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Gong C, Tian H, Liao H, Pan N, Pan S, Ito A, Jain AK, Kou-Giesbrecht S, Joos F, Sun Q, Shi H, Vuichard N, Zhu Q, Peng C, Maggi F, Tang FHM, Zaehle S. Global net climate effects of anthropogenic reactive nitrogen. Nature 2024; 632:557-563. [PMID: 39048828 PMCID: PMC11324526 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07714-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Anthropogenic activities have substantially enhanced the loadings of reactive nitrogen (Nr) in the Earth system since pre-industrial times1,2, contributing to widespread eutrophication and air pollution3-6. Increased Nr can also influence global climate through a variety of effects on atmospheric and land processes but the cumulative net climate effect is yet to be unravelled. Here we show that anthropogenic Nr causes a net negative direct radiative forcing of -0.34 [-0.20, -0.50] W m-2 in the year 2019 relative to the year 1850. This net cooling effect is the result of increased aerosol loading, reduced methane lifetime and increased terrestrial carbon sequestration associated with increases in anthropogenic Nr, which are not offset by the warming effects of enhanced atmospheric nitrous oxide and ozone. Future predictions using three representative scenarios show that this cooling effect may be weakened primarily as a result of reduced aerosol loading and increased lifetime of methane, whereas in particular N2O-induced warming will probably continue to increase under all scenarios. Our results indicate that future reductions in anthropogenic Nr to achieve environmental protection goals need to be accompanied by enhanced efforts to reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions to achieve climate change mitigation in line with the Paris Agreement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Gong
- Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena, Germany.
| | - Hanqin Tian
- Center for Earth System Science and Global Sustainability, Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| | - Hong Liao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, China
| | - Naiqing Pan
- Center for Earth System Science and Global Sustainability, Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
- International Center for Climate and Global Change Research, College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Shufen Pan
- Center for Earth System Science and Global Sustainability, Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
- Department of Engineering and Environmental Studies Program, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| | - Akihiko Ito
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Earth System Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Atul K Jain
- Department of Atmospheric Science, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Sian Kou-Giesbrecht
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Fortunat Joos
- Climate and Environmental Physics, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Qing Sun
- Climate and Environmental Physics, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Hao Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Nicolas Vuichard
- Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, LSCE-IPSL (CEA-CNRS-UVSQ), Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Qing Zhu
- Climate and Ecosystem Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Changhui Peng
- Department of Biology Sciences, Institute of Environment Science, University of Quebec at Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- School of Geographic Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Federico Maggi
- Environmental Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Fiona H M Tang
- Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sönke Zaehle
- Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena, Germany
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2
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An S, Chen X, Li F, Wang X, Shen M, Luo X, Ren S, Zhao H, Li Y, Xu L. Long-term species-level observations indicate the critical role of soil moisture in regulating China's grassland productivity relative to phenological and climatic factors. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 929:172553. [PMID: 38663615 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2024] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
As a sensitive indicator of climate change and a key variable in ecosystem surface-atmosphere interaction, vegetation phenology, and the growing season length, as well as climatic factors (i.e., temperature, precipitation, and sunshine duration) are widely recognized as key factors influencing vegetation productivity. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of soil moisture in regulating grassland productivity. However, the relative importance of phenology, climatic factors, and soil moisture to plant species-level productivity across China's grasslands remains poorly understood. Here, we use nearly four decades (1981 to 2018) of in situ species-level observations from 17 stations distributed across grasslands in China to examine the key mechanisms that control grassland productivity. The results reveal that soil moisture is the strongest determinant of the interannual variability in grassland productivity. In contrast, the spring/autumn phenology, the length of vegetation growing season, and climate factors have relatively minor impacts. Generally, annual aboveground biomass increases by 3.9 to 25.3 g∙m2 (dry weight) with a 1 % increase in growing season mean soil moisture across the stations. Specifically, the sensitivity of productivity to moisture in wetter and colder environments (e.g., alpine meadows) is significantly higher than that in drier and warmer environments (e.g., temperate desert steppes). In contrast, the sensitivity to the precipitation of the latter is greater than the former. The effect of soil moisture is the most pronounced during summer. Dominant herb productivity is more sensitive to soil moisture than the others. Moreover, multivariate regression analyses show that the primary climatic factors and their attributions to variations in soil moisture differ among the stations, indicating the interaction between climate and soil moisture is very complex. Our study highlights the interspecific difference in the soil moisture dependence of grassland productivity and provides guidance to climate change impact assessments in grassland ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai An
- College of Applied Arts and Science, Beijing Union University, Beijing 100191, China.
