Environmental drivers of increased ecosystem respiration in a warming tundra

Sybryn Maes; J. Dietrich; G. Midolo; S. Schwieger; M. Kummu; V. Vandvik; R. Aerts; I. H.J. Althuizen; C. Biasi; R. G. Björk; H. Böhner; M. Carbognani; G. Chiari; C. T. Christiansen; K. E. Clemmensen; E. J. Cooper; Johannes H.C. Cornelissen; B. Elberling; P. Faubert; N. Fetcher; T'ai G.W. Forte; J. Gaudard; K. Gavazov; Z. Guan; J. Guðmundsson; R. Gya; S. Hallin; B. B. Hansen; S. V. Haugum; JIn-Sheng He; C. Hicks Pries; Mark Hovenden; M. Jalava; I. S. Jónsdóttir; J. Juhanson; J. Y. Jung; E. Kaarlejärvi; Min-jung Kwon; Richard E. Lamprecht; M. Le Moullec; H. Lee; M. E. Marushchak; A. Michelsen; T. M. Munir; Eero M. Myrsky; Cecilie Skov Nielsen; Marion Nyberg; J. Olofsson; H. Óskarsson; T. C. Parker; E. P. Pedersen; M. Petit Bon; A. Petraglia; K. Raundrup; Nynne M.R. Ravn; R. Rinnan; H. Rodenhizer; I. Ryde; N. M. Schmidt; Edward A.G. Schuur; S. Sjögersten; S. Stark; M. Strack; J. Tang; A. Tolvanen; J. P. Töpper; M. K. Väisänen; Richardus S.P. van Logtestijn; C. Voigt; J. Walz; J. T. Weedon; Y. Yang; H. Ylänne; M. P. Björkman; J. M. Sarneel; E. Dorrepaal

doi:10.1038/s41586-024-07274-7

Environmental drivers of increased ecosystem respiration in a warming tundra

Sybryn Maes^*
, J. Dietrich
, G. Midolo
, S. Schwieger
, M. Kummu
, V. Vandvik
, R. Aerts
, I. H.J. Althuizen
, C. Biasi
, R. G. Björk
, H. Böhner
, M. Carbognani
, G. Chiari
, C. T. Christiansen
, K. E. Clemmensen
, E. J. Cooper
, Johannes H.C. Cornelissen
, B. Elberling
, P. Faubert
, N. Fetcher

T'ai G.W. Forte, J. Gaudard, K. Gavazov, Z. Guan, J. Guðmundsson, R. Gya, S. Hallin, B. B. Hansen, S. V. Haugum, JIn-Sheng He, C. Hicks Pries, Mark Hovenden, M. Jalava, I. S. Jónsdóttir, J. Juhanson, J. Y. Jung, E. Kaarlejärvi, Min-jung Kwon, Richard E. Lamprecht, M. Le Moullec, H. Lee, M. E. Marushchak, A. Michelsen, T. M. Munir, Eero M. Myrsky, Cecilie Skov Nielsen, Marion Nyberg, J. Olofsson, H. Óskarsson, T. C. Parker, E. P. Pedersen, M. Petit Bon, A. Petraglia, K. Raundrup, Nynne M.R. Ravn, R. Rinnan, H. Rodenhizer, I. Ryde, N. M. Schmidt, Edward A.G. Schuur, S. Sjögersten, S. Stark, M. Strack, J. Tang, A. Tolvanen, J. P. Töpper, M. K. Väisänen, Richardus S.P. van Logtestijn, C. Voigt, J. Walz, J. T. Weedon, Y. Yang, H. Ylänne, M. P. Björkman, J. M. Sarneel, E. Dorrepaal

^*Corresponding author for this work

Umeå University
KU Leuven
Czech University of Life Sciences Prague
University of Bergen
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Norwegian Research Centre (NORCE)
University of Eastern Finland
University of Innsbruck
University of Gothenburg
UiT The Arctic University of Norway
University of Parma
University of Copenhagen
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Université du Québec à Chicoutimi
Wilkes University
Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research
Lanzhou University
Agricultural University of Iceland
Norwegian Institute for Nature Research
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
The Heathland Centre
Peking University
Dartmouth College
University of Tasmania
Australian National University
University of Iceland
Korea Polar Research Institute
University of Helsinki
University of Hamburg
Greenland Institute of Natural Resources
University of Calgary
University of Lapland
SEGES Innovation P/S
The James Hutton Institute
Utah State University
University Centre in Svalbard
Northern Arizona University
Aarhus University
University of Nottingham
University of Waterloo
University of Chicago
Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)
University of Oulu
Chinese Academy of Sciences

