Progressive nitrogen limitation across the Tibetan alpine permafrost region

Dan Kou, Guibiao Yang, Fei Li, Xuehui Feng, Dianye Zhang, Chao Mao, Qiwen Zhang, Yunfeng Peng, Chengjun Ji, Qiuan Zhu, Yunting Fang, Xueyan Liu, Xu-Ri, Siqi Li, Jia Deng, Xunhua Zheng, Jingyun Fang and Yuanhe Yang ()
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Dan Kou: Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Guibiao Yang: Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Fei Li: Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xuehui Feng: Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Dianye Zhang: Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Chao Mao: Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Qiwen Zhang: Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yunfeng Peng: Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Chengjun Ji: Peking University
Qiuan Zhu: Hohai University
Yunting Fang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xueyan Liu: Tianjin University
Xu-Ri: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Siqi Li: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Jia Deng: University of New Hampshire
Xunhua Zheng: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Jingyun Fang: Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yuanhe Yang: Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract The ecosystem carbon (C) balance in permafrost regions, which has a global significance in understanding the terrestrial C-climate feedback, is significantly regulated by nitrogen (N) dynamics. However, our knowledge on temporal changes in vegetation N limitation (i.e., the supply of N relative to plant N demand) in permafrost ecosystems is still limited. Based on the combination of isotopic observations derived from a re-sampling campaign along a ~3000 km transect and simulations obtained from a process-based biogeochemical model, here we detect changes in ecosystem N cycle across the Tibetan alpine permafrost region over the past decade. We find that vegetation N limitation becomes stronger despite the increased available N production. The enhanced N limitation on vegetation growth is driven by the joint effects of elevated plant N demand and gaseous N loss. These findings suggest that N would constrain the future trajectory of ecosystem C cycle in this alpine permafrost region.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17169-6

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