I work with Dr. Birgit Wild on the PRIMETIME project. I am interested in the carbon allocation and stabilization under various vegetation types in Canadian Arctic. We use stable isotopes to trace the transformation of CO2 from atmosphere through plants into the soil and back to the atmosphere. The Arctic is heaviliy influenced by climate change through rapid biotic and abiotic responses. Our field experiments provide a deep dive in the carbon cycle in these vulnerable ecosystems that rapidly turning from carbon sinks to carbon sources.
Plants can accelerate soil decomposition near their roots, which can increase soil CO2 release, but also nitrogen availability and thereby plant productivity. NITROPRIME will quantify the impact of this complex interplay on the Arctic CO2 balance.
Arctic warming increases CO2 release from permafrost soils and CO2 uptake by plants. Plants can additionally enhance soil CO2 release near roots – the rhizosphere priming effect. PRIMETIME studies the impact of priming on the Arctic CO2 balance.
