Zusammenfassung
This study investigated the impact of predicted future climatic and atmospheric conditions on soil respiration (RS) in
a Danish Calluna-Deschampsia-heathland. A fully factorial in situ experiment with treatments of elevated atmospheric
CO2 (+130 ppm), raised soil temperature (+0.4 °C) and extended summer drought (5–8% precipitation exclusion) was
established in 2005. The average RS, observed in the control over 3 years of measurements (1.7 μmol CO2 m−2 sec−1),
increased 38% under elevated CO2, irrespective of combination with the drought or temperature treatments. In contrast,
extended summer drought decreased RS by 14%, while elevated soil temperature did not affect RS overall. A
significant interaction between elevated temperature and drought resulted in further reduction of RS when these
treatments were combined. A detailed analysis of short-term RS dynamics associated with drought periods showed
that RS was reduced by ~50% and was strongly correlated with soil moisture during these events. Recovery of RS to
pre-drought levels occurred within 2 weeks of rewetting; however, unexpected drought effects were observed several
months after summer drought treatment in 2 of the 3 years, possibly due to reduced plant growth or changes in soil
water holding capacity. An empirical model that predicts RS from soil temperature, soil moisture and plant biomass
was developed and accounted for 55% of the observed variability in RS. The model predicted annual sums of RS in
2006 and 2007, in the control, were 672 and 719 g C m−2 y−1, respectively. For the full treatment combination, i.e. the
future climate scenario, the model predicted that soil respiratory C losses would increase by ~21% (140–
150 g C m−2 y−1). Therefore, in the future climate, stimulation of C storage in plant biomass and litter must be in
excess of 21% for this ecosystem to not suffer a reduction in net ecosystem exchange.