Mature semiarid chaparral ecosystems can be a significant sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide

Luo, Hongxia; Oechel, Walter C.; Hastings, Steven J.; Zulueta, R. C.; Qian, Yonghai; Kwon, Hyojung

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2486.2006.01299.x

Cited by 109 publications

(69 citation statements)

References 68 publications

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“…Often the downward flux of CO 2 is not equal to carbon accumulation in plants or soils [Jasoni et al, 2005;Luo et al, 2007;Wohlfahrt et al, 2008]. For instance, in European grasslands DIC leaching out of the ecosystem can account for a large portion (22% or 24 g C m À2 yr À1 ) of the net ecosystem exchange of carbon (NEE) [Kindler et al, 2011].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hidden carbon sink beneath desert

Wang

Houghton

et al. 2015

Geophysical Research Letters

102

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For decades, global carbon budget accounting has identified a “missing” or “residual” terrestrial sink; i.e., carbon dioxide (CO2) released by anthropogenic activities does not match changes observed in the atmosphere and ocean. We discovered a potentially large carbon sink in the most unlikely place on earth, irrigated saline/alkaline arid land. When cultivating and irrigating arid/saline lands in arid zones, salts are leached downward. Simultaneously, dissolved inorganic carbon is washed down into the huge saline aquifers underneath vast deserts, forming a large carbon sink or pool. This finding points to a direct, rapid link between the biological and geochemical carbon cycles in arid lands which may alter the overall spatial pattern of the global carbon budget.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hidden carbon sink beneath desert

Wang

Houghton

et al. 2015

Geophysical Research Letters

102

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“…Thus, the increase of A. frigida biomass in the exclosure may have contributed to increased Ca or Mg availability in the upper soil profile (above 20 cm), enhancing pedogenic carbonate precipitation. Moreover, with increasing plant cover in the exclosure, mineral elements might become more available from trapped aeolian dust (Semb et al 1995;Feng et al 2002a;Ridgwell 2002;Cao et al 2005;Luo et al 2007), resulting in a net gain of cations to the plantÁsoil system. In this case, net C sequestration could occur, leading to increased atmospheric CO 2 storage in inorganic C pools.…”

Section: Grassland Restoration Following Grazer Removalmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Motivated by the rapid increase in atmospheric CO 2 due to human activities (Amthor 1995;Luo et al 2007), much research has focused on ways to mitigate CO 2 emissions or remove CO 2 from the atmosphere, including sequestering carbon (C) in the terrestrial biosphere (Marland et al 2001;Lal 2002Lal , 2004Reeder et al 2004;Li et al 2008;Manning 2008;Xie et al 2009). Carbon sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems occurs through physiochemical and biological processes (Schimel et al 1994;Williams et al 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Grazing exclusion alters ecosystem carbon pools in Alxa desert steppe

Niu

Hall

et al. 2011

New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research

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The Alxa desert steppe has been strongly degraded by overgrazing, contributing c. 22% of the total springtime dust originating from Asia. Previous work in this region has focused on the impacts of grazer exclusion on restoration of vegetation and soil fertility, yet carbon dynamics are not well known. The effects of 7 years of grazer exclusion on carbon dynamics were studied and related to changes in vegetation and soil properties. Removal of grazing resulted in a significantly greater plant cover and aboveground plant biomass compared with areas that had been subject to grazing, but this had no effects on belowground plant biomass. Removal of grazing resulted in significantly decreased soil bulk density in the 0Á10 cm layer, increased soil water content (7% cf. 40%) and greater soil microbial biomass C (6% cf. 73%) compared with soils in the grazed area. Soil organic carbon (SOC) pools were lower and soil inorganic carbon (SIC) pools were higher in areas that were excluded from grazing. After 7 years of grazer exclusion, the total C pool in the plantÁsoil system was 10% greater (primarily due to 21% greater in SIC) than that in the area that had been grazed over that time period.

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“…Vegetation and soils in forests, grasslands, and deserts also provide climate regulation services by sequestering carbon that would otherwise contribute to climate change [35,36]. In addition to enhancing food security, carbon sequestration has the potential to offset fossil fuel emissions.…”

Section: Availabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecosystem Services and Food Security: Economic Perspectives on Environmental Sustainability

Richardson

2010

Sustainability

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Food security in developing countries depends in part on the sustainable use of natural resources. Food security is usually examined through three dimensions, namely the availability, access, and utilization of food. Ecosystems directly and indirectly support each of these dimensions through the provision of critical ecosystem services that facilitate agricultural production, create income-generating opportunities, and provide energy for cooking. However, in some cases, household uses of natural resources undermine particular elements of food security, hindering national poverty reduction strategies and threatening the sustainability of critical ecosystem functions. I examine the role of ecosystem services in rural food security through the lens of its three dimensions, and highlight the tensions that stem from household-level interactions and uses. In some cases, uses of resources and services that support the access and utilization dimensions may undermine the ecosystem functions that support food availability. The conclusions underscore the importance for the integration of ecosystem services into food security plans and poverty reduction strategies in developing countries.

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Mature semiarid chaparral ecosystems can be a significant sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide

Cited by 109 publications

References 68 publications

Hidden carbon sink beneath desert

Hidden carbon sink beneath desert

Grazing exclusion alters ecosystem carbon pools in Alxa desert steppe

Ecosystem Services and Food Security: Economic Perspectives on Environmental Sustainability

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