Temperature response of soil respiration largely unaltered with experimental warming.

ABSTRACT: The respiratory release of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from soil is a major yet poorly understood flux in the global carbon cycle. Climatic warming is hypothesized to increase rates of soil respiration, potentially fueling further increases in global temperatures. However, despite considerable scientific attention in recent decades, the overall response of soil respiration to anticipated climatic warming remains unclear. We synthesize the largest global dataset to date of soil respiration, moisture, and temperature measurements, totaling >3,800 observations representing 27 temperature manipulation studies, spanning nine biomes and over 2 decades of warming. Our analysis reveals no significant differences in the temperature sensitivity of soil respiration between control and warmed plot

SUBMITTER: Carey JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5137763 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature