Co-varying effects of vegetation structure and terrain attributes are responsible for soil respiration spatial patterns in a sandy forest–steppe transition zone
<p>Forest–steppe habitats in central Hungary have contrasting canopy structure with strong influence on the spatiotemporal variability of ecosystem functions. Canopy differences also co-vary with terrain feature effects, hampering the detection of key drivers of carbon cycling in this threaten...
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| Autores principales: | , , , , , |
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| Formato: | article |
| Lenguaje: | EN |
| Publicado: |
Copernicus Publications
2021
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| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | https://doaj.org/article/dbd725f896764c03896ae91a8d28a9d9 |
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| Sumario: | <p>Forest–steppe habitats in central Hungary have contrasting canopy structure
with strong influence on the spatiotemporal variability of ecosystem
functions. Canopy differences also co-vary with terrain feature effects,
hampering the detection of key drivers of carbon cycling in this threatened
habitat. We carried out seasonal measurements of ecosystem functions (soil
respiration and leaf area index), microclimate and soil variables as well
as terrain features along transects for 3 years in poplar groves and the
surrounding grasslands. We found that the terrain features and the canopy
differences co-varyingly affected the abiotic and biotic factors of this
habitat. Topography had an effect on the spatial distribution of soil
organic carbon content. Canopy structure had a strong modifying effect
through allocation patterns and microclimatic conditions, both affecting
soil respiration rates. Due to the vegetation structure difference between
the groves and grasslands, spatial functional diversity was observed. We
found notably different conditions under the groves with high soil
respiration, soil water content and leaf area index; in contrast, on the
grasslands (especially in E–SE–S directions from the trees) soil temperature
and vapor pressure deficit showed high values. Processes of aridification
due to climate change threaten these habitats and may cause reduction in the
amount and extent of forest patches and decrease in landscape diversity.
Owing to habitat loss, reduction in carbon stock may occur, which in turn
has a significant impact on the local and global carbon cycles.</p> |
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