Net Primary Production Rates Research Articles

Thinning effects on the net ecosystem carbon exchange of a Sitka spruce forest are temperature-dependent

Commercial forest plantations need to be actively managed, through tree removal, in order to improve wood quality, maintain productivity and provide an economic return, although this could compromise an important role for forests in carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas mitigation. The impact of forest thinning on net primary productivity (NPP) and net ecosystem exchange (NEE) was assessed using a combination of biometric and eddy covariance (EC) techniques. Two thinning operations were performed in close succession, which reduced the basal area of the stand by 17% and 11% and removed a timber volume of 48m3ha−1 and 50m3ha−1, respectively. Annual rates of NPP ranged from 13.24 (±3.96) to 18.94 (±4.88)tCha−1 and 13.22 (±3.72) to 17.77 (±5.30)tCha−1 for the pre- and post-thinning periods, respectively. Estimates of NEE varied between 8.44 (±1.34) to 8.87 (±1.48)tCha−1 and 6.75 (±1.19) to 10.33 (±1.41)tCha−1 in the pre- and post-thinning periods. Forest thinning did not have a significant impact on carbon stocks or fluxes when pre-thinning (2002–2006) and post-thinning (2007–2009) estimates of NPP and NEE were compared, however the range of inter-annual variability in NEE increased after thinning. The partitioning of annual NEE carbon budgets into gross primary productivity (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (Reco) together with an analysis of key physiological parameters suggested that the impacts of forest thinning are largely dependent on temperature. An expected decrease in GPP after the initial thinning in 2007 was not observed due, in part, to the higher mean annual air temperatures and incident photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) and a compensatory increase in photosynthesis by the remaining trees. A continual decline in Reco, was observed in the years subsequent to the first thinning and was attributed to both biomass removal and climatic factors.Inter-annual variations in climate had a significant impact on NEE, GPP and Reco. Annual mean air temperature, total precipitation and total incident PAR were all shown to influence the processes driving CO2 exchange. Overall, these results suggest that the impacts of the thinning practices, as implemented in this study, are dependent on climate and under similar conditions are unlikely, in the short-term, to compromise a role for forest ecosystems in carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas mitigation.

Spatial and seasonal variability of primary production on the Eastern Bering Sea shelf

Spatial and seasonal variability in net primary production (NPP) is reported for the Eastern Bering Sea shelf in spring and summer 2008 and 2009. Euphotic zone integrated NPP in the spring, estimated from simulated in situ 14C-incubations, varied ∼30-fold across the northern and southern regions of the Inner, Middle, and Outer domains of the shelf. During spring, rates were lowest and similar in the North and South region of the Inner domain, while the highest rates were in the Southern region of the Outer domain as a result of extensive ice-edge phytoplankton blooms. Generally, phytoplankton integrated chlorophyll (Chl-a) standing stocks were dominated (>50%) by large (>5μm) cells. With the exception of the southern Middle domain, integrated rates of NPP were consistently lower in summer than spring, while there was no consistent pattern in changes in integrated Chl-a. Conversely, phytoplankton growth rates (μ) were lower in spring (0.22±0.09d−1) than summer (0.42±0.17d−1), consistent with a seasonal shift from a biomass-controlled production system to a growth-rate controlled production system. Associated with this shift in control was a decrease in the size distribution of chlorophyll from ∼60% of the Chl-a>5μm in the spring to ∼30% of the Chl-a>5μm in the summer. Despite the widespread distribution of stations, these observations highlight the variable nature of NPP in the Bering Sea, which makes the estimation of seasonal or annual rates in any domain or across the entire shelf difficult, if not impossible, on direct observations alone. A vertically generalized productivity model (VGPM) was used to assimilate the more extensive underway dataset from two cruises to improve the spatial distribution of calculated NPP included in the regional estimates of NPP. The VGPM output captured ∼83% of the variance in measured 14C production, accurately estimated observed NPP (Model II regression slope±stdev.; 0.92±0.06), and allowed for a better constrained estimation of shelf-wide productivity due to higher data density in each region/domain. These results, when combined with published data on shelf-wide productivity suggest that the ecosystem response to climate change (whether an increase or decrease in productivity) would have to exceed a factor of two from mean conditions before being detectable from a comparable survey effort.