| | - Xiaoqiu Chen
- Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Fangjun Li
- Geospatial Sciences Center of Excellence (GSCE), Department of Geography and Geospatial Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, United States of America
| | - Xuhui Wang
- Sino-French Institute for Earth System Science, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Miaogen Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Xiangzhong Luo
- Department of Geography, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shilong Ren
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Hongfang Zhao
- School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Yan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resources Ecology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Lin Xu
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
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3
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Li S, Tang S, Chen H, Jin K. Soil nitrogen availability drives the response of soil microbial biomass to warming. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 917:170505. [PMID: 38301778 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Although soil microbial biomass responses to experimental warming have been extensively studied, the mechanisms through which elevated temperatures influence soil microbial biomass remain unclear. In this study, we performed a global meta-analysis to quantify the global pattern of soil microbial biomass in response to warming. Our findings suggest that global warming effect is not apparent when all the data are pooled together, while warming does increase microbial biomass under specific conditions (Δ°C ≥ 2 °C). This constructive influence is particularly accentuated under certain circumstances, including high precipitation levels (>800 mm), short treatment durations (<1 year), and within agricultural ecosystems. More importantly, our findings suggest that the impact of global warming on soil microbial biomass is largely mediated by changes in soil nitrogen availability. These findings underscore the pivotal role of nitrogen availability in modulating the response of soil microbial biomass to warming, while also emphasizing the intricate influence between multiple factors such as temperature, duration, and precipitation in shaping the patterns of warming effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shucheng Li
- College of Agriculture, Anhui Science and Technology University, Fengyang 233100, China
| | - Shiming Tang
- Key Laboratory for Model Innovation in Forage Production Efficiency, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affuirs, Institute of Grassland Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hohhot 010010, China.
| | - Hongyang Chen
- School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Ke Jin
- Key Laboratory for Model Innovation in Forage Production Efficiency, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affuirs, Institute of Grassland Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hohhot 010010, China.
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4
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Zhou L, Liu Y, Men M, Peng Z, Peng Y. Widespread cooling of topsoil under nitrogen enrichment and implication for soil carbon flux. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169480. [PMID: 38123100 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Increasing reactive nitrogen (N) to terrestrial ecosystems is considered to enhance ecosystem carbon sink, which plays a critical role in ameliorating global warming. Besides this indirect buffering of temperature rise, the N-induced enhancement of vegetation growth may exert a biophysical cooling effect on soils. However, the magnitude and drivers of this cooling effect have rarely been evaluated. Here, using a global meta-analysis with 321 paired measurements, we demonstrated a widespread topsoil cooling (-0.30 °C in average) under anthropogenic N enrichment, which was primarily associated with the increase in aboveground biomass. This biophysical cooling could also buffer topsoil temperature rise by an average of 0.39 °C under experimental warming. Further, the reduced soil temperature was found to contribute to a reduction of soil respiration rate as temperature declines gradually. Overall, our results underpin a previously overlooked function of global N enrichment-the lowering of topsoil temperature, which suggests that the warming of topsoil may not be as fast as previously predicted under future global change scenarios. This biophysical cooling effect will also slow down soil carbon emissions and further mitigate climate warming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Zhou
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences/Key Laboratory of Farmland Eco-Environment of Hebei, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071000, China; State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China; China National Botanical Garden, Beijing 100093, China; College of Geography and Tourism, Baoding University, Baoding 071000, China
| | - Yang Liu
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences/Key Laboratory of Farmland Eco-Environment of Hebei, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071000, China; State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China; China National Botanical Garden, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Mingxin Men
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences/Key Laboratory of Farmland Eco-Environment of Hebei, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071000, China
| | - Zhengping Peng
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences/Key Laboratory of Farmland Eco-Environment of Hebei, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071000, China
| | - Yunfeng Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China; China National Botanical Garden, Beijing 100093, China.
