Shifting from a fertilization-dominated to a warming-dominated period: processes involved. The case for the Tropical forests

OCTF seminar followed by drinks – all welcome, no booking required

Carbon dioxide and nitrogen fertilization effects on ecosystem carbon sequestration are prone to slow down in the future because of nutrient constraints, climate change, land use change and land management and disturbances. At the same time, rapid warming is leading to negative impacts on ecosystems productivity. Prof Penuelas suggests that, together, these two phenomena might drive a shift from a period dominated by the positive effects of fertilization to another period characterized by the saturation of fertilization positive effects on carbon sinks and the rise of climate change related negative effects. He will then discuss the processes likely leading to this shift and then focus on the tropical forests.

Prof Josep Penuelas is an ecologist working on global ecology, plant ecophysiology, remote sensing, and atmosphere-biosphere interactions. He is a highly cited scientist in ecology/environment, in plant and animal sciences, agricultural sciences and in all science fields. His recent subjects of study are: global ecology, global change, climate change, atmospheric pollution, biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds emissions, remote sensing, plant ecophysiology, functioning and structure of terrestrial plants and ecosystems, chemical ecology, ecometabolomics, macroecology, biogeochemistry, environmental sustainability, food security.