Agricultural encroachment: implications for carbon sequestration in tropical African wetlands

AbstractTropical wetlands have been shown to exhibit high rates of net primary productivity and may therefore play an important role in global climate change mitigation through carbon assimilation and sequestration. Many permanently flooded areas of tropical East Africa are dominated by the highly productive C4 emergent macrophyte sedge, Cyperus papyrus L. (papyrus). However, increasing population densities around wetland margins in East Africa are reducing the extent of papyrus coverage due to the planting of subsistence crops such as Colocasia esculenta (cocoyam). In this paper, we assess the impact of this land use change on the carbon cycle and in particular the impacts of land conversion on net ecosystem carbon dioxide exchange. Eddy covariance techniques were used, on a campaign basis, to measure fluxes of carbon dioxide over both papyrus and cocoyam dominated wetlands located on the Ugandan shore of Lake Victoria. Peak rates of net photosynthetic CO2 assimilation, derived from monthly diurnal averages of net ecosystem exchange, of 28–35 μmol CO2 m−2 s−1 and 15–20 μmol CO2 m−2 s−1 were recorded in the papyrus and cocoyam wetlands, respectively, whereas night‐time respiratory losses ranged between 10 and 15 μmol CO2 m−2 s−1 at the papyrus wetland and 5–10 μmol CO2 m−2 s−1 at the cocoyam site. The integration of the flux data suggests that papyrus wetlands have the potential to act as a sink for significant amounts of carbon, in the region of 10 t C ha−1 yr−1. The cocoyam vegetation assimilated ~7 t C ha−1 yr−1 but when carbon exports from crop biomass removal were accounted for these wetlands represent a significant net loss of carbon of similar magnitude. The development of sustainable wetland management strategies are therefore required to promote the dual wetland function of crop production and the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions especially under future climate change scenarios.

Photosynthesis and net primary productivity in three Antarctic diatoms: possible significance for their distribution in the Antarctic marine ecosystem

Photosynthesis and net primary productivity were measured in 3 Antarctic diatoms, Fragilariopsis cylindrus, Pseudo-nitzschia subcurvata and Chaetoceros sp., exposed to rapid changes in temperature and salinity representing a range of conditions found during a seasonal cycle. Measured differences in fluorescence-derived photosynthetic activity and oxygen evolution suggested that some alternative electron cycling activity was present under high irradiances. F. cylindrus displayed the highest rates of relative electron transport and net primary productivity under all salinity and temperature combinations and showed adaptive traits towards the sea-ice- like environment. P. subcurvata displayed a preference for low saline conditions where produc- tion rates were greatest. However, there was evidence of photosynthetic sensitivity to the lowest temperatures and highest salinities, suggesting a lack of adaptation for dealing with sea-ice-like conditions. Chaetoceros sp. showed high plasticity, acclimating well to all conditions but perform- ing best under pelagic conditions. The study shows species-specific sensitivities to environmental change, highlighting photosynthetic capacity as a potentially important mechanism in ecological niche adaptation. When these data were modelled over different seasons, integrated daily net pri- mary production was greatest under summer pelagic conditions. The findings from this study sup- port the general observations of light control and seasonal development of net primary productiv- ity and species succession in the Antarctic marine ecosystem.

Ecosystem service evaluation to support land-use policy

Regular economic activity takes into account ecosystem goods and services that are exchanged for money in the market (e.g. food, fibre, water) but normally ignores more intangible ones left away from market transactions (e.g. soil protection, climate regulation, disturbance control, habitat provision), even in cases when they become irreversibly impaired. However, because of the increasing pressure brought by the public opinion, the attempts to assign an economic, yet volatile, valuation to ecosystems assets has multiplied in recent years, and policy communities are increasingly compelled to incorporate them into land use planning initiatives. Based on contributions to this special issue, we discuss how the perspective of ecosystem services can contribute to develop sound land-use policies and planning actions. Beyond valuation, several practical implications emerge from the contributions. A myriad of potential tradeoffs must be analyzed because since the provision of some services can be accompanied by the emergence of unexpected dis-services. For example, carbon accumulation based on increasing net primary production rates may simultaneously cut water yields and, hence, water provision. Various existing mechanisms ranging from state-controlled to market-controlled for rewarding the provision of ecosystem services are analyzed and discussed in terms of their capacity to connect nature to land-use planning.