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5
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Yang J, Diao H, Li G, Wang R, Jia H, Wang C. Higher N Addition and Mowing Interactively Improved Net Primary Productivity by Stimulating Gross Nitrification in a Temperate Steppe of Northern China. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:1481. [PMID: 37050107 PMCID: PMC10097329 DOI: 10.3390/plants12071481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic disturbance, such as nitrogen (N) fertilization and mowing, is constantly changing the function and structure of grassland ecosystems during past years and will continue to affect the sustainability of arid and semiarid grassland in the future. However, how and whether the different N addition levels and the frequency of N addition, as well as the occurrence of mowing, affect the key processes of N cycling is still unclear. We designed a field experiment with five levels of N addition (0, 2, 10, 20, and 50 g N m-2 yr-1), two types of N addition frequencies (twice a year added in June/November and monthly addition), and mowing treatment in a typical grassland of northern China. The results showed that higher N addition and mowing interactively improved net primary productivity (NPP), including aboveground and belowground biomass, while different N addition frequency had no significant effects on NPP. Different N addition levels significantly improved gross ammonification (GA) and nitrification (GN) rates, which positively correlated to aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP). However, the effect of N addition frequency was differentiated with N addition levels, the highest N addition level (50 g N m-2 yr-1) with lower frequency (twice a year) significantly increased GA and GN rates. Mowing significantly increased the GA rate but decreased the GN rate both under the highest N addition level (50 g N m-2 yr-1) and lower N addition frequency (twice a year), which could improve N turnover by stimulating plant and microbial activity. However, a long-term study of the effects of N enrichment and mowing on N turnover will be needed for understanding the mechanisms by which nutrient cycling occurs in typical grassland ecosystems under global change scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianqiang Yang
- College of Life Sciences, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030810, China
| | - Huajie Diao
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecological Protection and Native Grass Germplasm Innovation, College of Grassland Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, China
- Youyu Loess Plateau Grassland Ecosystem Research Station, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, China
| | - Guoliang Li
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecological Protection and Native Grass Germplasm Innovation, College of Grassland Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, China
- Youyu Loess Plateau Grassland Ecosystem Research Station, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, China
| | - Rui Wang
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecological Protection and Native Grass Germplasm Innovation, College of Grassland Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, China
- Youyu Loess Plateau Grassland Ecosystem Research Station, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, China
| | - Huili Jia
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecological Protection and Native Grass Germplasm Innovation, College of Grassland Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, China
- Youyu Loess Plateau Grassland Ecosystem Research Station, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, China
| | - Changhui Wang
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecological Protection and Native Grass Germplasm Innovation, College of Grassland Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, China
- Youyu Loess Plateau Grassland Ecosystem Research Station, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, China
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
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Keller AB, Walter CA, Blumenthal DM, Borer ET, Collins SL, DeLancey LC, Fay PA, Hofmockel KS, Knops JMH, Leakey ADB, Mayes MA, Seabloom EW, Hobbie SE. Stronger fertilization effects on aboveground versus belowground plant properties across nine U.S. grasslands. Ecology 2023; 104:e3891. [PMID: 36208208 PMCID: PMC10078332 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Increased nutrient inputs due to anthropogenic activity are expected to increase primary productivity across terrestrial ecosystems, but changes in allocation aboveground versus belowground with nutrient addition have different implications for soil carbon (C) storage. Thus, given that roots are major contributors to soil C storage, understanding belowground net primary productivity (BNPP) and biomass responses to changes in nutrient availability is essential to predicting