When things get MESI: The Manipulation Experiments Synthesis Initiative—A coordinated effort to synthesize terrestrial global change experiments

• DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16585
• Publication Date: 2023-01-06T14:25:33Z
• Authors: Kevin Van Sundert; Sebastian Leuzinger; Martin K.‐F. Bader; Scott X. Chang; Martin G. De Kauwe; Jeffrey S. Dukes; J. Adam Langley; Zilong Ma; Bertold Mariën; Simon Reynaert; Jingyi Ru; Jian Song; Benjamin Stocker; César Terrer; Joshua Thoresen; Eline Vanuytrecht; Shiqiang Wan; Kai Yue; Sara Vicca
• Keywords: Global Change; Terrestrial ecosystem

Responses of the terrestrial biosphere to rapidly changing environmental conditions are a major source uncertainty in climate projections. In an effort reduce this uncertainty, wide range global change experiments have been conducted that mimic future ecosystems, manipulating CO2 , temperature, and nutrient water availability. Syntheses results across provide more general sense ecosystem responses change, help discern influence background such as vegetation type determining responses. Several independent syntheses published data yielded distinct databases for specific objectives. Such parallel, uncoordinated initiatives carry risk producing redundant collection efforts led contrasting outcomes without clarifying underlying reason divergence. These problems could be avoided by creating publicly available, updatable, curated database. Here, we report on collect curate 57,089 treatment 3644 manipulation at 1145 sites, simulating elevated warming, addition, precipitation changes. resulting Manipulation Experiments Synthesis Initiative (MESI) database, effects experimental drivers carbon cycles included, well ancillary climate, type, magnitude, duration, and, unique our measured soil properties. Our analysis database indicates most short term (one or few growing seasons), USA, Europe, China, abundantly reported variable is aboveground biomass. We comprehensive multifactor date, enabling research community tackle open questions, vital policymaking. The MESI freely accessible doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7153253, opens new avenues model evaluation synthesis-based understanding how affects biomes. welcome contributions GitHub.