, and also investigated changes in DOC, MBC, and microbial structure. The results showed that different nutrients had different effects on CO2 emissions and microbial activity. This study highlights the complexity of predicting soil processes and the need for further research on the interactions in forest soils.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Shane W. Stoner, Marion Schrumpf, Alison Hoyt, Carlos A. Sierra, Sebastian Doetterl, Valier Galy, Susan Trumbore
Summary: Carbon (C) in soils persists on different timescales depending on physical, chemical, and biological processes. Thermal fractionation has shown promise for separating young from old C by decomposing soil organic matter (SOM) at increasing heat levels. This study investigates the age distribution of C in different fractions separated by density and chemical properties using radiocarbon (C-14) and C-13 analysis during thermal fractionation.
Article
Ecology
Jennifer A. Holm, David M. Medvigy, Benjamin Smith, Jeffrey S. Dukes, Claus Beier, Mikhail Mishurov, Xiangtao Xu, Jeremy W. Lichstein, Craig D. Allen, Klaus S. Larsen, Yiqi Luo, Cari Ficken, William T. Pockman, William R. L. Anderegg, Anja Rammig
Summary: Climatic extreme events are expected to occur more frequently in the future, increasing the likelihood of unprecedented climate extremes (UCEs) or record-breaking events. UCEs, such as extreme heatwaves and droughts, substantially affect ecosystem stability and carbon cycling by increasing plant mortality and delaying ecosystem recovery.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Lina Teckentrup, Martin G. De Kauwe, Gab Abramowitz, Andrew J. Pitman, Anna M. Ukkola, Sanaa Hobeichi, Bastien Francois, Benjamin Smith
Summary: This study investigates the uncertainty associated with climate forcing in regional projections of the Australian carbon cycle. Bias correction methods are tested to reduce climate-driven uncertainty, with multivariate methods showing greater reduction. Machine learning approaches, particularly random forest, provide the closest results to the target dataset. However, differences in simulated vegetation distribution still occur when using different GCMs as input.
EARTH SYSTEM DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Shuo Zhang, Ying-Ping Wang, Xi Fang, Jinlei Chen, Nannan Cao, Pingping Xu, Mengxiao Yu, Xin Xiong, Xiangping Tan, Qi Deng, Junhua Yan
Summary: Changes in litter quality and above-ground biomass during vegetation restoration have significant impacts on soil properties, but their effects on soil microbial metabolic limitations are still unclear.
SOIL ECOLOGY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhongbing Chang, Lei Fan, Jean-Pierre Wigneron, Ying-Ping Wang, Philippe Ciais, Jerome Chave, Rasmus Fensholt, Jing M. Chen, Wenping Yuan, Weimin Ju, Xin Li, Fei Jiang, Mousong Wu, Xiuzhi Chen, Yuanwei Qin, Frederic Frappart, Xiaojun Li, Mengjia Wang, Xiangzhuo Liu, Xuli Tang, Sanaa Hobeichi, Mengxiao Yu, Mingguo Ma, Jianguang Wen, Qing Xiao, Weiyu Shi, Dexin Liu, Junhua Yan
Summary: This study compared the estimated dynamics of aboveground biomass carbon (AGC) in Chinese forests using remote sensing vegetation products and proposed an AGC estimation model. The results showed that tree cover had the highest consistency with the published AGC maps, and provinces in southwest China had the highest carbon sink rates.
JOURNAL OF REMOTE SENSING
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Zhuoting Zhang, Ruyi Luo, Qinghua Liu, Wei Qiang, Jin Liang, Enqing Hou, Chunzhang Zhao, Xueyong Pang
Summary: Soil phosphorus availability is critical for ecosystem productivity, but its dynamics in cold regions such as the Tibetan Plateau are poorly understood. By analyzing soil samples from different vegetation types along a succession gradient, we found significant increases in inorganic phosphorus concentrations and a subsequent decrease in organic phosphorus concentration during secondary succession. We also identified the joint influence of abiotic factors and microbial communities on soil phosphorus dynamics. These findings provide valuable insights into soil nutrient availability in cold regions.