Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Patterns and controls of the variability of radiation use efficiency and primary productivity across terrestrial ecosystems

Garbulsky, Martin F. ; Penuelas, Josep ; Papale, Dario ; Ardö, Jonas LU orcid ; Goulden, Michael L. ; Kiely, Gerard ; Richardson, Andrew D. ; Rotenberg, Eyal ; Veenendaal, Elmar M. and Filella, Iolanda (2010) In Global Ecology and Biogeography 19(2). p.253-267
Abstract
Aim The controls of gross radiation use efficiency (RUE), the ratio between gross primary productivity (GPP) and the radiation intercepted by terrestrial vegetation, and its spatial and temporal variation are not yet fully understood. Our objectives were to analyse and synthesize the spatial variability of GPP and the spatial and temporal variability of RUE and its climatic controls for a wide range of vegetation types. Location A global range of sites from tundra to rain forest. Methods We analysed a global dataset on photosynthetic uptake and climatic variables from 35 eddy covariance (EC) flux sites spanning between 100 and 2200 mm mean annual rainfall and between -13 and 26 degrees C mean annual temperature. RUE was calculated from the... (More)
Aim The controls of gross radiation use efficiency (RUE), the ratio between gross primary productivity (GPP) and the radiation intercepted by terrestrial vegetation, and its spatial and temporal variation are not yet fully understood. Our objectives were to analyse and synthesize the spatial variability of GPP and the spatial and temporal variability of RUE and its climatic controls for a wide range of vegetation types. Location A global range of sites from tundra to rain forest. Methods We analysed a global dataset on photosynthetic uptake and climatic variables from 35 eddy covariance (EC) flux sites spanning between 100 and 2200 mm mean annual rainfall and between -13 and 26 degrees C mean annual temperature. RUE was calculated from the data provided by EC flux sites and remote sensing (MODIS). Results Rainfall and actual evapotranspiration (AET) positively influenced the spatial variation of annual GPP, whereas temperature only influenced the GPP of forests. Annual and maximum RUE were also positively controlled primarily by annual rainfall. The main control parameters of the growth season variation of gross RUE varied for each ecosystem type. Overall, the ratio between actual and potential evapotranspiration and a surrogate for the energy balance explained a greater proportion of the seasonal variation of RUE than the vapour pressure deficit (VPD), AET and precipitation. Temperature was important for determining the intra-annual variability of the RUE at the coldest energy-limited sites. Main conclusions Our analysis supports the idea that the annual functioning of vegetation that is adapted to its local environment is more constrained by water availability than by temperature. The spatial variability of annual and maximum RUE can be largely explained by annual precipitation, more than by vegetation type. The intra-annual variation of RUE was mainly linked to the energy balance and water availability along the climatic gradient. Furthermore, we showed that intra-annual variation of gross RUE is only weakly influenced by VPD and temperature, contrary to what is frequently assumed. Our results provide a better understanding of the spatial and temporal controls of the RUE and thus could lead to a better estimation of ecosystem carbon fixation and better modelling. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
radiation use efficiency, productivity, gross primary, eddy covariance, Carbon cycle, climatic controls, remote sensing, terrestrial, vegetation
in
Global Ecology and Biogeography
volume
19
issue
2
pages
253 - 267
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • wos:000274320600010
  • scopus:76249091832
ISSN
1466-8238
DOI
10.1111/j.1466-8238.2009.00504.x
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ab4b7f1f-3e0e-4f0b-80f1-49f9f76f9832 (old id 1570763)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 11:13:28
date last changed
2022-04-20 17:50:55
@article{ab4b7f1f-3e0e-4f0b-80f1-49f9f76f9832,
  abstract     = {{Aim The controls of gross radiation use efficiency (RUE), the ratio between gross primary productivity (GPP) and the radiation intercepted by terrestrial vegetation, and its spatial and temporal variation are not yet fully understood. Our objectives were to analyse and synthesize the spatial variability of GPP and the spatial and temporal variability of RUE and its climatic controls for a wide range of vegetation types. Location A global range of sites from tundra to rain forest. Methods We analysed a global dataset on photosynthetic uptake and climatic variables from 35 eddy covariance (EC) flux sites spanning between 100 and 2200 mm mean annual rainfall and between -13 and 26 degrees C mean annual temperature. RUE was calculated from the data provided by EC flux sites and remote sensing (MODIS). Results Rainfall and actual evapotranspiration (AET) positively influenced the spatial variation of annual GPP, whereas temperature only influenced the GPP of forests. Annual and maximum RUE were also positively controlled primarily by annual rainfall. The main control parameters of the growth season variation of gross RUE varied for each ecosystem type. Overall, the ratio between actual and potential evapotranspiration and a surrogate for the energy balance explained a greater proportion of the seasonal variation of RUE than the vapour pressure deficit (VPD), AET and precipitation. Temperature was important for determining the intra-annual variability of the RUE at the coldest energy-limited sites. Main conclusions Our analysis supports the idea that the annual functioning of vegetation that is adapted to its local environment is more constrained by water availability than by temperature. The spatial variability of annual and maximum RUE can be largely explained by annual precipitation, more than by vegetation type. The intra-annual variation of RUE was mainly linked to the energy balance and water availability along the climatic gradient. Furthermore, we showed that intra-annual variation of gross RUE is only weakly influenced by VPD and temperature, contrary to what is frequently assumed. Our results provide a better understanding of the spatial and temporal controls of the RUE and thus could lead to a better estimation of ecosystem carbon fixation and better modelling.}},
  author       = {{Garbulsky, Martin F. and Penuelas, Josep and Papale, Dario and Ardö, Jonas and Goulden, Michael L. and Kiely, Gerard and Richardson, Andrew D. and Rotenberg, Eyal and Veenendaal, Elmar M. and Filella, Iolanda}},
  issn         = {{1466-8238}},
  keywords     = {{radiation use efficiency; productivity; gross primary; eddy covariance; Carbon cycle; climatic controls; remote sensing; terrestrial; vegetation}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{253--267}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Global Ecology and Biogeography}},
  title        = {{Patterns and controls of the variability of radiation use efficiency and primary productivity across terrestrial ecosystems}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1466-8238.2009.00504.x}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/j.1466-8238.2009.00504.x}},
  volume       = {{19}},
  year         = {{2010}},
}