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Abstract

Arctic and alpine tundra ecosystems are large reservoirs of organic carbon^1,2. Climate warming may stimulate ecosystem respiration and release carbon into the atmosphere^3,4. The magnitude and persistency of this stimulation and the environmental mechanisms that drive its variation remain uncertain^5–7. This hampers the accuracy of global land carbon–climate feedback projections^7,8. Here we synthesize 136 datasets from 56 open-top chamber in situ warming experiments located at 28 arctic and alpine tundra sites which have been running for less than 1 year up to 25 years. We show that a mean rise of 1.4 °C [confidence interval (CI) 0.9–2.0 °C] in air and 0.4 °C [CI 0.2–0.7 °C] in soil temperature results in an increase in growing season ecosystem respiration by 30% [CI 22–38%] (n = 136). Our findings indicate that the stimulation of ecosystem respiration was due to increases in both plant-related and microbial respiration (n = 9) and continued for at least 25 years (n = 136). The magnitude of the warming effects on respiration was driven by variation in warming-induced changes in local soil conditions, that is, changes in total nitrogen concentration and pH and by context-dependent spatial variation in these conditions, in particular total nitrogen concentration and the carbon:nitrogen ratio. Tundra sites with stronger nitrogen limitations and sites in which warming had stimulated plant and microbial nutrient turnover seemed particularly sensitive in their respiration response to warming. The results highlight the importance of local soil conditions and warming-induced changes therein for future climatic impacts on respiration.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	105-113
Number of pages	21
Journal	Nature
Volume	629
Issue number	8010
Early online date	17 Apr 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07274-7
Publication status	Published - 2 May 2024
MoE publication type	A1 Journal article-refereed

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 13 Climate Action

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10.1038/s41586-024-07274-7Licence: CC BY

s41586-024-07274-7-2Final published version, 4.08 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

Maes, S., Dietrich, J., Midolo, G., Schwieger, S., Kummu, M., Vandvik, V., Aerts, R., Althuizen, I. H. J., Biasi, C., Björk, R. G., Böhner, H., Carbognani, M., Chiari, G., Christiansen, C. T., Clemmensen, K. E., Cooper, E. J., Cornelissen, J. H. C., Elberling, B., Faubert, P., ... Dorrepaal, E. (2024). Environmental drivers of increased ecosystem respiration in a warming tundra. Nature, 629(8010), 105-113. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07274-7

@article{46b8048a038d49849f2edfe76a3aa47b,

title = "Environmental drivers of increased ecosystem respiration in a warming tundra",

abstract = "Arctic and alpine tundra ecosystems are large reservoirs of organic carbon1,2. Climate warming may stimulate ecosystem respiration and release carbon into the atmosphere3,4. The magnitude and persistency of this stimulation and the environmental mechanisms that drive its variation remain uncertain5–7. This hampers the accuracy of global land carbon–climate feedback projections7,8. Here we synthesize 136 datasets from 56 open-top chamber in situ warming experiments located at 28 arctic and alpine tundra sites which have been running for less than 1 year up to 25 years. We show that a mean rise of 1.4 °C [confidence interval (CI) 0.9–2.0 °C] in air and 0.4 °C [CI 0.2–0.7 °C] in soil temperature results in an increase in growing season ecosystem respiration by 30\% [CI 22–38\%] (n = 136). Our findings indicate that the stimulation of ecosystem respiration was due to increases in both plant-related and microbial respiration (n = 9) and continued for at least 25 years (n = 136). The magnitude of the warming effects on respiration was driven by variation in warming-induced changes in local soil conditions, that is, changes in total nitrogen concentration and pH and by context-dependent spatial variation in these conditions, in particular total nitrogen concentration and the carbon:nitrogen ratio. Tundra sites with stronger nitrogen limitations and sites in which warming had stimulated plant and microbial nutrient turnover seemed particularly sensitive in their respiration response to warming. The results highlight the importance of local soil conditions and warming-induced changes therein for future climatic impacts on respiration.",

