Controls on mangrove forest-atmosphere carbon dioxide exchanges in western Everglades National Park

• Published in: Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences 2010-06, Vol.115 (G2), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Barr, Jordan G., Engel, Vic, Fuentes, José D., Zieman, Joseph C., O'Halloran, Thomas L., Smith III, Thomas J., Anderson, Gordon H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Atmosphere; Atmospheric sciences; Canopies; Carbon; Carbon dioxide; Climate change; Coastal; Dissolved inorganic carbon; Dry season; Earth; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Ecosystems; Exact sciences and technology; Exchange; Forests; Geobiology; mangroves; Marine; National parks; net ecosystem productivity; Radiative transfer; Rainy season; Respiration; Salinity; Sea level rise; Surface water
• ISSN: 0148-0227; 2169-8953; 2156-2202; 2169-8961
• DOI: 10.1029/2009JG001186

We report on net ecosystem production (NEP) and key environmental controls on net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of carbon dioxide (CO2) between a mangrove forest and the atmosphere in the coastal Florida Everglades. An eddy covariance system deployed above the canopy was used to determine NEE during January 2004 through August 2005. Maximum daytime NEE ranged from −20 to −25 μmol (CO2) m−2 s−1 between March and May. Respiration (Rd) was highly variable (2.81 ± 2.41 μmol (CO2) m−2 s−1), reaching peak values during the summer wet season. During the winter dry season, forest CO2 assimilation increased with the proportion of diffuse solar irradiance in response to greater radiative transfer in the forest canopy. Surface water salinity and tidal activity were also important controls on NEE. Daily light use efficiency was reduced at high (>34 parts per thousand (ppt)) compared to low (