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Thermal optimality of net ecosystem exchange of carbon dioxide and underlying mechanisms
Author(s) -
Niu Shuli,
Luo Yiqi,
Fei Shenfeng,
Yuan Wenping,
Schimel David,
Law Beverly E.,
Ammann Christof,
Altaf Arain M.,
Arneth Almut,
Aubinet Marc,
Barr Alan,
Beringer Jason,
Bernhofer Christian,
Andrew Black T.,
Buchmann Nina,
Cescatti Alessandro,
Chen Jiquan,
Davis Kenneth J.,
Dellwik Ebba,
Desai Ankur R.,
Etzold Sophia,
Francois Louis,
Gianelle Damiano,
Gielen Bert,
Goldstein Allen,
Groenendijk Margriet,
Gu Lianhong,
Hanan Niall,
Helfter Carole,
Hirano Takashi,
Hollinger David Y.,
Jones Mike B.,
Kiely Gerard,
Kolb Thomas E.,
Kutsch Werner L.,
Lafleur Peter,
Lawrence David M.,
Li Linghao,
Lindroth Anders,
Litvak Marcy,
Loustau Denis,
Lund Magnus,
Marek Michal,
Martin Timothy A.,
Matteucci Giorgio,
Migliavacca Mirco,
Montagnani Leonardo,
Moors Eddy,
William Munger J.,
Noormets Asko,
Oechel Walter,
Olejnik Janusz,
U Kyaw Tha Paw,
Pilegaard Kim,
Rambal Serge,
Raschi Antonio,
Scott Russell L.,
Seufert Günther,
Spano Donatella,
Stoy Paul,
Sutton Mark A.,
Varlagin Andrej,
Vesala Timo,
Weng Ensheng,
Wohlfahrt Georg,
Yang Bai,
Zhang Zhongda,
Zhou Xuhui
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2012.04095.x
Subject(s) - ecosystem , eddy covariance , environmental science , atmospheric sciences , ecosystem respiration , adaptation (eye) , acclimatization , climate change , ecology , primary production , biology , geology , neuroscience
Summary• It is well established that individual organisms can acclimate and adapt to temperature to optimize their functioning. However, thermal optimization of ecosystems, as an assemblage of organisms, has not been examined at broad spatial and temporal scales. • Here, we compiled data from 169 globally distributed sites of eddy covariance and quantified the temperature response functions of net ecosystem exchange (NEE), an ecosystem‐level property, to determine whether NEE shows thermal optimality and to explore the underlying mechanisms. • We found that the temperature response of NEE followed a peak curve, with the optimum temperature (corresponding to the maximum magnitude of NEE) being positively correlated with annual mean temperature over years and across sites. Shifts of the optimum temperature of NEE were mostly a result of temperature acclimation of gross primary productivity (upward shift of optimum temperature) rather than changes in the temperature sensitivity of ecosystem respiration. • Ecosystem‐level thermal optimality is a newly revealed ecosystem property, presumably reflecting associated evolutionary adaptation of organisms within ecosystems, and has the potential to significantly regulate ecosystem–climate change feedbacks. The thermal optimality of NEE has implications for understanding fundamental properties of ecosystems in changing environments and benchmarking global models.