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Nat Commun

Title:		Insect herbivory dampens Subarctic birch forest C sink response to warming
Author(s):		Silfver T; Heiskanen L; Aurela M; Myller K; Karhu K; Meyer N; Tuovinen JP; Oksanen E; Rousi M; Mikola J;
Address:		"Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Niemenkatu 73, 15140, Lahti, Finland. tarja.h.silfver@gmail.com. Kevo Subarctic Research Institute, Biodiversity Unit of the University of Turku, Kevontie 470, 99980, Utsjoki, Finland. tarja.h.silfver@gmail.com. Finnish Meteorological Institute, Climate System Research, P.O. Box 503, 00101, Helsinki, Finland. Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 111, 80101, Joensuu, Finland. Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, 00014, Helsinki, Finland. Department of Soil Ecology, University of Bayreuth, Dr.-Hans-Frisch-Strasse 1-3, 95448, Bayreuth, Germany. Natural Resources Institute Finland, Latokartanonkaari 9, 00790, Helsinki, Finland. Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Niemenkatu 73, 15140, Lahti, Finland. Kevo Subarctic Research Institute, Biodiversity Unit of the University of Turku, Kevontie 470, 99980, Utsjoki, Finland"
Journal Title:		Nat Commun
Year:		2020
Volume:		20200521
Issue:		1
Page Number:		2529 -
DOI:		10.1038/s41467-020-16404-4
ISSN/ISBN:		2041-1723 (Electronic) 2041-1723 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Climate warming is anticipated to make high latitude ecosystems stronger C sinks through increasing plant production. This effect might, however, be dampened by insect herbivores whose damage to plants at their background, non-outbreak densities may more than double under climate warming. Here, using an open-air warming experiment among Subarctic birch forest field layer vegetation, supplemented with birch plantlets, we show that a 2.3 degrees C air and 1.2 degrees C soil temperature increase can advance the growing season by 1-4 days, enhance soil N availability, leaf chlorophyll concentrations and plant growth up to 400%, 160% and 50% respectively, and lead up to 122% greater ecosystem CO(2) uptake potential. However, comparable positive effects are also found when insect herbivory is reduced, and the effect of warming on C sink potential is intensified under reduced herbivory. Our results confirm the expected warming-induced increase in high latitude plant growth and CO(2) uptake, but also reveal that herbivorous insects may significantly dampen the strengthening of the CO(2) sink under climate warming"
Keywords:		Animals Betula/growth & development/*metabolism Carbon Dioxide/metabolism *Carbon Sequestration Cold Climate Ecosystem *Forests *Global Warming Herbivory/*physiology Insecta/*physiology Nitrogen/metabolism Plant Leaves/growth & development/metabolism Soil;
Notes:		"MedlineSilfver, Tarja Heiskanen, Lauri Aurela, Mika Myller, Kristiina Karhu, Kristiina Meyer, Nele Tuovinen, Juha-Pekka Oksanen, Elina Rousi, Matti Mikola, Juha eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2020/05/23 Nat Commun. 2020 May 21; 11(1):2529. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-16404-4"