Potential and limitations of inferring ecosystem photosynthetic capacity from leaf functional traits. Issue 20 (22nd September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Musavi, Talie; Migliavacca, Mirco; van de Weg, Martine Janet; Kattge, Jens; Wohlfahrt, Georg; van Bodegom, Peter M.; Reichstein, Markus; Bahn, Michael; Carrara, Arnaud; Domingues, Tomas F.; Gavazzi, Michael; Gianelle, Damiano; Gimeno, Cristina; Granier, André; Gruening, Carsten; Havránková, Kateřina; Herbst, Mathias; Hrynkiw, Charmaine; Kalhori, Aram; Kaminski, Thomas; Klumpp, Katja; Kolari, Pasi; Longdoz, Bernard; Minerbi, Stefano; Montagnani, Leonardo; Moors, Eddy; Oechel, Walter C.; Reich, Peter B.; Rohatyn, Shani; Rossi, Alessandra; Rotenberg, Eyal; Varlagin, Andrej; Wilkinson, Matthew; Wirth, Christian; Mahecha, Miguel D.;
• Is Part Of: Ecology and evolution. Volume 6:Issue 20(2016:Nov.)
• Page Start: 7352
• Page End: 7366
• Publication Date: 2016-09-22
• Subjects: ecosystem functional property -- eddy covariance -- FLUXNET -- interannual variability -- photosynthetic capacity -- plant traits -- spatiotemporal variability -- TRY database; Ecology -- Periodicals; Evolution -- Periodicals; 577.05
• DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2479
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2045-7758

Abstract

Abstract: The aim of this study was to systematically analyze the potential and limitations of using plant functional trait observations from global databases versus in situ data to improve our understanding of vegetation impacts on ecosystem functional properties (EFPs). Using ecosystem photosynthetic capacity as an example, we first provide an objective approach to derive robust EFP estimates from gross primary productivity (GPP) obtained from eddy covariance flux measurements. Second, we investigate the impact of synchronizing EFPs and plant functional traits in time and space to evaluate their relationships, and the extent to which we can benefit from global plant trait databases to explain the variability of ecosystem photosynthetic capacity. Finally, we identify a set of plant functional traits controlling ecosystem photosynthetic capacity at selected sites. Suitable estimates of the ecosystem photosynthetic capacity can be derived from light response curve of GPP responding to radiation (photosynthetically active radiation or absorbed photosynthetically active radiation). Although the effect of climate is minimized in these calculations, the estimates indicate substantial interannual variation of the photosynthetic capacity, even after removing site‐years with confounding factors like disturbance such as fire events. The relationships between foliar nitrogen concentration and ecosystem photosynthetic capacity are tighter when both of the measurements are synchronized in space and time. When using multiple plant traits simultaneously as predictors for ecosystem photosynthetic capacity variation, the combination of leaf carbon to nitrogen ratio with leaf phosphorus content explains the variance of ecosystem photosynthetic capacity best (adjusted R 2 = 0.55). Overall, this study provides an objective approach to identify links between leaf level traits and canopy level processes and highlights the relevance of the dynamic nature of ecosystems. Synchronizing measurements of eddy covariance fluxes and plant traits in time and space is shown to be highly relevant to better understand the importance of intra‐ and interspecific trait variation on ecosystem functioning. Abstract : The possibility of relating ecosystem functional properties to plant functional traits based on a snapshot estimate (hence neglecting their temporal dynamics) was never tested before. This is the first time to our knowledge that the relationship between EFPs derived from eddy covariance fluxes and plant traits and the associated uncertainties have been systematically investigated for spatiotemporal variation and the relevance of synchronized observations.