Co2

The three vital signs of terrestrial ecosystems: vegetation growth, water-use efficiency and carbon-use efficiency

CREAF-based CSIC researcher Josep Peñuelas has contributed to an article published in Nature which proposes three key indicators for gauging how well a terrestrial ecosystem is functioning and assessing its state of health or wellbeing.

Adaptation Biomassa Ecologia funcional Ecology Forest management Funcionament ecosistemes Josep peñuelas Matollars Producció vegetal Salut dels ecosistemes Trets funcionals

For the time being, forests are helping to slow CO2 accumulation and climate change

A study led by CREAF shows that decreases in pollutant deposition and the increase in atmospheric CO2 have stimulated photosynthesis and carbon sequestration in forests. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how carbon circulates in the atmosphere, in living organisms, oceans, and soils in order to anticipate the effects of climate change.

Acid rain Climate change Co2 Deposició Edm@en Forests Geu Marcos fernandez-martinez Nature scientific reports

Nutrient-rich forests absorb more carbon

The study, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, showed that forests growing in fertile soils with ample nutrients are able to sequester about 30% of the carbon that they take up during photosynthesis. In contrast, forests growing in nutrient-poor soils may retain only 6% of that carbon. The rest is returned to the atmosphere as respiration.

Biogeochemical cycles Captació co2 Cicles biogeoquímics Co2 @en Co2 uptake Edm@en Embornal Forest Geu @en Imbalance-p @en Marcos fernandez-martinez Marcos fernandez-martinez @en Nutrient cycle Nutrients Peñuelas @en