author = "Sybryn Maes and J. Dietrich and G. Midolo and S. Schwieger and M. Kummu and V. Vandvik and R. Aerts and Althuizen, \{I. H.J.\} and C. Biasi and Bj{\"o}rk, \{R. G.\} and H. B{\"o}hner and M. Carbognani and G. Chiari and Christiansen, \{C. T.\} and Clemmensen, \{K. E.\} and Cooper, \{E. J.\} and Cornelissen, \{Johannes H.C.\} and B. Elberling and P. Faubert and N. Fetcher and Forte, \{T'ai G.W.\} and J. Gaudard and K. Gavazov and Z. Guan and J. Gu{\dh}mundsson and R. Gya and S. Hallin and Hansen, \{B. B.\} and Haugum, \{S. V.\} and JIn-Sheng He and \{Hicks Pries\}, C. and Mark Hovenden and M. Jalava and J{\'o}nsd{\'o}ttir, \{I. S.\} and J. Juhanson and Jung, \{J. Y.\} and E. Kaarlej{\"a}rvi and Min-jung Kwon and Lamprecht, \{Richard E.\} and \{Le Moullec\}, M. and H. Lee and Marushchak, \{M. E.\} and A. Michelsen and Munir, \{T. M.\} and Myrsky, \{Eero M.\} and Nielsen, \{Cecilie Skov\} and Marion Nyberg and J. Olofsson and H. {\'O}skarsson and Parker, \{T. C.\} and Pedersen, \{E. P.\} and \{Petit Bon\}, M. and A. Petraglia and K. Raundrup and Ravn, \{Nynne M.R.\} and R. Rinnan and H. Rodenhizer and I. Ryde and Schmidt, \{N. M.\} and Schuur, \{Edward A.G.\} and S. Sj{\"o}gersten and S. Stark and M. Strack and J. Tang and A. Tolvanen and T{\"o}pper, \{J. P.\} and V{\"a}is{\"a}nen, \{M. K.\} and \{van Logtestijn\}, \{Richardus S.P.\} and C. Voigt and J. Walz and Weedon, \{J. T.\} and Y. Yang and H. Yl{\"a}nne and Bj{\"o}rkman, \{M. P.\} and Sarneel, \{J. M.\} and E. Dorrepaal",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2024. | openaire: EC/H2020/819202/EU//SOS.aquaterra",

year = "2024",

month = may,

day = "2",

doi = "10.1038/s41586-024-07274-7",

language = "English",

volume = "629",

pages = "105--113",

journal = "Nature",

issn = "0028-0836",

publisher = "Nature Publishing Group",

number = "8010",

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Maes, S, Dietrich, J, Midolo, G, Schwieger, S, Kummu, M, Vandvik, V, Aerts, R, Althuizen, IHJ, Biasi, C, Björk, RG, Böhner, H, Carbognani, M, Chiari, G, Christiansen, CT, Clemmensen, KE, Cooper, EJ, Cornelissen, JHC, Elberling, B, Faubert, P, Fetcher, N, Forte, TGW, Gaudard, J, Gavazov, K, Guan, Z, Guðmundsson, J, Gya, R, Hallin, S, Hansen, BB, Haugum, SV, He, JI-S, Hicks Pries, C, Hovenden, M, Jalava, M, Jónsdóttir, IS, Juhanson, J, Jung, JY, Kaarlejärvi, E, Kwon, M, Lamprecht, RE, Le Moullec, M, Lee, H, Marushchak, ME, Michelsen, A, Munir, TM, Myrsky, EM, Nielsen, CS, Nyberg, M, Olofsson, J, Óskarsson, H, Parker, TC, Pedersen, EP, Petit Bon, M, Petraglia, A, Raundrup, K, Ravn, NMR, Rinnan, R, Rodenhizer, H, Ryde, I, Schmidt, NM, Schuur, EAG, Sjögersten, S, Stark, S, Strack, M, Tang, J, Tolvanen, A, Töpper, JP, Väisänen, MK, van Logtestijn, RSP, Voigt, C, Walz, J, Weedon, JT, Yang, Y, Ylänne, H, Björkman, MP, Sarneel, JM & Dorrepaal, E 2024, 'Environmental drivers of increased ecosystem respiration in a warming tundra', Nature, vol. 629, no. 8010, pp. 105-113. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07274-7

TY - JOUR

T1 - Environmental drivers of increased ecosystem respiration in a warming tundra

AU - Maes, Sybryn

AU - Dietrich, J.

AU - Midolo, G.

AU - Schwieger, S.

AU - Kummu, M.

AU - Vandvik, V.

AU - Aerts, R.

AU - Althuizen, I. H.J.

AU - Biasi, C.

AU - Björk, R. G.

AU - Böhner, H.

AU - Carbognani, M.

AU - Chiari, G.

AU - Christiansen, C. T.

AU - Clemmensen, K. E.

AU - Cooper, E. J.

AU - Cornelissen, Johannes H.C.

AU - Elberling, B.

AU - Faubert, P.

AU - Fetcher, N.

AU - Forte, T'ai G.W.

AU - Gaudard, J.

AU - Gavazov, K.

AU - Guan, Z.

AU - Guðmundsson, J.

AU - Gya, R.

AU - Hallin, S.

AU - Hansen, B. B.

AU - Haugum, S. V.

AU - He, JIn-Sheng

AU - Hicks Pries, C.

AU - Hovenden, Mark

AU - Jalava, M.

AU - Jónsdóttir, I. S.

AU - Juhanson, J.