A comparison of the net ecosystem exchange of carbon dioxide and evapotranspiration for treed and open portions of a temperate peatland

Net ecosystem exchange of carbon dioxide (NEE) and evapotranspiration (ET) were measured at open and treed portions of a temperate ombrotrophic bog using the eddy covariance technique to examine the potential influence of plant community characteristics on peatland carbon and water vapour exchange. The sites were located 2.7km from each other within the same peatland complex and thus experienced similar weather. Both sites were characterized by a Sphagnum ground cover and a shrub layer with similar total biomass. However, at the treed bog, 35% of this understory vascular plant layer was made up of Picea mariana (<0.5m tall) compared to less than 0.2% in the open bog. The treed bog was also characterized by an overstory dominated by a patchy distribution of stunted P. mariana. Over a single year, net CO2 uptake and ET was lower at the treed bog (NEE: −72gCm−2year−1 and ET: 449mmyear−1) than at the open bog (NEE: −104gCm−2year−1 and ET: 493mmyear−1). Chamber measurements revealed that P. mariana was associated with low rates of net primary productivity (NPP) compared to the relatively more productive ericaceous and deciduous shrubs. Although the presence of a P. mariana overstory increases both the total aboveground biomass and leaf area index in this peatland, P. mariana appears to be important in reducing both ecosystem-scale carbon sequestration and water vapour loss.

Changes in forest soil organic matter pools after a decade of elevated CO2 and O3

The impact of rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) may be mitigated, in part, by enhanced rates of net primary production and greater C storage in plant biomass and soil organic matter (SOM). However, C sequestration in forest soils may be offset by other environmental changes such as increasing tropospheric ozone (O3) or vary based on species-specific growth responses to elevated CO2. To understand how projected increases in atmospheric CO2 and O3 alter SOM formation, we used physical fractionation to characterize soil C and N at the Rhinelander Free Air CO2–O3 Enrichment (FACE) experiment. Tracer amounts of 15NH4+ were applied to the forest floor of Populus tremuloides, P. tremuloides–Betula papyrifera and P. tremuloides–Acer saccharum communities exposed to factorial CO2 and O3 treatments. The 15N tracer and strongly depleted 13C–CO2 were traced into SOM fractions over four years. Over time, C and N increased in coarse particulate organic matter (cPOM) and decreased in mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) under elevated CO2 relative to ambient CO2. As main effects, neither CO2 nor O3 significantly altered 15N recovery in SOM. Elevated CO2 significantly increased new C in all SOM fractions, and significantly decreased old C in fine POM (fPOM) and MAOM over the duration of our study. Overall, our observations indicate that elevated CO2 has altered SOM cycling at this site to favor C and N accumulation in less stable pools, with more rapid turnover. Elevated O3 had the opposite effect, significantly reducing cPOM N by 15% and significantly increasing the C:N ratio by 7%. Our results demonstrate that CO2 can enhance SOM turnover, potentially limiting long-term C sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems; plant community composition is an important determinant of the magnitude of this response.

Metabolic rates and primary productivity of the marine macroalgae Dictyopteris delicatula in Taganga Bay, Colombian Caribbean

Metabolic rates and photosynthetic performance of Dictyopteris delicatula were measured in the south of Taganga Bay and on Inca-Inca beach, Colombia, during September and November 2007, as part of a monitoring program of water quality and pollution associated with the stormwater system of the city of Santa Marta. Concentrations of chlorophyll-a of D. delicatula did not show significant differences between both areas but the average rates of net primary productivity and respiration differed significantly, likely due to the effect of the nutrient loadings from the stormwater outlet in Taganga Bay, altering the physiological processes of the macroalgal community.

Hydrologic controls on water chemistry, vegetation and ecological patterns in two mires in the South-Eastern Alps (Italy)

We examined how hydrology influenced water chemistry, vegetation, nutrient status, aboveground net primary production (ANPP) and litter decomposition rates in two mires on the South-Eastern Alps of Italy. One of the mires had a modest hydraulic gradient and prevalently acted as a recharge system, although there were short phases of vertical flow reversal during dry periods. This mire was, therefore, prevalently fed by rainwater and was covered by bog-like vegetation, mainly hummocks and scrubs with a ground layer rich in Sphagnum mosses. The other mire presented a steeper hydraulic gradient, with the surface being fed by mineral water either by surface runoff or by vertical, upwards directed ground water flow. Compared to the bog-dominated mire, the pore water was less acidic and richer in telluric cations. This mire was covered by fen-like vegetation, prevalently fen meadows. Nitrogen (N) content in the vegetation was very similar in the two mire sites, while phosphorus (P) content was lower in the fen-dominated site. Contrary to our expectations, ANPP did not differ significantly between the two mire sites while litter decomposition rates were significantly lower in the fen-dominated mire, presumably because of P limitation of decomposers. This suggests that the development of ombrogenous mires in this region need not be due to increased accumulation of peat during succession from mineralwater-fed to rainwater-fed conditions.

Free atmospheric CO&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; enrichment increased above ground biomass but did not affect symbiotic N&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;-fixation and soil carbon dynamics in a mixed deciduous stand in Wales

Abstract. Through increases in net primary production (NPP), elevated CO2 is hypothesized to increase the amount of plant litter entering the soil. The fate of this extra carbon on the forest floor or in mineral soil is currently not clear. Moreover, increased rates of NPP can be maintained only if forests can escape nitrogen limitation. In a Free atmospheric CO2 Enrichment (FACE) experiment near Bangor, Wales, 4 ambient and 4 elevated [CO2] plots were planted with patches of Betula pendula, Alnus glutinosa and Fagus sylvatica on a former arable field. After 4 years, biomass averaged for the 3 species was 5497 (se 270) g m−2 in ambient and 6450 (se 130) g m−2 in elevated [CO2] plots, a significant increase of 17% (P = 0.018). During that time, only a shallow L forest floor litter layer had formed due to intensive bioturbation. Total soil C and N contents increased irrespective of treatment and species as a result of afforestation. We could not detect an additional C sink in the soil, nor were soil C stabilization processes affected by elevated [CO2]. We observed a decrease of leaf N content in Betula and Alnus under elevated [CO2], while the soil C/N ratio decreased regardless of CO2 treatment. The ratio of N taken up from the soil and by N2-fixation in Alnus was not affected by elevated [CO2]. We infer that increased nitrogen use efficiency is the mechanism by which increased NPP is sustained under elevated [CO2] at this site.

Increases in the flux of carbon belowground stimulate nitrogen uptake and sustain the long-term enhancement of forest productivity under elevated CO2

The earth's future climate state is highly dependent upon changes in terrestrial C storage in response to rising concentrations of atmospheric CO₂. Here we show that consistently enhanced rates of net primary production (NPP) are sustained by a C-cascade through the root-microbe-soil system; increases in the flux of C belowground under elevated CO₂ stimulated microbial activity, accelerated the rate of soil organic matter decomposition and stimulated tree uptake of N bound to this SOM. This process set into motion a positive feedback maintaining greater C gain under elevated CO₂ as a result of increases in canopy N content and higher photosynthetic N-use efficiency. The ecosystem-level consequence of the enhanced requirement for N and the exchange of plant C for N belowground is the dominance of C storage in tree biomass but the preclusion of a large C sink in the soil.

Seasonal fluxes of O 2, DIC and CH 4 in sediments with Vallisneria spiralis: indications for radial oxygen loss

Seasonal fluxes of dissolved oxygen, inorganic carbon and methane were measured in microcosms containing vegetated ( Vallisneria spiralis L.) and unvegetated sediments under controlled laboratory conditions. We tested if measured fluxes were affected by a moderate (6% as loss on ignition, LOI) and an elevated (10%) organic matter content (OM) in sediments. Microcosms were set up with plants and sediments collected from two riverine sites, upstream (moderate OM load) and downstream (elevated OM load) of a wastewater treatment plant. Light and dark fluxes were measured and V. spiralis net primary production and respiration rates were calculated. Unvegetated sediments were always net heterotrophic and behaved as methane sources to the water column, with significantly higher CH 4 release during summer from sediment with elevated OM load. Vegetated sediments were always net autotrophic with attenuated or negative CH 4 fluxes, suggesting the occurrence of processes within the rhizosphere that inhibit methane production or favor its oxidation. Vegetated sediments had an unbalanced O 2 to DIC stoichiometry, with average photosynthetic quotients varying between 0.30 and 0.68, significantly below one. The missing oxygen amount varied seasonally, with a minimum in the summer coinciding with the highest water temperature, but was not dependent upon the two OM levels. Overall these results suggest that V. spiralis is likely to transport a significant proportion of photosynthetically produced oxygen to the rhizosphere.

Net primary productivity allocation and cycling of carbon along a tropical forest elevational transect in the Peruvian Andes

AbstractThe net primary productivity, carbon (C) stocks and turnover rates (i.e. C dynamics) of tropical forests are an important aspect of the global C cycle. These variables have been investigated in lowland tropical forests, but they have rarely been studied in tropical montane forests (TMFs). This study examines spatial patterns of above‐ and belowground C dynamics along a transect ranging from lowland Amazonia to the high Andes in SE Peru. Fine root biomass values increased from 1.50 Mg C ha−1 at 194 m to 4.95 ± 0.62 Mg C ha−1 at 3020 m, reaching a maximum of 6.83 ± 1.13 Mg C ha−1 at the 2020 m elevation site. Aboveground biomass values decreased from 123.50 Mg C ha−1 at 194 m to 47.03 Mg C ha−1 at 3020 m. Mean annual belowground productivity was highest in the most fertile lowland plots (7.40 ± 1.00 Mg C ha−1 yr−1) and ranged between 3.43 ± 0.73 and 1.48 ± 0.40 Mg C ha−1 yr−1 in the premontane and montane plots. Mean annual aboveground productivity was estimated to vary between 9.50 ± 1.08 Mg C ha−1 yr−1 (210 m) and 2.59 ± 0.40 Mg C ha−1 yr−1 (2020 m), with consistently lower values observed in the cloud immersion zone of the montane forest. Fine root C residence time increased from 0.31 years in lowland Amazonia to 3.78 ± 0.81 years at 3020 m and stem C residence time remained constant along the elevational transect, with a mean of 54 ± 4 years. The ratio of fine root biomass to stem biomass increased significantly with increasing elevation, whereas the allocation of net primary productivity above‐ and belowground remained approximately constant at all elevations. Although net primary productivity declined in the TMF, the partitioning of productivity between the ecosystem subcomponents remained the same in lowland, premontane and montane forests.

Nitrogen uptake and primary productivity rates in the Mid-Atlantic Bight (MAB)

Nutrient concentrations, primary productivity, and nitrogen uptake rates were measured in coastal waters of the Mid-Atlantic Bight over a two-year period that included measurements from all four seasons. In order to assess carbon productivity and nitrogen demand within the context of the physical environment, the region was divided into three distinct hydrographic regimes: the Chesapeake and Delaware Bay outflow plumes (PL), the southern Mid-Atlantic shelf influenced by the Gulf Stream (SS), and the mid-shelf area to the north of the Chesapeake Bay mouth (MS). Annual areal rates of total nitrogen (N) uptake were similar across all regions (10.9 ± 2.1 mol N m −2 y −1). However, annual areal rates of net primary productivity were higher in the outflow plume region (43 mol C m −2 y −1), than along the Mid-Atlantic shelf and in areas influenced by the Gulf Stream (41 and 34 mol C m −2 y −1, respectively). Rates of net primary productivity were not well correlated with Chl a concentrations and were uncoupled with net N uptake rates. Seasonally averaged annual areal rates of net primary productivity for the Mid-Atlantic Bight measured in this study were higher than those calculated in previous decades and provide important validation information for biogeochemical models and satellite remote sensing algorithms developed for the region.

