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Modeling the vegetation-atmosphere carbon dioxide and water vapor interactions along a controlled CO2 gradient

Publication ,  Journal Article
Manzoni, S; Katul, G; Fay, PA; Polley, HW; Porporato, A
Published in: Ecological Modelling
February 10, 2011

Ecosystem functioning is intimately linked to its physical environment by complex two-way interactions. These two-way interactions arise because vegetation both responds to the external environment and actively regulates its micro-environment. By altering stomatal aperture, and therefore the transpiration rate, plants modify soil moisture and atmospheric humidity and these same physical variables, in return, modify stomatal conductance. Relationships between biotic and abiotic components are particularly strong in closed, managed environments such as greenhouses and growth chambers, which are used extensively to investigate ecosystem responses to climatic drivers. Model-assisted designs that account for the physiological dynamics governing two-way interactions between biotic and abiotic components are absent from many ecological studies. Here, a general model of the vegetation-atmosphere system in closed environments is proposed. The model accounts for the linked carbon-water physiology, the turbulent transport processes, and the energy and radiative transfer within the vegetation. Leaf gas exchange is modeled using a carbon gain optimization approach that is coupled to leaf energy balance. The turbulent transport within the canopy is modeled in two-dimensions using first-order closure principles. The model is applied to the Lysimeter CO2 Gradient (LYCOG) facility, wherein a continuous gradient of atmospheric CO2 is maintained on grassland assemblages using an elongated chamber where the micro-climate is regulated by variation in air flow rates. The model is employed to investigate how species composition, climatic conditions, and the imposed air flow rate affect the CO2 concentration gradient within the LYCOG and the canopy micro-climate. The sensitivity of the model to key physiological and climatic parameters allows it to be used not only to manage current experiments, but also to formulate novel ecological hypotheses (e.g., by modeling climatic regimes not currently employed in LYCOG) and suggest alternative experimental designs and operational strategies for such facilities. © 2010 Elsevier B.V.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Ecological Modelling

DOI

ISSN

0304-3800

Publication Date

February 10, 2011

Volume

222

Issue

3

Start / End Page

653 / 665

Related Subject Headings

  • Ecology
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
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Manzoni, S., Katul, G., Fay, P. A., Polley, H. W., & Porporato, A. (2011). Modeling the vegetation-atmosphere carbon dioxide and water vapor interactions along a controlled CO2 gradient. Ecological Modelling, 222(3), 653–665. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2010.10.016
Manzoni, S., G. Katul, P. A. Fay, H. W. Polley, and A. Porporato. “Modeling the vegetation-atmosphere carbon dioxide and water vapor interactions along a controlled CO2 gradient.” Ecological Modelling 222, no. 3 (February 10, 2011): 653–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2010.10.016.
Manzoni S, Katul G, Fay PA, Polley HW, Porporato A. Modeling the vegetation-atmosphere carbon dioxide and water vapor interactions along a controlled CO2 gradient. Ecological Modelling. 2011 Feb 10;222(3):653–65.
Manzoni, S., et al. “Modeling the vegetation-atmosphere carbon dioxide and water vapor interactions along a controlled CO2 gradient.” Ecological Modelling, vol. 222, no. 3, Feb. 2011, pp. 653–65. Scopus, doi:10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2010.10.016.
Manzoni S, Katul G, Fay PA, Polley HW, Porporato A. Modeling the vegetation-atmosphere carbon dioxide and water vapor interactions along a controlled CO2 gradient. Ecological Modelling. 2011 Feb 10;222(3):653–665.
Journal cover image

Published In

Ecological Modelling

DOI

ISSN

0304-3800

Publication Date

February 10, 2011

Volume

222

Issue

3

Start / End Page

653 / 665

Related Subject Headings

  • Ecology