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Is Net Ecosystem Production Equal to Ecosystem Carbon Accumulation? - Ecosystems

  • ️Pace, Michael L.
  • ️Mon Jan 30 2006

Abstract

Net ecosystem production (NEP), defined as the difference between gross primary production and total ecosystem respiration, represents the total amount of organic carbon in an ecosystem available for storage, export as organic carbon, or nonbiological oxidation to carbon dioxide through fire or ultraviolet oxidation. In some of the recent literature, especially that on terrestrial ecosystems, NEP has been redefined as the rate of organic carbon accumulation in the system. Here we argue that retaining the original definition maintains the conceptual coherence between NEP and net primary production and that it is congruous with the widely accepted definitions of ecosystem autotrophy and heterotrophy. Careful evaluation of NEP highlights the various potential fates of nonrespired carbon in an ecosystem.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, New York, 12545, USA

    Gary M. Lovett, Jonathan J. Cole & Michael L. Pace

Authors

  1. Gary M. Lovett

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  2. Jonathan J. Cole

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  3. Michael L. Pace

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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gary M. Lovett.

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Lovett, G.M., Cole, J.J. & Pace, M.L. Is Net Ecosystem Production Equal to Ecosystem Carbon Accumulation?. Ecosystems 9, 152–155 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-005-0036-3

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  • Received: 18 March 2005

  • Accepted: 11 May 2005

  • Published: 30 January 2006

  • Issue Date: February 2006

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-005-0036-3

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