Letter to the Editor: Ecologically implausible carbon response?

Magnani et al. 1 present a very strong correlation between mean lifetime net ecosystem production (NEP, defined as the net rate of carbon (C) accumulation in ecosystems2) and wet nitrogen (N) deposition. For their data in the range 4.9¿9.8 kg N ha-1 yr-1, on which the correlation largely depends, th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature (London) 2008, Vol.451
Main Authors: Vries, W., de, Solberg, S, Dobbertin, M, Sterba, H, Laubhahn, D, Reinds, G.J, Nabuurs, G.J, Gundersen, P, Sutton, M.A
Format: Article
Language:
Subjects:
bosecologie
broeikasgassen
carbon dioxide
climatic change
ecosystems
fluxes
forest ecology
greenhouse gases
klimaatverandering
kooldioxide
nitrogen deposition
sequestration
sites
soils
temperate forests
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Summary:Magnani et al. 1 present a very strong correlation between mean lifetime net ecosystem production (NEP, defined as the net rate of carbon (C) accumulation in ecosystems2) and wet nitrogen (N) deposition. For their data in the range 4.9¿9.8 kg N ha-1 yr-1, on which the correlation largely depends, the response is approximately 725 kg C per kg N in wet deposition. According to the authors, the maximum N wet deposition level of 9.8 kg N ha-1 yr-1 is equivalent to a total deposition of 15 kg N ha-1 yr-1, implying a net sequestration near 470 kg C per kg N of total deposition. We question the ecological plausibility of the relationship and show, from a multi-factor analysis of European forest measurements, how interactions with site productivity and environment imply a much smaller NEP response to N deposition.
ISSN:0028-0836
1476-4687