Carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus fluxes in household ecosystems in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota, urban region

• DOI: 10.1890/10-0386.1
• Publication Date: 2010-06-30T20:53:12Z
• Authors: C. Fissore; L. A. Baker; S. E. Hobbie; J. Y. King; J. P. McFadden; K. C. Nelson; I. Jakobsdottir
• Keywords: Family Characteristics; Urban Population; Nitrogen; Minnesota; Phosphorus; 15. Life on land; 01 natural sciences; 7. Clean energy; Carbon; 13. Climate action; 11. Sustainability; Housing; Humans; Environmental Pollutants; Cities; Ecosystem; Environmental Monitoring; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences

Rapid worldwide urbanization calls for a better understanding of the biogeochemical cycling those macroelements that have large environmental impacts in cities. This study, part Twin Cities Household Ecosystem Project, quantified fluxes carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) at scale individual households Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area Minnesota, USA. We estimated input output associated with several components household activities including air motor vehicle travel, food consumption, home energy use, landscape, pets, paper plastic use 360 owner-occupied, stand-alone households. A few component dominated total elements. For instance, transportation, together accounted 85% C consumption emissions. All were skewed to varying degrees, suggesting policies targeting disproportionately high could be an effective efficient way reduce pollution. example, 20% contributed 75% travel emissions 40% Home was more nearly normally distributed. Nitrogen by human diet lawn fertilizer applications, which 65% N inputs. The majority P inputs diet, detergents, pet food. portion variation among C, N, related biophysical variables. biophysical, demographic, behavioral drivers contribute is pivotal developing accurate urban models informing aimed reducing sources pollution ecosystems.