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Implications of incorporating N cycling and N limitations on primary production in an individual-based dynamic vegetation model

Smith, Benjamin LU ; Wårlind, David LU orcid ; Arneth, Almut ; Hickler, Thomas ; Leadley, Paul ; Siltberg, Joe LU and Zaehle, Sönke (2014) In Biogeosciences 11(7). p.2027-2054
Abstract
The LPJ-GUESS dynamic vegetation model uniquely combines an individual-and patch-based representation of vegetation dynamics with ecosystem biogeochemical cycling from regional to global scales. We present an updated version that includes plant and soil N dynamics, analysing the implications of accounting for C-N interactions on predictions and performance of the model. Stand structural dynamics and allometric scaling of tree growth suggested by global databases of forest stand structure and development were well reproduced by the model in comparison to an earlier multi-model study. Accounting for N cycle dynamics improved the goodness of fit for broadleaved forests. N limitation associated with low N-mineralisation rates reduces... (More)
The LPJ-GUESS dynamic vegetation model uniquely combines an individual-and patch-based representation of vegetation dynamics with ecosystem biogeochemical cycling from regional to global scales. We present an updated version that includes plant and soil N dynamics, analysing the implications of accounting for C-N interactions on predictions and performance of the model. Stand structural dynamics and allometric scaling of tree growth suggested by global databases of forest stand structure and development were well reproduced by the model in comparison to an earlier multi-model study. Accounting for N cycle dynamics improved the goodness of fit for broadleaved forests. N limitation associated with low N-mineralisation rates reduces productivity of cold-climate and dry-climate ecosystems relative to mesic temperate and tropical ecosystems. In a model experiment emulating free-air CO2 enrichment ( FACE) treatment for forests globally, N limitation associated with low N-mineralisation rates of colder soils reduces CO2 enhancement of net primary production ( NPP) for boreal forests, while some temperate and tropical forests exhibit increased NPP enhancement. Under a business-as-usual future climate and emissions scenario, ecosystem C storage globally was projected to increase by ca. 10 %; additional N requirements to match this increasing ecosystem C were within the high N supply limit estimated on stoichiometric grounds in an earlier study. Our results highlight the importance of accounting for C-N interactions in studies of global terrestrial N cycling, and as a basis for understanding mechanisms on local scales and in different regional contexts. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Biogeosciences
volume
11
issue
7
pages
2027 - 2054
publisher
Copernicus GmbH
external identifiers
  • wos:000334609000023
  • scopus:84898455144
ISSN
1726-4189
DOI
10.5194/bg-11-2027-2014
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
c47e6ea3-8d0b-4617-b50e-14b384c2f7cc (old id 4392557)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 11:03:27
date last changed
2023-01-25 22:12:33
@article{c47e6ea3-8d0b-4617-b50e-14b384c2f7cc,
  abstract     = {{The LPJ-GUESS dynamic vegetation model uniquely combines an individual-and patch-based representation of vegetation dynamics with ecosystem biogeochemical cycling from regional to global scales. We present an updated version that includes plant and soil N dynamics, analysing the implications of accounting for C-N interactions on predictions and performance of the model. Stand structural dynamics and allometric scaling of tree growth suggested by global databases of forest stand structure and development were well reproduced by the model in comparison to an earlier multi-model study. Accounting for N cycle dynamics improved the goodness of fit for broadleaved forests. N limitation associated with low N-mineralisation rates reduces productivity of cold-climate and dry-climate ecosystems relative to mesic temperate and tropical ecosystems. In a model experiment emulating free-air CO2 enrichment ( FACE) treatment for forests globally, N limitation associated with low N-mineralisation rates of colder soils reduces CO2 enhancement of net primary production ( NPP) for boreal forests, while some temperate and tropical forests exhibit increased NPP enhancement. Under a business-as-usual future climate and emissions scenario, ecosystem C storage globally was projected to increase by ca. 10 %; additional N requirements to match this increasing ecosystem C were within the high N supply limit estimated on stoichiometric grounds in an earlier study. Our results highlight the importance of accounting for C-N interactions in studies of global terrestrial N cycling, and as a basis for understanding mechanisms on local scales and in different regional contexts.}},
  author       = {{Smith, Benjamin and Wårlind, David and Arneth, Almut and Hickler, Thomas and Leadley, Paul and Siltberg, Joe and Zaehle, Sönke}},
  issn         = {{1726-4189}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{7}},
  pages        = {{2027--2054}},
  publisher    = {{Copernicus GmbH}},
  series       = {{Biogeosciences}},
  title        = {{Implications of incorporating N cycling and N limitations on primary production in an individual-based dynamic vegetation model}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/bg-11-2027-2014}},
  doi          = {{10.5194/bg-11-2027-2014}},
  volume       = {{11}},
  year         = {{2014}},
}