Bedrock mediates responses of ecosystem productivity to climate variability

This study investigates the impact of bedrock lithology and its weathering products on the sensitivity of ecosystem productivity to climate water deficit using Bayesian statistical models. Two-thirds of terrestrial ecosystems show negative sensitivity (productivity decreases with increased water deficit), while the remaining third exhibit positive sensitivity. Regolith porosity, permeability, and thickness, along with soil thickness, significantly influence ecosystem sensitivity. Even after accounting for these factors, differences in sensitivity remain among ecosystems on different rock types, highlighting the complexity of bedrock's influence. The findings suggest that regolith properties affect global ecosystem sensitivity to climate change and their resilience.

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