Productivity overshadows temperature in determining soil and ecosystem respiration across European forests

• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2486.2001.00412.x
• Publication Date: 2003-03-11T21:37:07Z
• Authors: I. A. Janssens; H. Lankreijer; G. Matteucci; A. S. Kowalski; N. Buchmann; D. Epron; K. Pilegaard; W. Kutsch; B. Longdoz; T. Grünwald; L. Montagnani; S. Dore; C. Rebmann; E. J. Moors; A. Grelle; Ü. Rannik; K. Morgenstern; S. Oltchev; R. Clement; J. Guðmundsson; S. Minerbi; P. Berbigier; A. Ibrom; J. Moncrieff; M. Aubinet; C. Bernhofer; N. O. Jensen; T. Vesala; A. Granier; E. ‐D. Schulze; A. Lindroth; A. J. Dolman; P. G. Jarvis; R. Ceulemans; R. Valentini
• Keywords: Soil respiration; Ecosystem respiration; Soil carbon; Autotroph

Summary This paper presents CO 2 flux data from 18 forest ecosystems, studied in the European Union funded EUROFLUX project. Overall, mean annual gross primary productivity (GPP, total amount of carbon (C) fixed during photosynthesis) these forests was 1380 ± 330 gC m −2 y −1 (mean ±SD). On average, 80% GPP respired by autotrophs and heterotrophs released back into atmosphere (total ecosystem respiration, TER = 1100 260 ). Mean soil respiration (SR) 760 340 (55% 69% TER). Among investigated forests, large differences were observed SR that not correlated with temperature. However, a significant correlation between among relatively undisturbed forests. assumption (i) root is constrained allocation photosynthates to roots, which coupled productivity, (ii) largest fraction heterotrophic originates decomposition young organic matter (leaves, fine roots), whose availability also depends on it hypothesized are likely depend more than At sites where disturbance has occurred (e.g. ploughing, drainage), espiration larger component C budget deviated relationship (and TER) less‐disturbed one particular forest, losses so large, some years site became net source atmosphere. Excluding disturbed present analysis reduced 660 290 , representing 49% 63% ecosystems.