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Ecosystem response to elevated CO2 levels limited by nitrogen-induced plant species shift

Author

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  • J. Adam Langley

    (Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, Maryland 21037, USA
    Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania 19084, USA)

  • J. Patrick Megonigal

    (Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, Maryland 21037, USA)

Abstract

Ecosystem response to carbon dioxide The prevailing hypothesis of progressive nitrogen limitation states that the scarcity of soil resources, such as nitrogen, limits the response of ecosystems to elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide. It follows that adding nitrogen to soil should enhance total plant productivity in response to carbon dioxide fertilization in natural ecosystems. But there is little empirical evidence to support this hypothesis. This study finds that nitrogen addition initially enhances the carbon dioxide stimulation of plant productivity, but also promotes the encroachment of C4 grasses, the plant species at the study site that respond less strongly to elevated carbon dioxide concentrations. Overall, the observed shift in the plant community ultimately suppresses the carbon dioxide stimulation of plant productivity. The authors conclude that plant community shifts can act as a feedback effect that alters the whole ecosystem response to elevated carbon dioxide concentrations. Models that incorporate a positive effect of anthropogenic N on the elevated carbon dioxide response may overestimate future carbon uptake in terrestrial wildlands.

Suggested Citation

  • J. Adam Langley & J. Patrick Megonigal, 2010. "Ecosystem response to elevated CO2 levels limited by nitrogen-induced plant species shift," Nature, Nature, vol. 466(7302), pages 96-99, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:466:y:2010:i:7302:d:10.1038_nature09176
    DOI: 10.1038/nature09176
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    Cited by:

    1. Mark J. Hovenden & Paul C. D. Newton, 2018. "Variability in precipitation seasonality limits grassland biomass responses to rising CO2: historical and projected climate analyses," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 149(2), pages 219-231, July.
    2. Marcinkowski, Paweł & Piniewski, Mikołaj, 2024. "Future changes in crop yield over Poland driven by climate change, increasing atmospheric CO2 and nitrogen stress," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 213(C).
    3. Jia, Binghao & Wang, Yuanyuan & Xie, Zhenghui, 2018. "Responses of the terrestrial carbon cycle to drought over China: Modeling sensitivities of the interactive nitrogen and dynamic vegetation," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 368(C), pages 52-68.

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