carbon-climate feedbacks in the context of interacting global environmental changes. To address this knowledge gap, we tested whether a decade of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilization consistently influenced aboveground and belowground biomass and productivity at nine grassland sites spanning a wide range of climatic and edaphic conditions in the continental United States. Fertilization effects were strong aboveground, with both N and P addition stimulating aboveground biomass at nearly all sites (by 30% and 36%, respectively, on average). P addition consistently increased root production (by 15% on average), whereas other belowground responses to fertilization were more variable, ranging from positive to negative across sites. Site-specific responses to P were not predicted by the measured covariates. Atmospheric N deposition mediated the effect of N fertilization on root biomass and turnover. Specifically, atmospheric N deposition was positively correlated with root turnover rates, and this relationship was amplified with N addition. Nitrogen addition increased root biomass at sites with low N deposition but decreased it at sites with high N deposition. Overall, these results suggest that the effects of nutrient supply on belowground plant properties are context dependent, particularly with regard to background N supply rates, demonstrating that site conditions must be considered when predicting how grassland ecosystems will respond to increased nutrient loading from anthropogenic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrienne B. Keller
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and BehaviorUniversity of MinnesotaSaint PaulMinnesotaUSA
| | | | - Dana M. Blumenthal
- USDA‐ARS Rangeland Resources & Systems Research UnitFort CollinsColoradoUSA
| | - Elizabeth T. Borer
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and BehaviorUniversity of MinnesotaSaint PaulMinnesotaUSA
| | - Scott L. Collins
- Department of BiologyUniversity of New MexicoAlbuquerqueNew MexicoUSA
| | - Lang C. DeLancey
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and BehaviorUniversity of MinnesotaSaint PaulMinnesotaUSA
| | - Philip A. Fay
- USDA‐ARS GrasslandSoil, and Water Research LaboratoryTempleTexasUSA
| | - Kirsten S. Hofmockel
- Earth and Biological Sciences DirectoratePacific Northwest National LaboratoryRichlandWashingtonUSA
- Department of AgronomyIowa State UniversityAmesIowaUSA
| | - Johannes M. H. Knops
- Health & Environmental Sciences DepartmentXi'an Jiaotong‐Liverpool UniversitySuzhouJiangsuChina
| | - Andrew D. B. Leakey
- Department of Plant Biology, Department of Crop SciencesUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbana‐ChampaignIllinoisUSA
| | - Melanie A. Mayes
- Department of Earth and Planetary SciencesUniversity of TennesseeKnoxvilleTennesseeUSA
- Environmental Sciences DivisionOak Ridge National LaboratoryOak RidgeTennesseeUSA
| | - Eric W. Seabloom
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and BehaviorUniversity of MinnesotaSaint PaulMinnesotaUSA
| | - Sarah E. Hobbie
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and BehaviorUniversity of MinnesotaSaint PaulMinnesotaUSA
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7
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Plant nitrogen retention in alpine grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau under multi-level nitrogen addition. Sci Rep 2023; 13:877. [PMID: 36650209 PMCID: PMC9845361 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-27392-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) deposition might alleviate degradation of alpine grassland caused by N limitation on the Tibetan Plateau (TP). To determine such limitation and quantify the N-induced N retention in plant, a six-year fertilization experiment with six levels of N addition rates (0, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 g N m-2 yr-1) was conducted in the Namco alpine steppe and additional 89 experiments with multi-level N addition were also synthesized worldwide among which 27 sites were on the TP. In general, N addition promoted N retention in plants, and this increasing trend diminished at the critical N rate (Ncr). The maximum N retention capacity (MNRC) of plants at Ncr was strongly correlated with initial aboveground net primary productivity with a slope of 0.02, and the MNRC of grasslands globally ranged from 0.35 to 42.59 g N m-2 yr-1, approximately account for 39% of Ncr. Tibetan alpine grassland had a low average MNRC (2.24 g N m-2 yr-1) with distinct regional characteristic, which was much lower in the western TP (0.80 g N m-2 yr-1) than the eastern TP (4.10 g N m-2 yr-1). Our results inferred 0.33-1.21 Tg N yr-1 (0.22-0.79 g N m-2 yr-1) can be retained and 5.65-20.11 Tg C yr-1 (3.67-13.06 g C m-2 yr-1) can be gained by Tibetan alpine grasslands under current N deposition level. With the aggravation of N deposition, the alpine steppe ecosystem might continuously absorb N and C until N deposition reaches Ncr.
