Dynamics of Carbon in Boreal Forest Ecosystems

In forest ecosystems, gross primary production (GPP) is the fundamental supporting service under ecosystem management. Energy uptake maintains ecosystem structure and functioning on different trophic levels, including for first-order consumers (herbivores) and second- and higher-order consumers (carnivores) in the hierarchy of energy flow through the ecosystem. In boreal conditions, the scarce availability of nitrogen is among the main factors limiting gross primary production. Carbon uptake is further controlled by temperature, air humidity, atmospheric CO2, and the availability of soil water. GPP releases oxygen into the atmosphere and binds atmospheric carbon in biomass. Carbon remains in the ecosystem for some time but is lost to the atmosphere in respiration and oxidative processes.