Precipitation, more than any other environmental factor, controls patterns of ecosystem production and biogeochemical cycling in arid and semiarid environments. Growing-season rains in these regions are highly unpredictable as they come in intermittent pulses varying in size, frequency and spatial extent, thereby producing unique hydrological patterns that constrain the location and residence time of soil water available for biological activity. In order to understand how arid and semiarid ecosystems respond to inputs of precipitation within the context of ecosystem science and global change studies, knowledge is needed on how plants and other organisms respond as an integrated system to such environmental control. The focus of my research was to understand how the distribution of precipitation events influences the dynamics of carbon cycling in semiarid ecosystems. At a semiarid riparian woodland, measurements of CO2 exchange and evapotranspiration revealed that following precipitation events occurring soon after prolonged dry periods the efficiency of rain-use (amount of carbon gain per unit of precipitation over a specific period time) was low. Precipitation did not readily stimulate primary productivity, water was mainly lost as soil evaporation and large respiratory CO2 effluxes were observed. This commonly observed features in seasonally dry ecosystems might have profound consequences for the seasonal and annual carbon balance. In this woodland, 47% of the precipitation within a single growing season (May-October) was returned to atmosphere as soil evaporation and the CO2 efflux observed just during the first rainy month (July) was equivalent to almost 50% of the net carbon gain observed over the six-month growing season. Results from experimental irrigations in understory plots of riparian mesquite woodland revealed that the magnitude and duration of the large CO2 fluxes occurring soon after rainfall was higher in plots located under tree canopies where, relative to intercanopy plots, the amount of plant litter was higher, soil evaporation and plant photosynthetic rates were lower. Efficiency of rain-use in semiarid ecosystems during the growing season apparently was determined by the degree of coupling between gross photosynthesis and ecosystem respiration, by the fraction of precipitation lost as soil evaporation and by the water-use efficiency of the component vegetation.

Carbon (C) pools and fluxes in northern hemisphere forest ecosystems are attracting increasing attention concerning predicted climate change. This thesis studied C fluxes, particularly soil C dynamics, in spruce forest ecosystems in relation to interactions between physical/biological processes using a process-based ecosystem model (CoupModel) with data for Swedish conditions. The model successfully described general patterns of C and N dynamics in managed spruce forest ecosystems with both tree and field layers. Using regional soil and plant data, the change in current soil C pools was -3 g C m-2 yr-1 in northern Sweden and +24 g C m-2 yr-1 in southern Sweden. Simulated climate change scenarios resulted in increased inflows of 16-38 g C m-2 yr-1 to forest ecosystems throughout Sweden, with the highest increase in the south and the lowest in the north. Along a north-south transect, this increased C sequestration mainly related to increased tree growth, as there were only minor decreases in soil C pools. Measurements at one northern site during 2001-2002 indicated large soil C losses (-96 g C m-2 yr-1), which the model successfully described. However, the discrepancy between these large losses and substantially smaller losses obtained in regional simulations was not explained. A simulation based on Bayesian calibration successfully reproduced measured C, water and energy fluxes, with estimated uncertainties for major components of the simulated C budget. Site-specific measurements indicated a large contribution from field layer fine roots to total litter production, particularly in northern Sweden. Mean annual tree litter production was 66% higher at the most southerly site (240 g C m-2 yr-1 compared with 145 g C m-2 yr-1 in the north), but when field and bottom layers were included the difference decreased to 16% (total litter production 276 g C m-2 yr-1 and 239 g C m-2 yr-1 respectively). Regional simulations showed that decomposition rate for the stable soil C fraction was three times higher in northern regions compared with southern, providing a possible explanation why soil C pools in southern Sweden are roughly twice as large as those in the north. / QC 20100922

