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Effects of Phenology, Physiology, and Gradients in Community Composition, Structure, and Microclimate on Tundra Ecosystem CO2 Exchange

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Book cover Ecophysiology of Photosynthesis

Part of the book series: Springer Study Edition ((SSE,volume 100))

Abstract

Recently, attention among scientists has been focused on potential global climate change as well as on the deposition of pollutants and their impacts. These perspectives emphasize the role of ecosystems as exchange surfaces between atmosphere and vegetation and between vegetation and groundwater (Dickenson 1988; Bolin 1988; Ulrich 1987). Particularly with respect to northern taiga and tundra regions, it is important to determine whether climate change may have already altered or may in the future alter rates (positive or negative) of ecosystem carbon storage (Oberbauer et al. 1992; Oechel and Billings 1992). Furthermore, it is important to understand environmental controls on carbon fluxes and carbon storage, because the gradients in soil temperature, water availability, and available light energy in the Arctic are large and these will strongly affect the integrated values of net carbon dioxide (Tenhunen et al. 1992) and methane exchange (Whalen and Reeburgh 1988, 1990) in polar regions. Even when viewed simplistically and at the regional scale, temporal and spatial variation in ecosystem material exchange characteristics must be considered when estimating carbon balances (Miller et al. 1983). At smaller scales such as the watershed, temporal and spatial variation in ecosystem structure, species composition, physiology, and environmental conditions determine momentary net gas exchange rates, but also provide clues concerning the manner in which ecosystem properties may be shifted regionally in a future climate (Chapin et al. 1992).

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Authors
  1. J. D. Tenhunen
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  2. R. T. W. Siegwolf
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  3. S. F. Oberbauer
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Lehrstuhl für Pflanzenökologie, Universität Bayreuth, Postfach 101251, Bayreuth, D-95447, Germany

    Ernst-Detlef Schulze

  2. Department of Range Science and Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 84322-5230, USA

    Martyn M. Caldwell

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© 1995 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Tenhunen, J.D., Siegwolf, R.T.W., Oberbauer, S.F. (1995). Effects of Phenology, Physiology, and Gradients in Community Composition, Structure, and Microclimate on Tundra Ecosystem CO2 Exchange. In: Schulze, ED., Caldwell, M.M. (eds) Ecophysiology of Photosynthesis. Springer Study Edition, vol 100. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-79354-7_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-79354-7_21

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-58571-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-79354-7

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