L17

Question 1

howhat are the components of an ecosystem’s carbon balance? (G, P, N, A, H)

Answer 1

gross primary production
plant diversity
net primary production
autotrophic respiration (from canopy, soil)
heterotrophic respiration

Question 2

autotrophic respiration

Answer 2

CO2 flux tht is strongly influenced by recently photosynthezies carbon from plants - i.e. root respiration

Question 3

heterotrophic respiration

Answer 3

CO2 flux that is strongly influenced by decomposition of older carbon such as organic matter - i.e. many free living microorganisms

Question 4

CO2 flux

Answer 4

rate at which CO2 is being emitted from soil

Question 5

flux

Answer 5

unit mass / unit time

Question 6

two main pathways of carbon into soils

Answer 6

litter (dead shoots, roots, symbionts)
exudates (active carbon via live roots and mycorrhizal fungi)

Question 7

how do we increase carbon flux below ground?

Answer 7

priming: an increase in degredation of native (often recalcitrant) carbon because of inputs of labile carbon
aka carbon in < carbon out

Question 8

carbon sequestration

Answer 8

capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide