Human-induced nitrogen–phosphorus imbalances alter natural and managed ecosystems across the globe

Josep Peñuelas (), Benjamin Poulter, Jordi Sardans, Philippe Ciais, Marijn van der Velde, Laurent Bopp, Olivier Boucher, Yves Godderis, Philippe Hinsinger, Joan Llusia, Elise Nardin, Sara Vicca, Michael Obersteiner and Ivan A. Janssens
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Josep Peñuelas: CSIC, Global Ecology Unit CREAF-CEAB-UAB
Benjamin Poulter: Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement, IPSL
Jordi Sardans: CSIC, Global Ecology Unit CREAF-CEAB-UAB
Philippe Ciais: Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement, IPSL
Marijn van der Velde: International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Ecosystems Services and Management
Laurent Bopp: Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement, IPSL
Olivier Boucher: Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique, IPSL, CNRS/UPMC
Yves Godderis: Géosciences-Environnement Toulouse, CNRS-Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées
Philippe Hinsinger: INRA, UMR Eco&Sols, Place Viala
Joan Llusia: CSIC, Global Ecology Unit CREAF-CEAB-UAB
Elise Nardin: Géosciences-Environnement Toulouse, CNRS-Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées
Sara Vicca: Research Group of Plant and Vegetation Ecology (PLECO), University of Antwerp
Michael Obersteiner: International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Ecosystems Services and Management
Ivan A. Janssens: Research Group of Plant and Vegetation Ecology (PLECO), University of Antwerp

Nature Communications, 2013, vol. 4, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract The availability of carbon from rising atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and of nitrogen from various human-induced inputs to ecosystems is continuously increasing; however, these increases are not paralleled by a similar increase in phosphorus inputs. The inexorable change in the stoichiometry of carbon and nitrogen relative to phosphorus has no equivalent in Earth’s history. Here we report the profound and yet uncertain consequences of the human imprint on the phosphorus cycle and nitrogen:phosphorus stoichiometry for the structure, functioning and diversity of terrestrial and aquatic organisms and ecosystems. A mass balance approach is used to show that limited phosphorus and nitrogen availability are likely to jointly reduce future carbon storage by natural ecosystems during this century. Further, if phosphorus fertilizers cannot be made increasingly accessible, the crop yields projections of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment imply an increase of the nutrient deficit in developing regions.

Date: 2013
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3934

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