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- Title
The role of tectonic uplift, climate and vegetation in the long-term terrestrial phosphorous cycle.
- Authors
Buendía, C.; Kleidon, A.; Porporato, A.
- Abstract
Phosphorus (P) is a crucial element for life and therefore for maintaining ecosystem productivity. Its local availability to the terrestrial biosphere results from the interaction between climate, tectonic uplift, atmospheric transport and biotic cycling. Here we present a mathematical model that describes the terrestrial P-cycle in a simple but comprehensive way. The resulting dynamical system can be solved analytically for steady-state conditions, allowing us to test the sensitivity of the P-availability to the key parameters and processes. Given constant inputs, we find that humid ecosystems exhibit lower P availability due to higher runoff and losses, and that tectonic uplift is a fundamental constraint. In particular, we find that in humid ecosystems the biotic cycling seem essential to maintain long-term P-availability. The time-dependent P dynamics for the Franz Josef and Hawaii chronosequences show how tectonic uplift is an important constraint on ecosystem productivity, while hydroclimatic conditions control the P-losses and speed towards steady-state. The model also helps describe how with limited uplift and atmospheric input, as in the case of the Amazon Basin, ecosystems must rely on mechanisms that enhance P-availability and retention. Our analysis underlines the need to include the P cycle in global vegetation-atmosphere models for a reliable representation of the response of the terrestrial biosphere to global change.
- Subjects
MATHEMATICAL models; PHOSPHORUS; GLOBAL environmental change; STRUCTURAL geology; BIOTIC communities; ECOLOGICAL research
- Publication
Biogeosciences Discussions, 2010, Vol 7, Issue 1, p301
- ISSN
1810-6277
- Publication type
Article