Bedrock mediates responses of ecosystem productivity to climate variability

Sensitivity of ecosystem productivity to climate variability is a critical component of ecosystem resilience to climate change. Variation in ecosystem sensitivity is influenced by many variables. Here we investigate the effect of bedrock lithology and weathering products on the sensitivity of ecosystem productivity to variation in climate water deficit using Bayesian statistical models. Two thirds of terrestrial ecosystems exhibit negative sensitivity, where productivity decreases with increased climate water deficit, while the other third exhibit positive sensitivity. Variation in ecosystem sensitivity is significantly affected by regolith porosity and permeability and regolith and soil thickness, indicating that lithology, through its control on water holding capacity, exerts important controls on ecosystem sensitivity. After accounting for effects of these four variables, significant differences in sensitivity remain among ecosystems on different rock types, indicating the complexity of bedrock effects. Our analysis suggests that regolith affects ecosystem sensitivity to climate change worldwide and thus their resilience.

Xiaoli Dong, Jonathan B. Martin, Matthew J. Cohen, Tongbi Tu