Forested headwater stream ecosystems are important integrators of terrestrial and aquatic systems and their function depends greatly on water availability. In the southern Appalachians, models of future climate change predict alterations to the timing and intensity of storms such that most precipitation may be relegated to winter and spring. During the summer and fall, relatively less precipitation will translate to lower stream flows in systems that rarely experience such a lack of water. Given these predicted changes to the hydrologic cycle, I experimentally reduced flow to downstream sections of three streams at the Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory in NC to assess changes to function in perennial ecosystems. The questions that I addressed included: 1) How is organic matter decomposition regulated by changes to the availability of water? and 2) How does the relationship between nutrient uptake and metabolism change under conditions of varying water availability? The availability of water (as discharge) was shown to be a major control of ecosystem function throughout these studies. Rates of leaf decomposition varied between red maple (Acer rubrum L.) and white oak (Quercus alba L.) with lower discharge in the early autumn regulating the breakdown trajectories of leaves through facilitation of colonization by microbes and macroinvertebrates. The return of water during the winter accelerated decomposition rates in the diverted sites such that mass of leaves remaining were similar to those in upstream sections. Colonization of decomposing organic matter by heterotrophic microbes (especially fungi) increased N immobilization leading to an increase in respiration per unit leaf standing stocks during the fall. Nitrification was detectable during summer low flows when leaf standing stocks were low. Changes in the timing and intensity of precipitation and thus discharge may in turn alter the temporal dynamics of ecosystem function. Leaves may remain in the stream unprocessed which will change the availability of food for macroinvertebrates, the production of which provides nutrition to higher trophic levels. Local-scale differences in organic matter processing and nutrient immobilization may translate to regional differences in food availability over both time and space. Hydrology not only acts as a local control of endogenous processes but acts also regionally through the transport of resources and nutrients to downstream reaches. / Ph. D.

Terrestrial arctic ecosystems store large amounts of carbon (C). With global warming, this C might be released into the atmosphere as CO2 by stimulation of soil microbial degradation. At the same time, CO2 uptake in plants is enhanced, which might, in parts, offset CO2 losses. Yet, the future balance of these two contrasting feedbacks remain uncertain. This study aimed to better understand changes of input and output CO2 fluxes in an arctic tussock tundra ecosystem in response to global warming, with a special focus on the contrast between two sub-ecosystem habitats, the tussocks and the space between tussocks.  An experimental setup was used, where snow fences simulated winter warming by increasing snow depth, and open top chambers simulated summer warming. Daytime ecosystem respiration (ER), reflecting the outward CO2 flux, gross ecosystem production (GEP), reflecting the inward CO2 flux, and net ecosystem exchange (NEE), reflecting the net balance of both, were measured in the summer 2019 in the tussock and the intertussock habitat. In the tussock, both ER and GEP were as twice as high compared to the intertussock and increased with summer warming in a similar magnitude, resulting in an unchanged NEE. Fluxes in the intertussock were not altered with summer warming. Winter warming had no significant effects on ER and GEP in neither of the habitats. However, winter warming increased NEE and green biomass in the intertussock, indicating that in this habitat, plants benefit from warmer winter soil temperatures. Interaction effects of winter and summer warming underline the role of ecological processes outside the summer season, which are to date poorly understood. Contrasting responses of the two sub-ecosystem habitats highlight the challenges in predicting future C balances that are caused by small-scale spatial and temporal heterogeneity of C dynamics.

In the southwest United States, the current prolonged warm drought is similar to the predicted future climate change scenarios for the region. This study aimed to determine patterns in vegetation response to the early 21st century drought across multiple biomes. We hypothesized that different biomes (forests, shrublands, and grasslands) would have different relative sensitivities to both climate drivers (precipitation and temperature) and legacy effects (previous-year's productivity). We tested this hypothesis at eight Ameriflux sites in various Southwest biomes using NASA Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) from 2001 to 2013. All sites experienced prolonged dry conditions during the study period. The impact of combined precipitation and temperature on Southwest ecosystems at both annual and sub-annual timescales was tested using Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI). All biomes studied had critical sub-annual climate periods during which precipitation and temperature influenced production. In forests, annual peak greenness (EVImax) was best predicted by 9-month SPEI calculated in July (i.e., January-July). In shrublands and grasslands, EVImax was best predicted by SPEI in July through September, with little effect of the previous year's EVImax. Daily gross ecosystem production (GEP) derived from flux tower data yielded further insights into the complex interplay between precipitation and temperature. In forests, GEP was driven by cool-season precipitation and constrained by warm-season maximum temperature. GEP in both shrublands and grasslands was driven by summer precipitation and constrained by high daily summer maximum temperatures. In grasslands, there was a negative relationship between temperature and GEP in July, but no relationship in August and September. Consideration of sub-annual climate conditions and the inclusion of the effect of temperature on the water balance allowed us to generalize the functional responses of vegetation to predicted future climate conditions. We conclude that across biomes, drought conditions during critical sub-annual climate periods could have a strong negative impact on vegetation production in the southwestern United States.

The trophic state of lakes is commonly defined by the concentration of nutrients in the water column. High nutrient concentrations generate high phytoplankton production, and lakes with low nutrient concentrations are considered low-productive. This simplified view of lake productivity ignores the fact that benthic primary producers and heterotrophic bacteria can be important basal producers in lake ecosystems. In this thesis I have studied clear-water and brown-water lakes with respect to primary production, respiration and bacterial production based on allochthonous organic carbon. These processes were quantified in pelagic and benthic habitats on temporal and spatial scales. I also calculated the net ecosystem production of the lakes, defined as the difference between gross primary production (GPP) and respiration (R). The net ecosystem production indicates whether a lake is net heterotrophic (GPP < R), net autotrophic (GPP > R) or in metabolic balance (GPP = R). Net heterotrophic lakes are sources of carbon dioxide (CO2) to the atmosphere since respiration in these lakes, by definition, is subsidized by an external organic carbon source. External organic carbon is transported to lakes from the terrestrial environment via inlets, and can serve as a carbon source for bacteria but it also limits light availability for primary producers by absorbing light. On a seasonal scale, four of the clear-water lakes studied in this thesis were dominated by primary production in the soft-bottom benthic habitat and by respiration in the pelagic habitat. Concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were low in the lakes, but still high enough to cause the lakes to be net heterotrophic. However, the lakes were not low-productive due to the high production in the benthic habitat. One of the clear-water lakes was studied also during the winter and much of the respiration under ice was supported by the benthic primary production from the previous summer. This is in contrast to brown-water lakes where winter respiration is suggested to be supported by allochthonous organic carbon. By studying lakes in a DOC gradient (i.e. from clear-water to brown-water lakes) I could draw two major conclusions. The lakes became less productive since benthic primary production decreased with increasing light extinction, and the lakes became larger sources of CO2 to the atmosphere since pelagic respiration was subsidized by allochthonous organic carbon. Thus, lake carbon metabolism can have an important role in the global carbon cycle due to their processing of terrestrial organic carbon and to their possible feedback effects on the climate system.

No description available.

Les zones côtières ne sont prises en compte dans les budgets globaux de CO2 atmosphérique que depuis peu. Il s’avère que bien qu’elles ne représentent globalement que de faibles superficies, les flux de carbone et de nutriments y sont très significatifs à l’échelle globale. On sait peu de chose sur le comportement des écosystèmes lagunaires vis-à-vis du CO2 et, encore moins des zones intertidales où les échanges avec l’atmosphère ont lieu alternativement avec l’eau et le sédiment. Les objectifs de cette étude ont été d’une part, d’établir le bilan de carbone échangé entre la lagune d’Arcachon, l’atmosphère et le milieu terrestre, et d’autre part de mettre en relation ces flux avec la production nette de l’écosystème (NEP) afin de mieux caractériser le statut métabolique de celle-ci ainsi que les facteurs environnementaux clés. Pour cela, nous avons mis en place pour la première fois et à différentes saisons et stations, des mesures directes de flux de CO2 par Eddy Corrélation, une méthode fonctionnant en continu pendant l’immersion et l’émersion. En parallèle, les apports de carbone terrestre sous ses différentes formes ont été quantifiés par un suivi annuel sur 9 rivières alimentant la lagune. L’export total de carbone par le bassin versant à travers les eaux de surface des rivières est estimé à 116 t C km-2 an-1 dont 39% est exporté à la lagune sous forme organique dissoute (DOC) du fait de la prédominance de podzols dans le bassin versant. La forte minéralisation de la matière organique terrestre dans les sols et eaux souterraines sursature largement les eaux en CO2 et l’export sous forme de carbone inorganique dissoute (DIC) représente environ 21%. La formulation d’un modèle mathématique, le « StreamCO2-DEGAS », basé sur les mesures de pCO2, de concentrations et de compositions isotopiques en DIC a permis de montrer que 43% de l’export total de carbone était dégazé sous forme de CO2 depuis les rivières vers l’atmosphère, réduisant alors le flux net entrant dans la lagune à 66 t C km-2 an-1. Concernant la mesure de flux verticaux, l’analyse cospectrale ainsi que les résultats obtenus en adéquation avec les contrôles physiques et biologiques aux différentes échelles tidale, diurne et saisonnières, ont permis de valider la méthode de l’Eddy Covariance en zone intertidale. Sur l’ensemble de la période de mesures, les flux de CO2 étaient faibles, variant entre -13 et 19 µmol m-2 s-1. Des puits de CO2 atmosphérique à marée basse le jour ont été systématiquement observés. Au contraire, pendant l’immersion et à marée basse la nuit, des flux positifs ou négatifs ou proche de zéro ont été observés suivant la saison et la station étudiées. L’analyse concomitante des flux de CO2 et des images satellites du platier à marée basse le jour a clairement permis de discriminer l’importance relative des deux cycles métaboliques distincts des principaux producteurs primaires avec (1) les herbiers de Zostera noltii à cycle annuel long, dominant la NEP en été et en automne à la station la plus centrale et (2) les communautés microphytobenthiques, dominant la production primaire brute (PPB) au printemps à la même station et en automne au fond du bassin. Un recyclage rapide de cette production durant l’immersion et l’émersion a aussi clairement été mis évidence. Au vue des différents résultats, la technique d’Eddy Covariance utilisée en zone intertidale laisse envisager d’intéressantes perspectives en termes de connaissances sur les budgets de carbone et les processus écologiques et biogéochimiques dans la zone côtière. / The coastal zone is only taken into account since recently in global carbon budgeting efforts. Although covering globally modest surface areas, carbon and nutrient fluxes in the coastal zone appear significant at the global scale. However, little is known about the CO2 behaviour in lagoons and even less in intertidal zones where exchanges with the atmosphere occur alternatively with the water and the sediment. The purposes of this work are, on one hand, to establish the carbon budget between the Arcachon lagoon, the atmosphere and the terrestrial watershed and on the other hand, to link these fluxes with the net ecosystem production (NEP) and better characterize its metabolic status along with the relevant environmental factors. For the first time, CO2 flux measurements by Eddy Correlation have been carried out at different seasons and stations in the tidal flat. In parallel, the total terrestrial carbon export from river waters has been quantified throughout a complete hydrological cycle in nine watercourses flowing into the lagoon. The total carbon export from the watershed through surface river waters is estimated at 116 t C km-2 yr-1 on which 39% is exported to the lagoon as dissolved organic carbon (DOC) owing to the predominance of podzols in the watershed. Intense organic matter mineralization in soils and groundwaters largely over-saturate river waters in CO2 on which export accounts for 21% as dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). The mathematical “StreamCO2-DEGAS” model formulation based on water pCO2, DIC concentrations and isotopic composition measurements permits to show that 43% of the total carbon export was degassed as CO2 from the riverine surface waters to the atmosphere, lowering then this latter to 66 t C km-2 yr-1. With respect to the CO2 flux measurements in the lagoon, cospectral analysis and the well accordance of results with physical and biological controls at the tidal, diurnal and seasonal time scales permit to validate the Eddy Correlation technique over tidal coastal zone. CO2 fluxes with the atmosphere, during each period, were generally weak and ranged between -13 and 19 µmol m-2 s-1. Low tide and daytime conditions were always characterized by an uptake of atmospheric CO2. In contrast, during the immersion and during low tide at night, CO2 fluxes where either positive or negative, or close to zero, depending on the season and the site. The concomitant analysis of CO2 fluxes with satellite images of the lagoon at low tide during the day clearly discriminate the relative importance of the two distinct metabolic carbon cycling involving the main primary producers, i.e. (1) the Zostera noltii seagrass meadow predominance on the NEP in autumn and summer in the more central station, with an annual cycling and (2) the microphytobenthos community predominance on the gross primary production (GPP) in spring at the same station and in autumn in the inner part of the bay where a rapid carbon cycling during the immersion and the emersion was clearly highlighted. The different results obtained with the Eddy Correlation technique over tidal flats opens interesting perspectives on the knowledge of the carbon budget and the biogeochemical and ecological processes within the coastal zone.