The SOLAS air–sea gas exchange experiment (SAGE) 2004

The SOLAS air–sea gas exchange experiment (SAGE) was a multiple-objective study investigating gas-transfer processes and the influence of iron fertilisation on biologically driven gas exchange in high-nitrate low-silicic acid low-chlorophyll (HNLSiLC) Sub-Antarctic waters characteristic of the expansive subpolar zone of the southern oceans. This paper provides a general introduction and summary of the main experimental findings. The release site was selected from a pre-voyage desktop study of environmental parameters to be in the south-west Bounty Trough (46.5°S 172.5°E) to the south-east of New Zealand and the experiment was conducted between mid-March and mid-April 2004. In common with other mesoscale iron addition experiments (FeAX’s), SAGE was designed as a Lagrangian study, quantifying key biological and physical drivers influencing the air–sea gas exchange processes of CO 2, DMS and other biogenic gases associated with an iron-induced phytoplankton bloom. A dual tracer SF 6/ 3He release enabled quantification of both the lateral evolution of a labelled volume (patch) of ocean and the air–sea tracer exchange at tenths of kilometer scale, in conjunction with the iron fertilisation. Estimates from the dual-tracer experiment found a quadratic dependency of the gas exchange coefficient on windspeed that is widely applicable and describe air–sea gas exchange in strong wind regimes. Within the patch, local and micrometeorological gas exchange process studies (100 m scale) and physical variables such as near-surface turbulence, temperature microstructure at the interface, wave properties and windspeed were quantified to further assist the development of gas exchange models for high-wind environments. There was a significant increase in the photosynthetic competence ( F v/ F m) of resident phytoplankton within the first day following iron addition, but in contrast to other FeAX’s, rates of net primary production and column-integrated chlorophyll a concentrations had only doubled relative to the unfertilised surrounding waters by the end of the experiment. After 15 days and four iron additions totalling 1.1 ton Fe 2+, this was a very modest response compared to other mesoscale iron enrichment experiments. An investigation of the factors limiting bloom development considered co-limitation by light and other nutrients, the phytoplankton seed-stock and grazing regulation. Whilst incident light levels and the initial Si:N ratio were the lowest recorded in all FeAXs to date, there was only a small seed-stock of diatoms (less than 1% of biomass) and the main response to iron addition was by the picophytoplankton. A high rate of dilution of the fertilised patch relative to phytoplankton growth rate, the greater than expected depth of the surface mixed layer and microzooplankton grazing were all considered as factors that prevented significant biomass accumulation. In line with the limited response, the enhanced biological draw-down of pCO 2 was small and masked by a general increase in pCO 2 due to mixing with higher pCO 2 waters. The DMS precursor DMSP was kept in check through grazing activity and in contrast to most FeAX’s dissolved dimethylsulfide (DMS) concentration declined through the experiment. SAGE is an important low-end member in the range of responses to iron addition in FeAX’s. In the context of iron fertilisation as a geoengineering tool for atmospheric CO 2 removal, SAGE has clearly demonstrated that a significant proportion of the low iron ocean may not produce a phytoplankton bloom in response to iron addition.

