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Aridity threshold in controlling ecosystem nitrogen cycling in arid and semi-arid grasslands

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  • Chao Wang

    (State Key Laboratory of Forest and Soil Ecology, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Xiaobo Wang

    (State Key Laboratory of Forest and Soil Ecology, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Institute for Environmental Genomics, University of Oklahoma)

  • Dongwei Liu

    (State Key Laboratory of Forest and Soil Ecology, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Honghui Wu

    (State Key Laboratory of Forest and Soil Ecology, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Xiaotao Lü

    (State Key Laboratory of Forest and Soil Ecology, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yunting Fang

    (State Key Laboratory of Forest and Soil Ecology, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Weixin Cheng

    (State Key Laboratory of Forest and Soil Ecology, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of California)

  • Wentao Luo

    (State Key Laboratory of Forest and Soil Ecology, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Ping Jiang

    (State Key Laboratory of Forest and Soil Ecology, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Jason Shi

    (Institute for Environmental Genomics, University of Oklahoma)

  • Huaqun Yin

    (Institute for Environmental Genomics, University of Oklahoma)

  • Jizhong Zhou

    (Institute for Environmental Genomics, University of Oklahoma
    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
    State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University)

  • Xingguo Han

    (State Key Laboratory of Forest and Soil Ecology, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Edith Bai

    (State Key Laboratory of Forest and Soil Ecology, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

Higher aridity and more extreme rainfall events in drylands are predicted due to climate change. Yet, it is unclear how changing precipitation regimes may affect nitrogen (N) cycling, especially in areas with extremely high aridity. Here we investigate soil N isotopic values (δ15N) along a 3,200 km aridity gradient and reveal a hump-shaped relationship between soil δ15N and aridity index (AI) with a threshold at AI=0.32. Variations of foliar δ15N, the abundance of nitrification and denitrification genes, and metabolic quotient along the gradient provide further evidence for the existence of this threshold. Data support the hypothesis that the increase of gaseous N loss is higher than the increase of net plant N accumulation with increasing AI below AI=0.32, while the opposite is favoured above this threshold. Our results highlight the importance of N-cycling microbes in extremely dry areas and suggest different controlling factors of N-cycling on either side of the threshold.

Suggested Citation

  • Chao Wang & Xiaobo Wang & Dongwei Liu & Honghui Wu & Xiaotao Lü & Yunting Fang & Weixin Cheng & Wentao Luo & Ping Jiang & Jason Shi & Huaqun Yin & Jizhong Zhou & Xingguo Han & Edith Bai, 2014. "Aridity threshold in controlling ecosystem nitrogen cycling in arid and semi-arid grasslands," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:5:y:2014:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms5799
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms5799
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    Cited by:

    1. Zhang, Zhibin & Yan, Chuan & Krebs, Charles J. & Stenseth, Nils Chr., 2015. "Ecological non-monotonicity and its effects on complexity and stability of populations, communities and ecosystems," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 312(C), pages 374-384.
    2. Jinquan Li & Junmin Pei & Changming Fang & Bo Li & Ming Nie, 2024. "Drought may exacerbate dryland soil inorganic carbon loss under warming climate conditions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Yang, Chuntao & Millner, James Peter & Sun, Yi & Yuan, Hang & Liu, Yang & Zhang, Yan & Wang, Zhaofeng & Chang, Shenghua & Hou, Fujiang, 2021. "Supplementary feeding yak with oat hay improves nitrogen cycling in an alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).

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