10.5061/DRYAD.4J43C
Meineke, Emily
Harvard University
Youngsteadt, Elsa
North Carolina State University
Dunn, Robert R.
North Carolina State University
Frank, Steven D.
North Carolina State University
Data from: Urban warming reduces aboveground carbon storage
Dryad
dataset
2016
urban heat island effect
2016-09-16T15:58:06Z
2016-09-16T15:58:06Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2016.1574
34809 bytes
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CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
A substantial amount of global carbon is stored in mature trees. However,
no experiments to date test how warming affects mature tree carbon
storage. Using a unique, citywide, factorial experiment, we investigated
how warming and insect herbivory affected physiological function and
carbon sequestration (carbon stored per year) of mature trees. Urban
warming increased herbivorous arthropod abundance on trees, but these
herbivores had negligible effects on tree carbon sequestration. Instead,
urban warming was associated with an estimated 12% loss of carbon
sequestration, in part because photosynthesis was reduced at hotter sites.
Ecosystem service assessments that do not consider urban conditions may
overestimate urban tree carbon storage. Because urban and global warming
are becoming more intense, our results suggest that urban trees will
sequester even less carbon in the future.
Dryad_Meineke_ProcB2016These are data describing street tree responses to
urban warming. For more details, see associated manuscript.