Modeling the effects of nitrogen deposition on carbon budget in two temperate forests

Towards better representations of carbon allocation in vegetation: a conceptual framework and mathematical tool

The representation of carbon allocation (CA) in ecosystem differs tremendously among models, resulting in diverse responses of carbon cycling and storage to global change. Several studies have highlighted discrepancies between empirical observations and model predictions, attributing these differences to problems of model structure. We analyzed the mathematical representation of CA in models using concepts from dynamical systems theory; we reviewed a representative sample of models of CA in vegetation and developed a model database within the Python package bgc-md. We asked whether these representations can be generalized as a linear system, or whether a more general framework is needed to accommodate nonlinearities. Some of the vegetation systems simulated with the reviewed models have a fixed partitioning of photosynthetic products, independent of environmental forcing. Vegetation is often represented as a linear system without storage compartments. Yet, other structures with nonlinearities have also been proposed, with important consequences on the temporal trajectories of ecosystem carbon compartments. The proposed mathematical framework unifies the representation of alternative CA schemes, facilitating their classification according to mathematical properties as well as their potential temporal behaviour. It can represent complex processes in a compact form, which can potentially facilitate dialog among empiricists, theoreticians, and modellers.

A test of the 'one-point method' for estimating maximum carboxylation capacity from field-measured, light-saturated photosynthesis

Simulations of photosynthesis by terrestrial biosphere models typically need a specification of the maximum carboxylation rate (Vcmax ). Estimating this parameter using A-Ci curves (net photosynthesis, A, vs intercellular CO2 concentration, Ci ) is laborious, which limits availability of Vcmax data. However, many multispecies field datasets include net photosynthetic rate at saturating irradiance and at ambient atmospheric CO2 concentration (Asat ) measurements, from which Vcmax can be extracted using a 'one-point method'. We used a global dataset of A-Ci curves (564 species from 46 field sites, covering a range of plant functional types) to test the validity of an alternative approach to estimate Vcmax from Asat via this 'one-point method'. If leaf respiration during the day (Rday ) is known exactly, Vcmax can be estimated with an r(2) value of 0.98 and a root-mean-squared error (RMSE) of 8.19 μmol m(-2) s(-1) . However, Rday typically must be estimated. Estimating Rday as 1.5% of Vcmax, we found that Vcmax could be estimated with an r(2) of 0.95 and an RMSE of 17.1 μmol m(-2) s(-1) . The one-point method provides a robust means to expand current databases of field-measured Vcmax , giving new potential to improve vegetation models and quantify the environmental drivers of Vcmax variation.

Growth enhancement of Picea abies trees under long-term, low-dose N addition is due to morphological more than to physiological changes

Human activities have drastically increased nitrogen (N) inputs into natural and near-natural terrestrial ecosystems such that critical loads are now being exceeded in many regions of the world. This implies that these ecosystems are shifting from natural N limitation to eutrophication or even N saturation. This process is expected to modify the growth of forests and thus, along with management, to affect their carbon (C) sequestration. However, knowledge of the physiological mechanisms underlying tree response to N inputs, especially in the long term, is still lacking. In this study, we used tree-ring patterns and a dual stable isotope approach (δ(13)C and δ(18)O) to investigate tree growth responses and the underlying physiological reactions in a long-term, low-dose N addition experiment (+23 kg N ha(-1) a(-1)). This experiment has been conducted for 14 years in a mountain Picea abies (L.) Karst. forest in Alptal, Switzerland, using a paired-catchment design. Tree stem C sequestration increased by ∼22%, with an N use efficiency (NUE) of ca. 8 kg additional C in tree stems per kg of N added. Neither earlywood nor latewood δ(13)C values changed significantly compared with the control, indicating that the intrinsic water use efficiency (WUE(i)) (A/g(s)) did not change due to N addition. Further, the isotopic signal of δ(18)O in early- and latewood showed no significant response to the treatment, indicating that neither stomatal conductance nor leaf-level photosynthesis changed significantly. Foliar analyses showed that needle N concentration significantly increased in the fourth to seventh treatment year, accompanied by increased dry mass and area per needle, and by increased tree height growth. Later, N concentration and height growth returned to nearly background values, while dry mass and area per needle remained high. Our results support the hypothesis that enhanced stem growth caused by N addition is mainly due to an increased leaf area index (LAI). Higher LAI implies that more photosynthetically active radiation is absorbed and therefore canopy-level photosynthesis is increased. We conclude that models assuming that N deposition increases tree growth through higher leaf-level photosynthesis may be mechanistically inaccurate, at least in forest canopies that are not (yet) completely closed.