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Progressive nitrogen limitation of ecosystem responses to rising atmospheric carbon dioxide

Publication ,  Journal Article
Luo, Y; Su, B; Currie, WS; Dukes, JS; Finzi, A; Hartwig, U; Hungate, B; McMurtrie, RE; Oren, R; Parton, WJ; Pataki, DE; Shaw, MR; Zak, DR; Field, CB
Published in: BioScience
January 1, 2004

A highly controversial issue in global biogeochemistry is the regulation of terrestrial carbon (C) sequestration by soil nitrogen (N) availability. This controversy translates into great uncertainty in predicting future global terrestrial C sequestration. We propose a new framework that centers on the concept of progressive N limitation (PNL) for studying the interactions between C and N in terrestrial ecosystems. In PNL, available soil N becomes increasingly limiting as C and N are sequestered in long-lived plant biomass and soil organic matter. Our analysis focuses on the role of PNL in regulating ecosystem responses to rising atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration, but the concept applies to any perturbation that initially causes C and N to accumulate in organic forms. This article examines conditions under which PNL may or may not constrain net primary production and C sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems. While the PNL-centered framework has the potential to explain diverse experimental results and to help researchers integrate models and data, direct tests of the PNL hypothesis remain a great challenge to the research community.

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Published In

BioScience

DOI

ISSN

0006-3568

Publication Date

January 1, 2004

Volume

54

Issue

8

Start / End Page

731 / 739

Related Subject Headings

  • Ecology
  • 41 Environmental sciences
  • 31 Biological sciences
  • 06 Biological Sciences
  • 05 Environmental Sciences
 

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Luo, Y., Su, B., Currie, W. S., Dukes, J. S., Finzi, A., Hartwig, U., … Field, C. B. (2004). Progressive nitrogen limitation of ecosystem responses to rising atmospheric carbon dioxide. BioScience, 54(8), 731–739. https://doi.org/10.1641/0006-3568(2004)054[0731:PNLOER]2.0.CO;2
Luo, Y., B. Su, W. S. Currie, J. S. Dukes, A. Finzi, U. Hartwig, B. Hungate, et al. “Progressive nitrogen limitation of ecosystem responses to rising atmospheric carbon dioxide.” BioScience 54, no. 8 (January 1, 2004): 731–39. https://doi.org/10.1641/0006-3568(2004)054[0731:PNLOER]2.0.CO;2.
Luo Y, Su B, Currie WS, Dukes JS, Finzi A, Hartwig U, et al. Progressive nitrogen limitation of ecosystem responses to rising atmospheric carbon dioxide. BioScience. 2004 Jan 1;54(8):731–9.
Luo, Y., et al. “Progressive nitrogen limitation of ecosystem responses to rising atmospheric carbon dioxide.” BioScience, vol. 54, no. 8, Jan. 2004, pp. 731–39. Scopus, doi:10.1641/0006-3568(2004)054[0731:PNLOER]2.0.CO;2.
Luo Y, Su B, Currie WS, Dukes JS, Finzi A, Hartwig U, Hungate B, McMurtrie RE, Oren R, Parton WJ, Pataki DE, Shaw MR, Zak DR, Field CB. Progressive nitrogen limitation of ecosystem responses to rising atmospheric carbon dioxide. BioScience. 2004 Jan 1;54(8):731–739.
Journal cover image

Published In

BioScience

DOI

ISSN

0006-3568

Publication Date

January 1, 2004

Volume

54

Issue

8

Start / End Page

731 / 739

Related Subject Headings

  • Ecology
  • 41 Environmental sciences
  • 31 Biological sciences
  • 06 Biological Sciences
  • 05 Environmental Sciences