Carbon dynamics of terrestrial ecosystems on the Tibetan Plateau during the 20th century: an analysis with a process‐based biogeochemical model

ABSTRACTAim The Tibetan Plateau accounts for about a quarter of the total land area of China and has a variety of ecosystems ranging from alpine tundra to evergreen tropics. Its soils are dominated by permafrost and are rich in organic carbon. Its climate is unique due to the influence of the Asian monsoon and its complex topography. To date, the carbon dynamics of the Tibetan Plateau have not been well quantified under changes of climate and permafrost conditions. Here we use a process‐based biogeochemistry model, the Terrestrial Ecosystem Model (TEM), which was incorporated with a soil thermal model, to examine the permafrost dynamics and their effects on carbon dynamics on the plateau during the past century.Location The Tibetan Plateau.Methods We parameterize and verify the TEM using the existing data for soil temperature, permafrost distribution and carbon and nitrogen from the region. We then extrapolate the model and parameters to the whole plateau.Results During the 20th century, the Tibetan Plateau changed from a small carbon source or neutral in the early part of the century to a sink later, with a large inter‐annual and spatial variability due to changes of climate and permafrost conditions. Net primary production and soil respiration increased by 0.52 and 0.22 Tg C year−1, respectively, resulting in a regional carbon sink increase of 0.3 Tg C year−1. By the end of the century, the regional carbon sink reached 36 Tg C year−1 and carbon storage in vegetation and soils is 32 and 16 Pg C, respectively. On the plateau, from west to east, the net primary production, soil respiration and net ecosystem production increased, due primarily to the increase of air temperature and precipitation and lowering elevation. In contrast, the decrease of carbon fluxes from south to north was primarily controlled by precipitation gradient. Dynamics of air temperature and associated soil temperature and active layer depth resulted in a higher plant carbon uptake than soil carbon release, strengthening the regional carbon sink during the century.Main conclusions We found that increasing soil temperature and deepening active layer depth enhanced soil respiration, increasing the net nitrogen mineralization rate. Together with the effects of warming air temperature and rising CO2 concentrations on photosynthesis, the stronger plant nitrogen uptake due to the enhanced available nitrogen stimulates plant carbon uptake, thereby strengthening the regional carbon sink as the rate of increase net primary production was faster than that of soil respiration. Further, the warming and associated soil thermal dynamics shifted the regional carbon sink from the middle of July in the early 20th century to early July by the end of the century. Our study suggests that soil thermal dynamics should be considered for future quantification of carbon dynamics in this climate‐sensitive region.

Assessing the disturbance caused by an industrial discharge using field transfer of epipelic biofilm

A translocation experiment of epipelic biofilm was performed in order to explore the effects on this biological complex when exposed to different water qualities. To carry out such an experiment we employed artificial substrata placed at two sites within a stream that receives a textile effluent: at site 1, located upstream from this influx, and at site 2, downstream. After a 4-week colonization, the substrata at each site were switched in location between sites 1 and 2.The analysis of the epipelon was performed once a week between April and July 2008. In order to evaluate the disturbance on the biofilms we assessed structural (biofilm composition, chlorophyll “a” and ash-free dry weight) and metabolic (net and gross primary production, respiration, and assimilation rate) features. With the metabolic variables that showed significant differences, resistance was calculated. The taxonomic and metabolic variables analyzed responded differently in accordance with the type of environmental challenge presented. In this regard, the biofilm developing at the site upstream from the textile effluent that was later transferred to the downstream site proved to be more resistant to the environmental perturbations with respect to its composition, but not at the level of its metabolic descriptors. Indeed, in the translocated and nontranslocated biofilms growing downstream we observed diatom species with morphological deformations in their frustules, fact that clearly reflects the environmental stress at this site. On the other hand, the biofilm transferred in the opposite direction, in turn, rapidly exhibited tendencies to compensate for its lower biological integrity, but responded more slowly at the metabolic level. Finally, the observation of the changes occurred in the biofilms as a consequence of the worsening and improvement of the water quality could be efficiently evaluated through this experiment.

