Nonlinear responses of ecosystem carbon fluxes to precipitation change in a semiarid grassland
Carbon (C) fluxes in semiarid grasslands subject to precipitation variability play a critical role in the terrestrial C cycle. However, how ecosystem C fluxes respond to variability in precipitation (both decreases and increases precipitation along a gradient) remains unclear. In this study, we cond...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1519879/full |
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| author | Hua Chai Hua Chai Jianying Ma Jinwei Zhang Junqin Li Bo Meng Chengliang Wang Duofeng Pan Jie Li Wei Sun Xuhui Zhou |
| author_facet | Hua Chai Hua Chai Jianying Ma Jinwei Zhang Junqin Li Bo Meng Chengliang Wang Duofeng Pan Jie Li Wei Sun Xuhui Zhou |
| author_sort | Hua Chai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Carbon (C) fluxes in semiarid grasslands subject to precipitation variability play a critical role in the terrestrial C cycle. However, how ecosystem C fluxes respond to variability in precipitation (both decreases and increases precipitation along a gradient) remains unclear. In this study, we conducted a three-year field experiment in a semiarid grassland, with six precipitation treatments (precipitation decreased by 70%, 50%, and 30% [P–70%, P–50%, and P–30%], natural precipitation [P+0%], and precipitation increased by 30% and 50% [P+30% and P+50%]) to examine how variations in precipitation influence ecosystem C fluxes, specifically focusing on gross ecosystem productivity (GEP), ecosystem respiration (ER), and net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE). We found that both decreased and increased precipitation significantly altered the GEP (from –26% to 14%), but only decreased precipitation significantly reduced the ER and NEE (from 1% to 31%), relative to their values during natural precipitation. This suggests that ecosystem C fluxes are more sensitive to decreased precipitation, and respond nonlinearly to the precipitation gradient. Furthermore, structural equation modeling indicated that the soil water content was the primary controlling factor driving changes in ecosystem C fluxes. Our research underscores the nonlinear response of ecosystem C fluxes to changes in precipitation within semiarid ecosystems, particularly their sensitivity to extreme drought. Considering this nonlinear response, it is crucial to improve dynamic models of the C cycle and predict ecosystem responses to precipitation variability. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c8f946f22c9048bc9412be0150ecebf1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-c8f946f22c9048bc9412be0150ecebf12025-02-06T12:08:44ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-02-011610.3389/fpls.2025.15198791519879Nonlinear responses of ecosystem carbon fluxes to precipitation change in a semiarid grasslandHua Chai0Hua Chai1Jianying Ma2Jinwei Zhang3Junqin Li4Bo Meng5Chengliang Wang6Duofeng Pan7Jie Li8Wei Sun9Xuhui Zhou10Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, School of Forestry, School of Ecology, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, ChinaInstitute of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of the Ministry of Education, Jilin Songnen Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, ChinaKey Laboratory of Geographical Processes and Ecological Security in Changbai Mountains, Ministry of Education, School of Geographical Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, ChinaDepartment of Grassland Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, ChinaInstitute of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of the Ministry of Education, Jilin Songnen Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, ChinaInstitute of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of the Ministry of Education, Jilin Songnen Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, ChinaInstitute of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of the Ministry of Education, Jilin Songnen Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, ChinaInstitute of Forage and Grassland Sciences, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, Heilongjiang, ChinaKey Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, School of Forestry, School of Ecology, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, ChinaInstitute of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of the Ministry of Education, Jilin Songnen Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, ChinaKey Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, School of Forestry, School of Ecology, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, ChinaCarbon (C) fluxes in semiarid grasslands subject to precipitation variability play a critical role in the terrestrial C cycle. However, how ecosystem C fluxes respond to variability in precipitation (both decreases and increases precipitation along a gradient) remains unclear. In this study, we conducted a three-year field experiment in a semiarid grassland, with six precipitation treatments (precipitation decreased by 70%, 50%, and 30% [P–70%, P–50%, and P–30%], natural precipitation [P+0%], and precipitation increased by 30% and 50% [P+30% and P+50%]) to examine how variations in precipitation influence ecosystem C fluxes, specifically focusing on gross ecosystem productivity (GEP), ecosystem respiration (ER), and net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE). We found that both decreased and increased precipitation significantly altered the GEP (from –26% to 14%), but only decreased precipitation significantly reduced the ER and NEE (from 1% to 31%), relative to their values during natural precipitation. This suggests that ecosystem C fluxes are more sensitive to decreased precipitation, and respond nonlinearly to the precipitation gradient. Furthermore, structural equation modeling indicated that the soil water content was the primary controlling factor driving changes in ecosystem C fluxes. Our research underscores the nonlinear response of ecosystem C fluxes to changes in precipitation within semiarid ecosystems, particularly their sensitivity to extreme drought. Considering this nonlinear response, it is crucial to improve dynamic models of the C cycle and predict ecosystem responses to precipitation variability.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1519879/fullecosystem carbon fluxesaltered precipitationnonlinear responsesprecipitation gradientsemiarid grasslands |
| spellingShingle | Hua Chai Hua Chai Jianying Ma Jinwei Zhang Junqin Li Bo Meng Chengliang Wang Duofeng Pan Jie Li Wei Sun Xuhui Zhou Nonlinear responses of ecosystem carbon fluxes to precipitation change in a semiarid grassland Frontiers in Plant Science ecosystem carbon fluxes altered precipitation nonlinear responses precipitation gradient semiarid grasslands |
| title | Nonlinear responses of ecosystem carbon fluxes to precipitation change in a semiarid grassland |
| title_full | Nonlinear responses of ecosystem carbon fluxes to precipitation change in a semiarid grassland |
| title_fullStr | Nonlinear responses of ecosystem carbon fluxes to precipitation change in a semiarid grassland |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nonlinear responses of ecosystem carbon fluxes to precipitation change in a semiarid grassland |
| title_short | Nonlinear responses of ecosystem carbon fluxes to precipitation change in a semiarid grassland |
| title_sort | nonlinear responses of ecosystem carbon fluxes to precipitation change in a semiarid grassland |
| topic | ecosystem carbon fluxes altered precipitation nonlinear responses precipitation gradient semiarid grasslands |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1519879/full |
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