AU - Jung, J. Y.

AU - Kaarlejärvi, E.

AU - Kwon, Min-jung

AU - Lamprecht, Richard E.

AU - Le Moullec, M.

AU - Lee, H.

AU - Marushchak, M. E.

AU - Michelsen, A.

AU - Munir, T. M.

AU - Myrsky, Eero M.

AU - Nielsen, Cecilie Skov

AU - Nyberg, Marion

AU - Olofsson, J.

AU - Óskarsson, H.

AU - Parker, T. C.

AU - Pedersen, E. P.

AU - Petit Bon, M.

AU - Petraglia, A.

AU - Raundrup, K.

AU - Ravn, Nynne M.R.

AU - Rinnan, R.

AU - Rodenhizer, H.

AU - Ryde, I.

AU - Schmidt, N. M.

AU - Schuur, Edward A.G.

AU - Sjögersten, S.

AU - Stark, S.

AU - Strack, M.

AU - Tang, J.

AU - Tolvanen, A.

AU - Töpper, J. P.

AU - Väisänen, M. K.

AU - van Logtestijn, Richardus S.P.

AU - Voigt, C.

AU - Walz, J.

AU - Weedon, J. T.

AU - Yang, Y.

AU - Ylänne, H.

AU - Björkman, M. P.

AU - Sarneel, J. M.

AU - Dorrepaal, E.

PY - 2024/5/2

Y1 - 2024/5/2

N2 - Arctic and alpine tundra ecosystems are large reservoirs of organic carbon1,2. Climate warming may stimulate ecosystem respiration and release carbon into the atmosphere3,4. The magnitude and persistency of this stimulation and the environmental mechanisms that drive its variation remain uncertain5–7. This hampers the accuracy of global land carbon–climate feedback projections7,8. Here we synthesize 136 datasets from 56 open-top chamber in situ warming experiments located at 28 arctic and alpine tundra sites which have been running for less than 1 year up to 25 years. We show that a mean rise of 1.4 °C [confidence interval (CI) 0.9–2.0 °C] in air and 0.4 °C [CI 0.2–0.7 °C] in soil temperature results in an increase in growing season ecosystem respiration by 30% [CI 22–38%] (n = 136). Our findings indicate that the stimulation of ecosystem respiration was due to increases in both plant-related and microbial respiration (n = 9) and continued for at least 25 years (n = 136). The magnitude of the warming effects on respiration was driven by variation in warming-induced changes in local soil conditions, that is, changes in total nitrogen concentration and pH and by context-dependent spatial variation in these conditions, in particular total nitrogen concentration and the carbon:nitrogen ratio. Tundra sites with stronger nitrogen limitations and sites in which warming had stimulated plant and microbial nutrient turnover seemed particularly sensitive in their respiration response to warming. The results highlight the importance of local soil conditions and warming-induced changes therein for future climatic impacts on respiration.

AB - Arctic and alpine tundra ecosystems are large reservoirs of organic carbon1,2. Climate warming may stimulate ecosystem respiration and release carbon into the atmosphere3,4. The magnitude and persistency of this stimulation and the environmental mechanisms that drive its variation remain uncertain5–7. This hampers the accuracy of global land carbon–climate feedback projections7,8. Here we synthesize 136 datasets from 56 open-top chamber in situ warming experiments located at 28 arctic and alpine tundra sites which have been running for less than 1 year up to 25 years. We show that a mean rise of 1.4 °C [confidence interval (CI) 0.9–2.0 °C] in air and 0.4 °C [CI 0.2–0.7 °C] in soil temperature results in an increase in growing season ecosystem respiration by 30% [CI 22–38%] (n = 136). Our findings indicate that the stimulation of ecosystem respiration was due to increases in both plant-related and microbial respiration (n = 9) and continued for at least 25 years (n = 136). The magnitude of the warming effects on respiration was driven by variation in warming-induced changes in local soil conditions, that is, changes in total nitrogen concentration and pH and by context-dependent spatial variation in these conditions, in particular total nitrogen concentration and the carbon:nitrogen ratio. Tundra sites with stronger nitrogen limitations and sites in which warming had stimulated plant and microbial nutrient turnover seemed particularly sensitive in their respiration response to warming. The results highlight the importance of local soil conditions and warming-induced changes therein for future climatic impacts on respiration.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85190691054

U2 - 10.1038/s41586-024-07274-7

DO - 10.1038/s41586-024-07274-7

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85190691054

SN - 0028-0836

VL - 629

SP - 105

EP - 113

JO - Nature

JF - Nature

IS - 8010

ER -

Environmental drivers of increased ecosystem respiration in a warming tundra

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Environmental drivers of increased ecosystem respiration in a warming tundra

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UN SDGs

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