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8
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Peng Y, Yang J, Leitch IJ, Guignard MS, Seabloom EW, Cao D, Zhao F, Li H, Han X, Jiang Y, Leitch AR, Wei C. Plant genome size modulates grassland community responses to multi-nutrient additions. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2022; 236:2091-2102. [PMID: 36110049 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Grassland ecosystems cover c. 40% of global land area and contain c. 40% of soil organic carbon. Understanding the effects of adding nutrients to grasslands is essential because they provide much of our food, support diverse ecosystem services and harbor rich biodiversity. Using the meadow steppe (grassland) study site of Inner Mongolia, we manipulated seven key nutrients and a cocktail of micronutrients to examine their effects on grassland biomass productivity and diversity. The results, explained in structural equation models, link two previously disparate hypotheses in grassland ecology: (1) the light asymmetry competition hypothesis and (2) the genome size-nutrient interaction hypothesis. We show that aboveground net primary productivity increases predominantly from species with large genome sizes with the addition of nitrogen, and nitrogen plus phosphorus. This drives an asymmetric competition for light, causing a decline in species richness mainly in species with small genome sizes. This dynamic is likely to be caused by the nutrient demands of the nucleus and/or the scaling effects of nuclear size on cell size which impact water use efficiency. The model will help inform the best management approaches to reverse the rapid and unprecedented degradation of grasslands globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- Erguna Forest-Steppe Ecotone Ecosystem Research Station, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Jianxia Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Ilia J Leitch
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AB, UK
| | - Maïté S Guignard
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AB, UK
- School of Biological and Behavioral Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Eric W Seabloom
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Dong Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Fangyuan Zhao
- National Hulunber Grassland Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
- School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010021, China
| | - Huanlong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xingguo Han
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yong Jiang
- School of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
| | - Andrew R Leitch
- School of Biological and Behavioral Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Cunzheng Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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9
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Li R, Yu D, Zhang Y, Han J, Zhang W, Yang Q, Gessler A, Li MH, Xu M, Guan X, Chen L, Wang Q, Wang S. Investment of needle nitrogen to photosynthesis controls the nonlinear productivity response of young Chinese fir trees to nitrogen deposition. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 840:156537. [PMID: 35679936 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Plant carbon (C) assimilation is expected to nonlinearly increase with continuously increasing nitrogen (N) deposition, causing a N saturation threshold for productivity. However, the response of plant productivity to N deposition rates and further the N saturation threshold still await comprehensive quantization for forest ecosystem. Here, we tested the effect of N addition on aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) of three-year old Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) trees by adding N at 0, 5.6, 11.2, 22.4, and 44.8 g N m-2 yr-1 for 2.5 years. The N saturation threshold was estimated based on a quadratic-plus-plateau model. Results showed that ANPP transitioned from an increasing stage with increasing N addition rate to a plateaued stage at an N rate of 16.3 g N m-2 yr-1. The response of ANPP to N addition rates was well explained by the net photosynthetic rates of needles. Results from the dual isotope measurement [simultaneous determination of needle stable carbon (δ13C) and oxygen (δ18O) isotopes] indicated that the photosynthetic capacity, rather than the stomatal conductance, mediated the response of photosynthesis and ANPP of the young Chinese fir trees to N addition. Accordingly, the amount of needle N partitioning to water-soluble fraction, which is associated with the photosynthetic capacity, also responded to N enrichment with a nonlinear increase. Our study will contribute to a more accurate prediction on the influence of N deposition on C cycles in Chinese fir plantations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renshan Li
- Huitong Experimental Station of Forest Ecology, CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Shenyang 110016, China; Life Science Department, Luoyang Normal University, Luoyang 471934, China
| | - Dan Yu
- Life Science Department, Luoyang Normal University, Luoyang 471934, China
| | - Yankuan Zhang
- Huitong Experimental Station of Forest Ecology, CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Shenyang 110016, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jianming Han
- Life Science Department, Luoyang Normal University, Luoyang 471934, China
| | - Weidong Zhang
- Huitong Experimental Station of Forest Ecology, CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Shenyang 110016, China; Huitong National Research Station of Forest Ecosystem, Huitong 418307, China.
