Belowground carbon flux links biogeochemical cycles and resource‐use efficiency at the global scale

Gill, Allison L.; Finzi, Adrien C.; Penuelas, ed., Josep

doi:10.1111/ele.12690

Title: Belowground carbon flux links biogeochemical cycles and resource‐use efficiency at the global scale

Journal Article · 18 October 2016 · Ecology Letters

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.12690 · OSTI ID:1401884

Gill, Allison L. ^[1]; Finzi, Adrien C. ^[1]; Penuelas, ed., Josep

Department of Biology Boston University Boston MA 02215 USA

Abstract Nutrient limitation is pervasive in the terrestrial biosphere, although the relationship between global carbon (C) nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) cycles remains uncertain. Using meta‐analysis we show that gross primary production ( GPP ) partitioning belowground is inversely related to soil‐available N : P, increasing with latitude from tropical to boreal forests. N‐use efficiency is highest in boreal forests, and P‐use efficiency in tropical forests. High C partitioning belowground in boreal forests reflects a 13‐fold greater C cost of N acquisition compared to the tropics. By contrast, the C cost of P acquisition varies only 2‐fold among biomes. This analysis suggests a new hypothesis that the primary limitation on productivity in forested ecosystems transitions from belowground resources at high latitudes to aboveground resources at low latitudes as C‐intensive root‐ and mycorrhizal‐mediated nutrient capture is progressively replaced by rapidly cycling, enzyme‐derived nutrient fluxes when temperatures approach the thermal optimum for biogeochemical transformations.

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Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0006916; SC0012288

OSTI ID:: 1401884

Journal Information:: Ecology Letters, Journal Name: Ecology Letters Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 19; ISSN 1461-023X

Publisher:: Wiley-BlackwellCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United Kingdom

Language:: English

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