Physiological optimization underlies growth rate-independent chlorophyll-specific gross and net primary production

Characterization of physiological variability in phytoplankton photosynthetic efficiencies is one of the greatest challenges in assessing ocean net primary production (NPP) from remote sensing of surface chlorophyll (Chl). Nutrient limitation strongly influences phytoplankton intracellular pigmentation, but its impact on Chl-specific NPP (NPP(*)) is debated. We monitored six indices of photosynthetic activity in steady-state Dunaliella tertiolecta cultures over a range of nitrate-limited growth rates (μ), including photosynthetic efficiency of PSII (F(v)/F(m)), O(2)-based gross and net production, 20 min and 24 h carbon assimilation, and carbon- and μ-based NPP. Across all growth rates, O(2)-based Chl-specific gross primary production (GPP(*)(O(2))), NPP(*), and F(v)/F(m) were constant. GPP(*)(O(2)) was 3.3 times greater than NPP(*). In stark contrast, Chl-specific short-term C fixation showed clear linear dependence on μ, reflecting differential allocation of photosynthate between short-lived C products and longer-term storage products. Indeed, (14)C incorporation into carbohydrates was five times greater in cells growing at 1.2 day(-1) than 0.12 day(-1). These storage products are catabolized for ATP and reductant generation within the period of a cell cycle. The relationship between Chl-specific gross and net O(2) production, short-term (14)C-uptake, NPP(*), and growth rate reflects cellular-level regulation of fundamental metabolic pathways in response to nutrient limitation. We conclude that growth rate-dependent photosynthate metabolism bridges the gap between gross and net production and resolves a controversial question regarding nutrient limitation effects on primary production measures.

Post-fire primary production and plant community dynamics in chaparral stands exposed to varying levels of nitrogen deposition

High levels of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition to southern California chaparral shrublands may interact with fire to affect biomass production and plant species composition during secondary succession. To determine the potential interactions between postfire recovery and N deposition we compared rates of aboveground net primary production (ANPP), shrub growth, and the relative abundance of Adenostoma fasciculatum, other sub-dominant shrubs, and herbaceous species of three chaparral stands exposed to different levels of atmospheric N deposition over the first 3 years of post-fire succession. Our data suggest that rates of ANPP (gdw m −2 month −1) and aboveground N storage (gN m −2 month −1) for these chaparral stands were not related to N deposition even though sites exposed to high levels of N deposition had significantly higher rates of shrub growth (gdw plant −1 month −1) and N uptake (gN plant −1 month −1). However, high-N stands were composed of larger shrubs with a lower density, and this trade-off between shrub size and density may explain the low correlation between N deposition and post-fire ANPP. Differences in relative plant species abundance between sites were significantly correlated with N deposition exposure, where stands exposed to high N deposition had a lower relative abundance of A. fasciculatum and a higher relative abundance of other shrub and herbaceous species. While many factors can affect rates and patterns of post-fire recovery, these results suggest that chronic exposure to N deposition may significantly alter plant growth and species composition in successional chaparral stands.

Community structure and productivity of subtidal turf and foliose algal assemblages

Foliose and turf-forming macroalgae form morphologically distinct assemblages on shallow reefs worldwide and frequently coexist in a patch mosaic. The relative contributions of these algal assemblages to reef productivity and the processes that maintain them, how- ever, have rarely been studied. We found high (80%) species overlap between turfs and foliose macroalgae at Naples Reef off southern California, with differences be- tween the 2 assemblages lying in species dominance and morphology rather than composition. Turfs were domi- nated by a small finely-branched red alga, Pterosiphonia dendroidea, while larger blade-forming red algae, partic- ularly Chondracanthus corymbiferus and Rhodymenia californica, dominated foliose assemblages. Foliose dominants were common in turfs, but were small. Area- specific rates of net primary production of foliose assem- blages were ~3 × higher than those of turfs, while rates of carbon-specific production and turnover times of turfs were ~3 × higher than those of foliose assemblages. These findings suggest that factors other than the growth poten- tial of each assemblage determined their relative bio- mass. Turfs were net heterotrophic, with net community production <0, due to greater abundance of macrofauna, compared to foliose assemblages. The abundance of macrofaunal invertebrates was uncorrelated with pro- ductivity within or among assemblages, suggesting that turfs are structurally better habitats for macrofauna. Our results suggest that maintenance of turf assemblages on Naples Reef is not the result of competitive exclusion of foliose algae by turf species; turf morphology appears to be maintained through the stunting of foliose forms by fishes that crop turfs while foraging for invertebrate prey.