| | - Qingpeng Yang
- Huitong Experimental Station of Forest Ecology, CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Shenyang 110016, China; Huitong National Research Station of Forest Ecosystem, Huitong 418307, China.
| | - Arthur Gessler
- Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Zuercherstrasse 111, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Mai-He Li
- Huitong Experimental Station of Forest Ecology, CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Shenyang 110016, China; Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Zuercherstrasse 111, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Ming Xu
- BNU-HKUST Laboratory for Green Innovation, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai 519085, China
| | - Xin Guan
- Huitong Experimental Station of Forest Ecology, CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Shenyang 110016, China; Huitong National Research Station of Forest Ecosystem, Huitong 418307, China
| | - Longchi Chen
- Huitong Experimental Station of Forest Ecology, CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Shenyang 110016, China; Huitong National Research Station of Forest Ecosystem, Huitong 418307, China
| | - Qingkui Wang
- Huitong Experimental Station of Forest Ecology, CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Shenyang 110016, China; Huitong National Research Station of Forest Ecosystem, Huitong 418307, China
| | - Silong Wang
- Huitong Experimental Station of Forest Ecology, CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Shenyang 110016, China; Huitong National Research Station of Forest Ecosystem, Huitong 418307, China
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10
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Peng J, Ma F, Quan Q, Chen X, Wang J, Yan Y, Zhou Q, Niu S. Nitrogen enrichment alters climate sensitivity of biodiversity and productivity differentially and reverses the relationship between them in an alpine meadow. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 835:155418. [PMID: 35472341 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Biodiversity and productivity that highly determine ecosystem services are varying largely under global change. However, the climate sensitivity of them and their relationship are not well understood, especially in the context of increasing nitrogen (N) deposition. Here, based on a six-year N manipulation experiment in an alpine meadow, we quantified interannual climate sensitivity of species richness (SR) and above-ground net primary productivity (ANPP) as well as SR-ANPP relationship as affected by six N addition rate (Nrate) gradients. We found that interannual variations in ANPP and SR were mainly driven by temperature instead of precipitation. In the plots without N addition, higher temperature substantially increased ANPP but reduced SR across years, thus resulting in a negative SR-ANPP relationship. However, the negative and positive responses of SR and ANPP to temperature increased and declined significantly with increasing Nrate, respectively, leading to a shift of the negative relationship between SR and ANPP into a positive one under high Nrate. Moreover, the adverse influence of drought on SR and ANPP would be aggravated by N fertilization, as indicated by the increased positive effect of precipitation on them under N enrichment. Our findings indicate that climate sensitivity of productivity and biodiversity may be misestimated if the impact of N deposition is not considered, and the importance of biodiversity to maintain productivity would enhance as N deposition increases. This study provides a new insight to explain variation of biodiversity-productivity relationship along with environmental changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinlong Peng
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Fangfang Ma
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Quan Quan
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xinli Chen
- Faculty of Natural Resources Management, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jinsong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yingjie Yan
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qingping Zhou
- Institute of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, Southwest University for Nationalities, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Shuli Niu
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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11
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Liu Y, Men M, Peng Z, Houx JH, Peng Y. Nitrogen availability determines ecosystem productivity in response to climate warming. Ecology 2022; 103:e3823. [PMID: 35857189 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
One of the major uncertainties for carbon-climate feedback predictions is an inadequate understanding of the mechanisms governing variations in ecosystem productivity response to warming. Temperature and water availability are regarded as the primary controls over the direction and magnitude of warming effects, but some unexplained results signal that our understanding is incomplete. Using two complementary meta-analyses, we present evidence that soil nitrogen (N) availability drives the warming effects on ecosystem productivity more strongly than thermal and hydrological factors over a broad geographical scale. First, by synthesizing temperature manipulation experiments, meta-regression model analysis showed that the warming effect on productivity is mainly driven by its effect on soil N availability. Sites with higher warming-induced increase in N availability were characterized by stronger productivity enhancement and vice versa, suggesting that N is a limiting factor across sites. Second, a synthesis of full-factorial warming×N addition experiments demonstrated that N addition significantly weakened the positive warming effect, because the additional N induced by warming may not further benefit plant growth when N limitation is relieved, providing experimental evidence that N regulates the warming effect. Further, we demonstrated that warming effects on soil N availability were modulated by changes in dissolved organic N and soil microbes. Overall, our findings enrich a new mechanistic understanding of the varying magnitudes of observed productivity response to warming, and the N scaling of warming effects may help constrain climate projections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Liu
