Responses and feedbacks of coupled biogeochemical cycles to climate change: examples from terrestrial ecosystems
The biogeochemical cycles of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) are fundamental to life on Earth. Because organisms require these elements in strict proportions, the cycles of C, N, and P are coupled at molecular to global scales through their effects on the biochemical reactions controlli...
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Published in | Frontiers in ecology and the environment Vol. 9; no. 1; pp. 61 - 67 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Ecological Society of America
01.02.2011
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get more information |
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Summary: | The biogeochemical cycles of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) are fundamental to life on Earth. Because organisms require these elements in strict proportions, the cycles of C, N, and P are coupled at molecular to global scales through their effects on the biochemical reactions controlling primary production, respiration, and decomposition. The coupling of the C, N, and P cycles constrains organismal responses to climatic and atmospheric change, suggesting that presentâday estimates of climate warming through the year 2100 are conservative. N and P supplies constrain C uptake in the terrestrial biosphere, yet these constraints are often not incorporated into globalâscale analyses of Earth's climate. The inclusion of coupled biogeochemical cycles is critical to the development of nextâgeneration, globalâscale climate models. |
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Bibliography: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/100001 |
ISSN: | 1540-9295 1540-9309 |
DOI: | 10.1890/100001 |