A detailed assessment of ecosystem carbon dynamics along an elevation transect in the Andes
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Edinburgh
Department Name: Sch of Geosciences
Abstract
Tropical montane forests are amongst the most fascinating yet least studied of terrestrial ecosystems. In terms of ecosystem science, they combine some of the attributes of temperate forests (low mean annual temperature) with those of lowland tropical forests (lack of temperature seasonality), and thereby provide an important test of our understanding of climatic controls on ecosystem carbon and nutrient cycling. In addition to holding large stocks of carbon in their soils, they host a large fraction of global biodiversity. Hence changes in tropical montane forest ecosystems could have a profound effect on global biodiversity and the global carbon cycle. As one climbs an elevation gradient in the wet tropics, two trends in ecosystem properties stand out: an apparent decline in above-ground productivity (the production of wood and leaves), and an increase in soil and dead biomass organic stocks at the expense of live biomass. However, although these trends are well-documented, there is still considerable debate as to the causes of these trends. We will focus on three aspects of the debate: - does below-ground root productivity decline in parallel with above-ground productivity, or does it actually increase (as indicated by a recent study), resulting in little trend in total productivity with elevation ? - do lowland tropical forests lose more carbon through respiration than tropical montane or temperate forests, and is the magnitude of this proportional loss related to ambient temperature ? - is the decline in decay rates with increasing elevation entirely explained by temperature, or is litter quality and important factor ? In this proposal we will explore the causes of both these trends, by conducting detailed measurements of plant, litter and soil carbon dynamics at four sites along an altitudinal transect in the Andes. This will build upon and complement similar measurements that we are currently conducting in the lowland Peruvian Amazon. We established the field study site in 2003 We will: (i) Conduct detailed observation of above- and below-ground productivity, measuring the production of wood, leaves and roots. (ii) Quantify respiratory CO2 emissions from leaves, wood and roots, and from decaying organic matter in litter and soils. (iii) Quantify the stocks and flows of C, N and, P in litter and soil pools. (iv) Quantify the the effects of temperature, litter quality and rainfall on the decay rates of leaf litter, woody debris, humic material and soil organic matter, by conducting a translocation experiment, where samples of litter, dead wood and soil with be swapped between different elevations along the transect, and the decay rates of material monitored over time.
Organisations
Publications
Doughty C
(2015)
Source and sink carbon dynamics and carbon allocation in the Amazon basin
in Global Biogeochemical Cycles
Doughty C
(2017)
What controls variation in carbon use efficiency among Amazonian tropical forests?
in Biotropica
Doughty C
(2017)
Can Leaf Spectroscopy Predict Leaf and Forest Traits Along a Peruvian Tropical Forest Elevation Gradient?
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences
Doughty CE
(2015)
Drought impact on forest carbon dynamics and fluxes in Amazonia.
in Nature
Ellsworth DS
(2022)
Convergence in phosphorus constraints to photosynthesis in forests around the world.
in Nature communications
Enquist B
(2017)
Assessing trait-based scaling theory in tropical forests spanning a broad temperature gradient
in Global Ecology and Biogeography
Fadrique B
(2018)
Widespread but heterogeneous responses of Andean forests to climate change.
in Nature
Feakins S
(2016)
Production of leaf wax n-alkanes across a tropical forest elevation transect
in Organic Geochemistry
Feakins S
(2016)
Plant leaf wax biomarkers capture gradients in hydrogen isotopes of precipitation from the Andes and Amazon
in Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
Feeley K
(2011)
Upslope migration of Andean trees Andean trees migrate upslope
in Journal of Biogeography
Description | We found the sensitivity of soil carbon release to temperature was much greater than usual represented in biosphere models. The sensitivity of vegetation growth to temperature was less than expected. |
Exploitation Route | This can improve representation of carbon dynamics in global biosphere models, and the representation of tropical vegetation. |
Sectors | Environment |
URL | http://www.andesconservation.org |
Description | Our work on high carbon stocks in the Andes has been presented to the Peruvian Ministry of the Environment, and influences their thinking on plans for REDD+ |
First Year Of Impact | 2014 |
Sector | Environment |
Impact Types | Policy & public services |
Description | GEM-TRAITS ERC Advanced Investigator Award |
Amount | € 2,500,000 (EUR) |
Organisation | European Research Council (ERC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | Belgium |
Start | 04/2013 |
End | 04/2018 |