When does temperature matter for ecosystem respiration?

• Published in: Environmental Research Communications
• Main Authors: Gudasz, Cristian, Karlsson, Jan, Bastviken, David
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Linköpings universitet, Tema Miljöförändring 2021
• Subjects: temperature; soils; sediments; respiration; Climate Research; Klimatforskning; Arctic; Climate change
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-181910; https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/ac3b9f

The temperature response of ecosystem processes is key to understand and predict impacts of climate change. This is especially true for respiration, given its high temperature sensitivity and major role in the global carbon cycle. However, similar intrinsic temperature sensitivity for respiration does not mean comparable temperature effects across ecosystems and biomes because non-temperature factors can be more important. Here we analyzed soil and sediment respiration data and found that in temperature ranges corresponding to high latitude mean temperatures, absolute respiration rates are more sensitive to non-temperature factors than to projected direct temperature effects. However, at higher temperatures (>20 degrees C) the direct effect of temperature mediated by temperature sensitivity will likely be more important over changes in non-temperature factors in shaping how respiration change over time. This supports past suggestions that the relatively small projected temperature increase at low (tropical) latitudes may have a large direct impact on absolute respiration. In contrast, absolute respiration rates at high (boreal/arctic) latitudes will likely be more sensitive on the development of the non-temperature factors than on the direct effects of the large projected temperature increase there. Social media abstract. Respiration may be less dependent to changes in temperature at higher than lower latitudes. Funding Agencies|VetenskapsradetSwedish Research Council [2020-01979, 2018-01794]; Knut and Alice Wallenberg FoundationKnut & Alice Wallenberg Foundation [201243506-98683-24, 2016-04829]; European Research CouncilEuropean Research Council (ERC)European Commission [2016.0083]; [725546]