Ecosystem carbon storage in arctic tundra reduced by long-term nutrient fertilization

Mack, Michelle C.; Schuur, Edward A. G.; Bret-Harte, M. Syndonia; Shaver, Gaius R.; Chapin, F. Stuart

doi:10.1038/nature02887

Cited by 1,030Climate change and permafrostSoil Carbon and Nitrogen DynamicsPeatlands and Wetlands Ecology

Ecosystem carbon storage in arctic tundra reduced by long-term nutrient fertilization

Mack, Michelle C., Schuur, Edward A. G., Bret-Harte, M. Syndonia, Shaver, Gaius R., Chapin, F. Stuart·2004·Nature

DOI 10.1038/nature02887

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Abstract

Global warming is predicted to be most pronounced at high latitudes, and observational evidence over the past 25 years suggests that this warming is already under way. One-third of the global soil carbon pool is stored in northern latitudes, so there is considerable interest in understanding how the carbon balance of northern ecosystems will respond to climate warming. Observations of controls over plant productivity in tundra and boreal ecosystems have been used to build a conceptual model of response to warming, where warmer soils and increased decomposition of plant litter increase nutrient availability, which, in turn, stimulates plant production and increases ecosystem carbon storage. Here we present the results of a long-term fertilization experiment in Alaskan tundra, in which increased nutrient availability caused a net ecosystem loss of almost 2,000 grams of carbon per square meter over 20 years. We found that annual aboveground plant production doubled during the experiment. Losses of carbon and nitrogen from deep soil layers, however, were substantial and more than offset the increased carbon and nitrogen storage in plant biomass and litter. Our study suggests that projected release of soil nutrients associated with high-latitude warming may further amplify carbon release from soils, causing a net loss of ecosystem carbon and a positive feedback to climate warming.

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If stimulation of decomposition exceeds production caused by fertilization, there would ultimately be a net C loss from the ecosystem.
“If the stimulation of decomposition is more than production caused by fertilization, there would ultimately be a net C loss from the ecosystem.167”
From Technologies and perspectives for achieving carbon neutrality (2021) · cites this paper as [167]

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When Nitrogen Retention Fails: Carbon Losses in a Warming Arctic
Marañón‐Jiménez, S. (2026) · doi:10.5194/egusphere-egu26-7186

Authors: Mack, M. C., Schuur, E. A. G., Bret-Harte, M. S., Shaver, G. R., & Chapin, F. S.
Affiliations: University of Florida (US)
University of Alaska Fairbanks (US)
Marine Biological Laboratory (US)
Corresponding author: Mack, Michelle C.
ORCID: Mack, Michelle C.
Schuur, Edward A. G.
Bret-Harte, M. Syndonia
Shaver, Gaius R.
Chapin, F. Stuart
Venue: Nature
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published: 2004-09
Volume: 431
Issue: 7007
Pages: 440-443
ISSN: 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
1476-4687
DOI: 10.1038/nature02887
OpenAlex: W2031808375
Cited by: 1,030
References: 29
Citations by year: 2026: 22 · 2025: 31 · 2024: 40 · 2023: 35 · 2022: 65 · 2021: 47 · 2020: 60 · 2019: 55 · 2018: 69 · 2017: 59 · 2016: 47 · 2015: 60 · 2014: 56 · 2013: 52 · 2012: 52
FWCI: 19.21
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations: Nature (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Topics: Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Climate change and permafrost
Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Peatlands and Wetlands Ecology
Keywords: Arctic tundra, ecosystem carbon storage, nutrient fertilization, soil carbon emissions, nitrogen cycling, plant productivity, global warming, positive feedback, boreal ecosystems, litter decomposition, long-term fertilization experiment
MeSH terms: Arctic Regions, Carbon, Cold Climate, Fertilizers, Nitrogen, Plants, Soil, Time Factors, Greenhouse Effect, Ecosystem, Biomass

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Ecosystem carbon storage in arctic tundra reduced by long-term nutrient fertilization

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