A tipping point in carbon storage when forest expands into tundra is related to mycorrhizal recycling of nitrogen
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A tipping point in carbon storage when forest expands into tundra is related to mycorrhizal recycling of nitrogen. / Clemmensen, Karina Engelbrecht; Durling, Mikael Brandström; Michelsen, Anders; Hallin, Sara; Finlay, Roger D.; Lindahl, Björn D.
In: Ecology Letters, Vol. 24, No. 6, 2021, p. 1193-1204.Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - A tipping point in carbon storage when forest expands into tundra is related to mycorrhizal recycling of nitrogen
AU - Clemmensen, Karina Engelbrecht
AU - Durling, Mikael Brandström
AU - Michelsen, Anders
AU - Hallin, Sara
AU - Finlay, Roger D.
AU - Lindahl, Björn D.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Tundra ecosystems are global belowground sinks for atmospheric CO2. Ongoing warming-induced encroachment by shrubs and trees risks turning this sink into a CO2 source, resulting in a positive feedback on climate warming. To advance mechanistic understanding of how shifts in mycorrhizal types affect long-term carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stocks, we studied small-scale soil depth profiles of fungal communities and C–N dynamics across a subarctic-alpine forest-heath vegetation gradient. Belowground organic stocks decreased abruptly at the transition from heath to forest, linked to the presence of certain tree-associated ectomycorrhizal fungi that contribute to decomposition when mining N from organic matter. In contrast, ericoid mycorrhizal plants and fungi were associated with organic matter accumulation and slow decomposition. If climatic controls on arctic-alpine forest lines are relaxed, increased decomposition will likely outbalance increased plant productivity, decreasing the overall C sink capacity of displaced tundra.
AB - Tundra ecosystems are global belowground sinks for atmospheric CO2. Ongoing warming-induced encroachment by shrubs and trees risks turning this sink into a CO2 source, resulting in a positive feedback on climate warming. To advance mechanistic understanding of how shifts in mycorrhizal types affect long-term carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stocks, we studied small-scale soil depth profiles of fungal communities and C–N dynamics across a subarctic-alpine forest-heath vegetation gradient. Belowground organic stocks decreased abruptly at the transition from heath to forest, linked to the presence of certain tree-associated ectomycorrhizal fungi that contribute to decomposition when mining N from organic matter. In contrast, ericoid mycorrhizal plants and fungi were associated with organic matter accumulation and slow decomposition. If climatic controls on arctic-alpine forest lines are relaxed, increased decomposition will likely outbalance increased plant productivity, decreasing the overall C sink capacity of displaced tundra.
KW - Arctic warming
KW - carbon sequestration
KW - decomposition
KW - functional genes
KW - meta-barcoding
KW - mycorrhizal type
KW - nitrogen cycling
KW - soil fungal communities
KW - stable isotopes
KW - treeline ecotone
U2 - 10.1111/ele.13735
DO - 10.1111/ele.13735
M3 - Letter
C2 - 33754469
AN - SCOPUS:85102836561
VL - 24
SP - 1193
EP - 1204
JO - Ecology Letters
JF - Ecology Letters
SN - 1461-023X
IS - 6
ER -
ID: 260189272