Soil respiration across a disturbance gradient in sclerophyllous ecosystems in Central Chile

The study found that soil respiration (Rs) decreases as ecosystem disturbance increases, with the least disturbed forest (D1) exhibiting annual Rs values 4.4-fold higher than the most disturbed savanna (D4). Rs is primarily driven by volumetric water content and soil temperature, while exchangeable nitrogen is uncorrelated. Under a predicted 2100 climate scenario of 40% less rainfall and a 4°C temperature increase, annual Rs is projected to decrease by an average of 28%, with more disturbed areas showing greater vulnerability.

• Soil respiration (Rs) is significantly higher in less disturbed areas, with annual values in slightly disturbed sclerophyllous forest (D1) being 4.4-fold greater (1,735 g C m-2 yr-1) than in the most disturbed A. caven savanna (D4), which recorded 392 g C m-2 yr-1.
• Rs increases linearly with volumetric water content (&thetav) and soil temperature (Ts), though the intercepts for these relationships vary based on the level of disturbance. Conversely, exchangeable nitrogen (Ns) shows no correlation with Rs.
• Projections for the year 2100, assuming a 4°C increase in air temperature and a 40% decrease in rainfall, indicate an average reduction in annual Rs of 28%, with the most disturbed conditions being the least resistant to these changes.

APA

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (2025). Soil respiration across a disturbance gradient in sclerophyllous ecosystems in Central Chile. https://iai.int/es/pub_acad/soil-respiration-across-a-disturbance-gradient-in-sclerophyllous-ecosystems-in-central-chile/

Chicago

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. Soil respiration across a disturbance gradient in sclerophyllous ecosystems in Central Chile. 2025. https://iai.int/es/pub_acad/soil-respiration-across-a-disturbance-gradient-in-sclerophyllous-ecosystems-in-central-chile/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research |title=Soil respiration across a disturbance gradient in sclerophyllous ecosystems in Central Chile |date=16 January 2025 |url=https://iai.int/es/pub_acad/soil-respiration-across-a-disturbance-gradient-in-sclerophyllous-ecosystems-in-central-chile/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{interamericaninstituteforglobalchangeresearch2025soil, author = {{Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}}, title = {{Soil respiration across a disturbance gradient in sclerophyllous ecosystems in Central Chile}}, institution = {Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}, year = {2025}, month = jan, url = {https://iai.int/es/pub_acad/soil-respiration-across-a-disturbance-gradient-in-sclerophyllous-ecosystems-in-central-chile/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }