Simulating Net Ecosystem Productivity (NEP) in Mediterranean Pine Forests (<i>Pinus brutia</i>) During the 21st Century: The Effect of Leaf Area Index and Elevation
The Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) of Mediterranean forest is expected to change over the 21st century due to the warmer and drier conditions. In this study, we present a process-based forest carbon-flux model, where stand structure and soil heterotrophic respiration have been parameterized with l...
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2025-04-01
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| author | Christodoulos I. Sazeides Nikolaos M. Fyllas |
| author_facet | Christodoulos I. Sazeides Nikolaos M. Fyllas |
| author_sort | Christodoulos I. Sazeides |
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| description | The Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) of Mediterranean forest is expected to change over the 21st century due to the warmer and drier conditions. In this study, we present a process-based forest carbon-flux model, where stand structure and soil heterotrophic respiration have been parameterized with long-term monitoring data in a Mediterranean <i>Pinus brutia.</i> Ten. forest. The developed model was validated using an independent annual tree-ring increment dataset from the 1980–2020 period (baseline climate) across a post-fire gradient (four plots) and an elevation gradient (five plots). Additionally, the model was forced with two downscaled climate change scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) for the 2020–2100 period. Average GPP, Net Primary Productivity (NPP), ecosystem Respiration (R<sub>eco</sub>) and Net Ecosystem Productivity (NEP) were calculated for two future time periods (2051–2060 and 2091–2100) under the two climate change scenarios and compared along the two gradients. Under baseline climate conditions, our simulations suggest a temperature sensitivity of GPP and R<sub>eco</sub>, as expressed along the elevation gradient. However, the effect of stand structure (represented through the site-specific leaf area index (LAI)) was more prominent, both along the elevation gradient and the post-fire chronosequence. Under the two climate change scenarios, a reduced GPP and an increased R<sub>eco</sub> lead to reduced NEP compared to baseline climate conditions across all study plots. |
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| spelling | doaj-art-e0a498fd30e8449bacbddef847705ad62025-08-20T03:08:53ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-04-01147109010.3390/plants14071090Simulating Net Ecosystem Productivity (NEP) in Mediterranean Pine Forests (<i>Pinus brutia</i>) During the 21st Century: The Effect of Leaf Area Index and ElevationChristodoulos I. Sazeides0Nikolaos M. Fyllas1Biodiversity Conservation Laboratory, Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, 81100 Mytilene, GreeceSection of Ecology and Taxonomy, Department of Biology, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15772 Athens, GreeceThe Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) of Mediterranean forest is expected to change over the 21st century due to the warmer and drier conditions. In this study, we present a process-based forest carbon-flux model, where stand structure and soil heterotrophic respiration have been parameterized with long-term monitoring data in a Mediterranean <i>Pinus brutia.</i> Ten. forest. The developed model was validated using an independent annual tree-ring increment dataset from the 1980–2020 period (baseline climate) across a post-fire gradient (four plots) and an elevation gradient (five plots). Additionally, the model was forced with two downscaled climate change scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) for the 2020–2100 period. Average GPP, Net Primary Productivity (NPP), ecosystem Respiration (R<sub>eco</sub>) and Net Ecosystem Productivity (NEP) were calculated for two future time periods (2051–2060 and 2091–2100) under the two climate change scenarios and compared along the two gradients. Under baseline climate conditions, our simulations suggest a temperature sensitivity of GPP and R<sub>eco</sub>, as expressed along the elevation gradient. However, the effect of stand structure (represented through the site-specific leaf area index (LAI)) was more prominent, both along the elevation gradient and the post-fire chronosequence. Under the two climate change scenarios, a reduced GPP and an increased R<sub>eco</sub> lead to reduced NEP compared to baseline climate conditions across all study plots.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/7/1090climate change<i>Pinus brutia</i>gross primary productivitysoil heterotrophic respiration |
| spellingShingle | Christodoulos I. Sazeides Nikolaos M. Fyllas Simulating Net Ecosystem Productivity (NEP) in Mediterranean Pine Forests (<i>Pinus brutia</i>) During the 21st Century: The Effect of Leaf Area Index and Elevation Plants climate change <i>Pinus brutia</i> gross primary productivity soil heterotrophic respiration |
| title | Simulating Net Ecosystem Productivity (NEP) in Mediterranean Pine Forests (<i>Pinus brutia</i>) During the 21st Century: The Effect of Leaf Area Index and Elevation |
| title_full | Simulating Net Ecosystem Productivity (NEP) in Mediterranean Pine Forests (<i>Pinus brutia</i>) During the 21st Century: The Effect of Leaf Area Index and Elevation |
| title_fullStr | Simulating Net Ecosystem Productivity (NEP) in Mediterranean Pine Forests (<i>Pinus brutia</i>) During the 21st Century: The Effect of Leaf Area Index and Elevation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Simulating Net Ecosystem Productivity (NEP) in Mediterranean Pine Forests (<i>Pinus brutia</i>) During the 21st Century: The Effect of Leaf Area Index and Elevation |
| title_short | Simulating Net Ecosystem Productivity (NEP) in Mediterranean Pine Forests (<i>Pinus brutia</i>) During the 21st Century: The Effect of Leaf Area Index and Elevation |
| title_sort | simulating net ecosystem productivity nep in mediterranean pine forests i pinus brutia i during the 21st century the effect of leaf area index and elevation |
| topic | climate change <i>Pinus brutia</i> gross primary productivity soil heterotrophic respiration |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/7/1090 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT christodoulosisazeides simulatingnetecosystemproductivitynepinmediterraneanpineforestsipinusbrutiaiduringthe21stcenturytheeffectofleafareaindexandelevation AT nikolaosmfyllas simulatingnetecosystemproductivitynepinmediterraneanpineforestsipinusbrutiaiduringthe21stcenturytheeffectofleafareaindexandelevation |