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences/Key Laboratory of Farmland Eco-Environment of Hebei, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China.,State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mingxin Men
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences/Key Laboratory of Farmland Eco-Environment of Hebei, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - Zhengping Peng
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences/Key Laboratory of Farmland Eco-Environment of Hebei, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - James H Houx
- Agriculture Research and Technology, National Crop Insurance Services, Overland Park, KS, USA
| | - Yunfeng Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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12
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Experimental Approach Alters N and P Addition Effects on Leaf Traits and Growth Rate of Subtropical Schima superba (Reinw. ex Blume) Seedlings. FORESTS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/f13020141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) and/or phosphorus (P) addition has controversial effects on tree functional traits and growth; however, this experimental approach may clarify these controversial results. In this study, field and pot experiments were designed with +N (100 kg N ha−1 yr−1), +P (50 kg P ha−1 yr−1), +NP (100 kg N plus 50 kg P ha−1 yr−1), and a control (no N or P addition) to comparatively investigate the effects of N and P addition on 24 leaf traits and the growth rate of Schima superba (Reinw. ex Blume ) seedlings in subtropical China. We found that the experimental approach alters N and P addition effects on leaf traits and tree growth. Nitrogen addition strongly altered leaf biochemical and physiological traits and limited tree growth compared to P addition in the pot experiment, while the effects of N and P addition on leaf traits and tree growth were weaker in the field, since the seedlings might be mainly limited by light availability rather than nutrient supplies. The inference from the pot experiment might amplify the impact of N deposition on forest plants in complicated natural systems. These findings will help guide refining pot fertilization experiments to simulate trees in the field under environmental change. Future directions should consider reducing the confounding effects of biotic and abiotic factors on fertilization in the field, and refinement of the control seedlings’ genetic diversity, mycorrhizal symbiont, and root competition for long-term fertilization experiments are required.
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13
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Zhang D, Peng Y, Li F, Yang G, Wang J, Yu J, Zhou G, Yang Y. Above- and below-ground resource acquisition strategies determine plant species responses to nitrogen enrichment. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2021; 128:31-44. [PMID: 33630994 PMCID: PMC8318111 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcab032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Knowledge of plant resource acquisition strategies is crucial for understanding the mechanisms mediating the responses of ecosystems to external nitrogen (N) input. However, few studies have considered the joint effects of above-ground (light) and below-ground (nutrient) resource acquisition strategies in regulating plant species responses to N enrichment. Here, we quantified the effects of light and non-N nutrient acquisition capacities on species relative abundance in the case of extra N input. METHODS Based on an N-manipulation experiment in a Tibetan alpine steppe, we determined the responses of species relative abundances and light and nutrient acquisition capacities to N enrichment for two species with different resource acquisition strategies (the taller Stipa purpurea, which is colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and the shorter Carex stenophylloides, which has cluster roots). Structural equation models were developed to explore the relative effects of light and nutrient acquisition on species relative abundance along the N addition gradient. KEY RESULTS We found that the relative abundance of taller S. purpurea increased with the improved light acquisition along the N addition gradient. In contrast, the shorter C. stenophylloides, with cluster roots, excelled in acquiring phosphorus (P) so as to elevate its leaf P concentration under N enrichment by producing large amounts of carboxylate exudates that mobilized moderately labile and recalcitrant soil P forms. The increased leaf P concentration of C. stenophylloides enhanced its light use efficiency and promoted its relative abundance even in the shade of taller competitors. CONCLUSIONS Our findings highlight that the combined effects of above-ground (light) and below-ground (nutrient) resources rather than light alone (the prevailing perspective) determine the responses of grassland community structure to N enrichment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dianye Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yunfeng Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Guibiao Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jianchun Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Guoying Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Research, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, China
| | - Yuanhe Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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