Peatland vegetation composition and phenology drive the seasonal trajectory of maximum gross primary production.

ABSTRACT: Gross primary production (GPP) is a key driver of the peatland carbon cycle. Although many studies have explored the apparent GPP under natural light conditions, knowledge of the maximum GPP at light-saturation (GPP_max) and its spatio-temporal variation is limited. This information, however, is crucial since GPP_max essentially constrains the upper boundary for apparent GPP. Using chamber measurements combined with an external light source across experimental plots where vegetation composition was altered through long-term (20-year) nitrogen addition and artificial warming, we could quantify GPP_max in-situ and disentangle its biotic and abiotic controls in a boreal peatland. We found large spatial and temporal variations in the magnitudes of GPP_max

SUBMITTER: Peichl M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5964230 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature