Convergence of potential net ecosystem production among contrasting C3 grasslands.
Metabolic theory and body size constraints on biomass production and decomposition suggest that differences in the intrinsic potential net ecosystem production (NEPPOT ) should be small among contrasting C3 grasslands and therefore unable to explain the wide range in the annual apparent net ecosystem production (NEPAPP ) reported by previous studies. We estimated NEPPOT for nine C3 grasslands under contrasting climate and management regimes using multiyear eddy covariance data. NEPPOT converged within a narrow range, suggesting little difference in the net carbon dioxide uptake capacity among C3 grasslands. Our results indicate a unique feature of C3 grasslands compared with other terrestrial ecosystems and suggest a state of stability in NEPPOT due to tightly coupled production and respiration processes. Consequently, the annual NEPAPP of C3 grasslands is primarily a function of seasonal and short-term environmental and management constraints, and therefore especially susceptible to changes in future climate patterns and associated adaptation of management practices.
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Forest Ecology & Management, Umeå, Sweden. Matthias.Peichl@slu.se
Matthias
M
Peichl
Oliver
O
Sonnentag
Georg
G
Wohlfahrt
Lawrence B
LB
Flanagan
Dennis D
DD
Baldocchi
Gerard
G
Kiely
Marta
M
Galvagno
Damiano
D
Gianelle
Barbara
B
Marcolla
Casimiro
C
Pio
Mirco
M
Migliavacca
Michael B
MB
Jones
Matthew
M
Saunders
D001317:Austria; D018533:Biomass; D002170:Canada; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D002980:Climate; D017753:Ecosystem; D007494:Ireland; D007558:Italy; D006109:Poaceae / Q000502:physiology*; D012621:Seasons; D014481:United States
D002245:Carbon Dioxide