Toward an integrative, whole network approach to C cycling of inland waters

[摘要] Understanding aquatic carbon dynamics at large spatial scales requires data and models tuned to these scales. Although the situation is improving, data availability at the global scale is still extremely limited and its geographic distribution is notably lumpy. The obvious consequence of limited and uneven data distribution is large uncertainty. Up to this point, the emphasis has necessarily been on marshalling the information needed to generate estimates of fluxes to the atmosphere and ocean as well as to internal storage pools. A key challenge to be embraced moving forward is to address the uncertainties of these estimates, both with respect to how best to upscale as well as quantifying the uncertainty associated with the flux estimates generated from these efforts—something aquatic ecologists are only now beginning to grapple with. These efforts are likely to be a bit disheartening at first, as high uncertainty may appear to swamp out the significance of some upscaled estimates (not to mention exposing ourselves to criticisms regarding the reliability of these estimates). However, it is vital to address these uncertainties head on to better understand the bounds of current knowledge of how inland waters are connected to larger global dynamics.

[学科分类] 生态、进化、行为和系统