Functional diversity of leaf nitrogen concentrations drives grassland carbon fluxes
Résumé
Little is known about the role of plant functional diversity for ecosystem-level carbon (C) fluxes. To fill this knowledge gap, we translocated monoliths hosting communities with four and 16 sown species from a long-term grassland biodiversity experiment ('The Jena Experiment') into a controlled environment facility for ecosystem research (Ecotron). This allowed quantifying the effects of plant diversity on ecosystem C fluxes as well as three parameters of C uptake efficiency (water and nitrogen use efficiencies and apparent quantum yield). By combining data on ecosystem C fluxes with vegetation structure and functional trait-based predictors, we found that increasing plant species and functional diversity led to higher gross and net ecosystem C uptake rates. Path analyses and light response curves unravelled the diversity of leaf nitrogen concentration in the canopy as a key functional predictor of C fluxes, either directly or indirectly via LAI and aboveground biomass.
Auteurs, date et publication :
Auteurs Alexandru Milcu , Christiane Roscher , Arthur Gessler , Dörte Bachmann , Annette Gockele , Markus Guderle , Damien Landais , Clément Piel , Christophe Escape , Sebastien Devidal , Olivier Ravel , Nina Buchmann , Gerd Gleixner , Anke Hildebrandt , Jacques Roy
Publication : Ecology Letters
Date : 2023
Volume : 17
Issue : 4
Pages : 435–444