The Effects of Climate Change on Decomposition Processes in Andean Paramo Ecosystem–synthesis, a Systematic Review

Gutiérrez-Salazar, Patricia; Medrano-Vizcaíno, Pablo

doi:10.15666/aeer/1702_49574970

Cited by 9 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…In one Earth system model that focused on high latitude regions, the net photosynthetic carbon fixation in such regions was about 60% higher than previous estimates [32]. In contrast, in warmer regions elevated temperatures could lead to more rapid rates of vegetation decomposition, mainly via fungi and bacteria, resulting in accelerated release of both CO2 and CH4 into the atmosphere [33][34][35].…”

Section: Biological Carbon Sequestrationmentioning

confidence: 88%

Biological Carbon Sequestration: From Deep History to the Present Day

Murphy

2024

Preprint

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In the global carbon cycle, atmospheric carbon emissions, both ‘natural’ and anthropogenic, are balanced by carbon uptake (i.e. sequestration) that mostly occurs via photosynthesis, plus a much smaller proportion via geological processes. Since the formation of the Earth about 4.54 billion years ago the ratio between emitted and sequestered carbon has varied considerably with atmospheric CO2 levels ranging from 100,000 ppm to a mere 100 ppm. Over this time, a huge amount of carbon has been sequestered due to photosynthesis and essentially removed from the cycle, being buried as fossil deposits of coal, oil and gas. Relatively low atmospheric CO2 levels were the norm for the past 10 million years, and during the past million years they averaged about 220 ppm. More recently, the Holocene epoch, starting ~11,700 years ago, has been a period of unusual climatic stability with relatively warm, moist conditions and low atmospheric CO2 levels of between 260 and 280 ppm. During the Holocene, stable conditions facilitated a social revolution with domestication of crops and livestock leading to urbanisation and development of complex technologies. As part of the latter process, immense quantities of sequestered fossil carbon have recently been used as energy sources, resulting in a particularly rapid increase in CO2 emissions after 1950 CE to the current value of 424 ppm, with further rises to >800 ppm predicted by 2100. This is already perturbing the previously stable Holocene climate and threatening future food production and social stability. Today, the global carbon cycle has been shifted such that carbon sequestration is no longer keeping up with recent anthropogenic emissions. In order to address this imbalance it is important to understand the roles of high-capacity carbon sequestration systems, such as natural forests and tropical croplands, and to devise strategies to facilitate net CO2 uptake.

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Section: Biological Carbon Sequestrationmentioning

confidence: 88%

Biological Carbon Sequestration: From Deep History to the Present Day

Murphy

2024

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In one Earth system model that focused on high latitude regions, the net photosynthetic carbon fixation in such regions was about 60% higher than previous estimates [32]. In contrast, in warmer regions, elevated temperatures could lead to more rapid rates of vegetation decomposition, mainly via fungi and bacteria, resulting in accelerated release of both CO 2 and CH 4 into the atmosphere [33][34][35].…”

Section: Biological Carbon Sequestrationmentioning

confidence: 89%

Biological Carbon Sequestration: From Deep History to the Present Day

Murphy

2024

Earth

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In the global carbon cycle, atmospheric carbon emissions, both ‘natural’ and anthropogenic, are balanced by carbon uptake (i.e., sequestration) that mostly occurs via photosynthesis, plus a much smaller proportion via geological processes. Since the formation of the Earth about 4.54 billion years ago, the ratio between emitted and sequestered carbon has varied considerably, with atmospheric CO2 levels ranging from 100,000 ppm to a mere 100 ppm. Over this time, a huge amount of carbon has been sequestered due to photosynthesis and essentially removed from the cycle, being buried as fossil deposits of coal, oil, and gas. Relatively low atmospheric CO2 levels were the norm for the past 10 million years, and during the past million years, they averaged about 220 ppm. More recently, the Holocene epoch, starting ~11,700 years ago, has been a period of unusual climatic stability with relatively warm, moist conditions and low atmospheric CO2 levels of between 260 and 280 ppm. During the Holocene, stable conditions facilitated a social revolution with the domestication of crops and livestock, leading to urbanisation and the development of complex technologies. As part of the latter process, immense quantities of sequestered fossil carbon have recently been used as energy sources, resulting in a particularly rapid increase in CO2 emissions after 1950 CE to the current value of 424 ppm, with further rises to >800 ppm predicted by 2100. This is already perturbing the previously stable Holocene climate and threatening future food production and social stability. Today, the global carbon cycle has been shifted such that carbon sequestration is no longer keeping up with recent anthropogenic emissions. In order to address this imbalance, it is important to understand the roles of potential biological carbon sequestration systems and to devise strategies to facilitate net CO2 uptake; for example, via changes in the patterns of land use, such as afforestation, preventing deforestation, and facilitating agriculture–agroforestry transitions.

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“…The transformation of the natural paramo due to LULC changes affects soil carbon retention. When soil is cultivated, the A horizon is degraded, and the layer of organic remains disappears due to erosion [36]. When the soil is unproductive, it is abandoned and left to "recover," leading to a secondary herbaceous páramo (Figure 6) with unpredictable results.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Páramo Ecosystems in Ecuador’s Southern Region: Conservation State and Restoration

et al. 2020

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The páramo is home to a significant proportion of global biodiversity and provides essential services for the development of life for millions of people in Ecuador. However, land use/land cover (LULC) changes threaten biodiversity and modify its functioning. The objectives of this study were: (1) to evaluate the conservation status of the herbaceous páramo (HP) ecosystem by analyzing its LULC in Ecuador’s southern region. (2) to identify possible regions where the native páramo ecosystem is being restored. We analyzed Landsat 8 images using Object-Based Image Analysis (OBIA) and a Classifier Decision Tree (CDT) to achieve these objectives. The results show that the native herbaceous páramo (NHP) ecosystem is being transformed into an anthropogenic HP (AHP). The area covered by the NHP ecosystem (296,964 ha) has been reduced by 50% (149,834 ha). Nevertheless, we identified five regions where the NHP is upgrading. These regions are relevant for studying NHP regeneration in Ecuador’s southern region, where soils are mostly andosols. The LU of the páramo, with cycles of exploitation, abandonment, and regeneration in a secondary páramo, is transforming the NHP ecosystem. These exploitation practices, global climate change, and lack of knowledge about the NHP ecosystem’s regeneration and its soils’ recovery threaten to substantially reduce the NHP area, its functionality, and its ecosystem services.

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The Effects of Climate Change on Decomposition Processes in Andean Paramo Ecosystem–synthesis, a Systematic Review

Abstract: Gutiérrez -Salazar -Medrano-Vizcaíno: The effects of climate change on decomposition processes in Andean paramo ecosystemsynthesis, a systematic review -4957 -APPLIED ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 17(2):4957-4970. http://www.aloki.hu •

Cited by 9 publications

References 36 publications

Biological Carbon Sequestration: From Deep History to the Present Day

Biological Carbon Sequestration: From Deep History to the Present Day

Biological Carbon Sequestration: From Deep History to the Present Day

Páramo Ecosystems in Ecuador’s Southern Region: Conservation State and Restoration

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