Ecological Lessons from Free-Air CO 2 Enrichment (FACE) Experiments
Oak Ridge National Laboratory · University of Michigan
Abstract
Free-air CO 2 enrichment (FACE) experiments have provided novel insights into the ecological mechanisms controlling the cycling and storage of carbon in terrestrial ecosystems and contribute to our ability to project how ecosystems respond to increasing CO 2 in the Earth's atmosphere. Important lessons emerge by evaluating a set of hypotheses that initially guided the design and longevity of forested FACE experiments. Net primary productivity is increased by elevated CO 2 , but the response can diminish over time. Carbon accumulation is driven by the distribution of carbon among plant and soil components with differing turnover rates and by interactions between the carbon and nitrogen cycles. Plant community…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 52.35
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 129
Authors
2Topics & keywords
- Biogeochemical cycle
- Ecosystem
- Environmental science
- Carbon cycle
- Terrestrial ecosystem
- Ecology
- Nitrogen cycle
- Climate change