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Sensitivity to Low-Temperature Events: Implications for CO2 Dynamics in Subtropical Coastal Ecosystems

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Abstract

We analyzed the ecosystem effects of low-temperature events (<5 °C) over 4 years (2009–2012) in subtropical short and long hydroperiod freshwater marsh and mangrove forests within Everglades National Park. To evaluate changes in ecosystem productivity, we measured temporal patterns of CO2 and the normalized difference vegetation index over the study period. Both water levels and distance from the coast influenced the ecosystem response to low-temperature events. Photosynthetic capacity, or the maximum CO2 uptake rate, and sensitivity to low-temperature events were much higher in mangrove forest than in freshwater marsh ecosystems. During low-temperature events photosynthetic capacity was enhanced in freshwater marsh while it declined in mangrove forests, and respiration rates declined across Everglades ecosystems. While the long hydroperiod freshwater marsh gained 0.26 g CO2 m−2 during low-temperature events, the mangrove forest had the greatest C lost (7.11 g CO2 m−2 low-temperature event−1) followed by the short hydroperiod freshwater marsh (0.37 g CO2 m−2 low-temperature event−1). Results suggest that shifts in the frequency and intensity of weather anomalies with climate change can alter C assimilation rates in Everglades ecosystems through effects on the photosynthetic capacity of existing species, which might lead to changes in species composition and ecosystem productivity in the future.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the excellent support provided by the United States Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS) and the Florida Coastal Everglades Long Term Ecological Research Program (FCE LTER) for their ongoing support. This manuscript is partly based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation through the FCE-LTER program under Grant DEB-1237517. This research is also based in part on support from the Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Institute for Climate Change Research (NICCR) through grant 07-SC-NICCR-1059. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the RMRS or DOE.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rocky Mountain Research Station, 240 W Prospect Rd, Fort Collins, CO, 80524, USA

    Sparkle L. Malone

  2. Elder Research, 300 W Main St. Suite 301, Charlottesville, VA, 22903, USA

    Jordan Barr

  3. Department of Meteorology, The Pennsylvania State University, 503 Walker Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA

    Jose D. Fuentes

  4. Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, 11200 S.W. 8th Street, Miami, FL, 33199, USA

    Steven F. Oberbauer & Evelyn E. Gaiser

  5. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama, Box 870344, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, USA

    Christina L. Staudhammer & Gregory Starr

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  1. Sparkle L. Malone
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  2. Jordan Barr
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  4. Steven F. Oberbauer
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Correspondence to Sparkle L. Malone.

Electronic Supplemental Material

Figure S1

Low-temperature event frequencies at short (TS-1) and long hydroperiod (SRS-2) freshwater marsh and mangrove forest (SRS-6) sites in Everglades National Park. (GIF 40.1 kb)

High resolution image (TIFF 105 kb)

Figure S2

Observed (black) and modeled (blue) daily NEE at (a.) short- (TS-1) and (b.) long-hydroperiod (SRS-2) freshwater marsh and (c.) mangrove forest (SRS-6) sites in Everglades National Park. Vertical lines show low-temperature events at each site. (GIF 125 kb)

High resolution image (TIFF 415 kb)

Figure S3

Observed (points) and modeled (dashed lines) monthly NDVI at (a.) short- (TS-1) and (b.) long hydroperiod (SRS-2) freshwater marsh and (c.) mangrove forest (SRS-6) sites in Everglades National Park. (GIF 71.4 kb)

High resolution image (TIFF 179 kb)

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Malone, S.L., Barr, J., Fuentes, J.D. et al. Sensitivity to Low-Temperature Events: Implications for CO2 Dynamics in Subtropical Coastal Ecosystems. Wetlands 36, 957–967 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-016-0810-3

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