Respiration as the main determinant of carbon balance in European forests

R. Valentini (), G. Matteucci, A. J. Dolman, E.-D. Schulze, C. Rebmann, E. J. Moors, A. Granier, P. Gross, N. O. Jensen, K. Pilegaard, A. Lindroth, A. Grelle, C. Bernhofer, T. Grünwald, M. Aubinet, R. Ceulemans, A. S. Kowalski, T. Vesala, Ü. Rannik, P. Berbigier, D. Loustau, J. Guðmundsson, H. Thorgeirsson, A. Ibrom, K. Morgenstern, R. Clement, J. Moncrieff, L. Montagnani, S. Minerbi and P. G. Jarvis
Additional contact information
R. Valentini: University of Tuscia
G. Matteucci: University of Tuscia
A. J. Dolman: Alterra
E.-D. Schulze: Max-Planck-Institut für Biogeochemie
C. Rebmann: Max-Planck-Institut für Biogeochemie
E. J. Moors: Alterra
A. Granier: Centre de Recherches de Nancy, Unité d’Ecophysiologie Forestière, Equipe de Bioclimatologie
P. Gross: Centre de Recherches de Nancy, Unité d’Ecophysiologie Forestière, Equipe de Bioclimatologie
N. O. Jensen: Risoe National Labouratory
K. Pilegaard: Risoe National Labouratory
A. Lindroth: Lund University
A. Grelle: SLU, Faculty of Forestry
C. Bernhofer: TU Dresden, Institut für Hydrologie und Meteorologie
T. Grünwald: TU Dresden, Institut für Hydrologie und Meteorologie
M. Aubinet: Unité de Physique, Faculté Universitaire des Sciences Agronomiques de Gembloux
R. Ceulemans: University of Antwerpen
A. S. Kowalski: University of Antwerpen
T. Vesala: University of Helsinki
Ü. Rannik: University of Helsinki
P. Berbigier: Unité de Bioclimatologie, INRA Bourdeaux
D. Loustau: Unité de Recherches Forestières, INRA Bourdeaux
J. Guðmundsson: Agricultural Research Institute
H. Thorgeirsson: Agricultural Research Institute
A. Ibrom: Georg-August Universität, Institut für Bioklimatologie
K. Morgenstern: Georg-August Universität, Institut für Bioklimatologie
R. Clement: University of Edinburgh, Institute of Ecology and Resource Management
J. Moncrieff: University of Edinburgh, Institute of Ecology and Resource Management
L. Montagnani: University of Padova
S. Minerbi: Autonomous Province of Bolzano, Forest Services
P. G. Jarvis: University of Edinburgh, Institute of Ecology and Resource Management

Nature, 2000, vol. 404, issue 6780, 861-865

Abstract: Abstract Carbon exchange between the terrestrial biosphere and the atmosphere is one of the key processes that need to be assessed in the context of the Kyoto Protocol1. Several studies suggest that the terrestrial biosphere is gaining carbon2,3,4,5,6,7,8, but these estimates are obtained primarily by indirect methods, and the factors that control terrestrial carbon exchange, its magnitude and primary locations, are under debate. Here we present data of net ecosystem carbon exchange, collected between 1996 and 1998 from 15 European forests, which confirm that many European forest ecosystems act as carbon sinks. The annual carbon balances range from an uptake of 6.6 tonnes of carbon per hectare per year to a release of nearly 1 t C ha-1 yr-1, with a large variability between forests. The data show a significant increase of carbon uptake with decreasing latitude, whereas the gross primary production seems to be largely independent of latitude. Our observations indicate that, in general, ecosystem respiration determines net ecosystem carbon exchange. Also, for an accurate assessment of the carbon balance in a particular forest ecosystem, remote sensing of the normalized difference vegetation index or estimates based on forest inventories may not be sufficient.

Date: 2000
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DOI: 10.1038/35009084

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