Biotic Regulation has moved. You are on the first web site of Biotic Regulation. Since February 14, 2008 it is no longer updated. Welcome to www.bioticregulation.ru!

Gorshkov V.G., Makarieva A.M. (1998) Impact of terrestrial and oceanic biota on the modern carbon and oxygen cycles. Ecological Chemistry, 7(2), 129-137. Full text (PDF, electronic version: 240 Kb; offprint: 1.22 Mb).

Abstract

The biotic response to the anthropogenic perturbation of the environment strongly depends on the state of biota: virgin oceanic biota negatively feedbacks to the increase of the CO₂ concentration in the environment, now absorbing carbon from the atmosphere at the rate of up to 5 GtC/yr. This figure is obtained from two independent data sources: ¹⁴C/¹²C ratio measurements in the oceanic dissolved organic carbon and O₂/N₂ ratio measurements in the atmosphere. On the contrary, terrestrial biota strongly perturbed by anthropogenic activities, emits carbon to the atmosphere adding to the anthropogenic perturbation. The rate of carbon emission by terrestrial biota is found from the balance equation and is about 4 GtC/yr, which is consistent with the maximum direct modern estimates of carbon emissions due to land use. Restoration of virgin boreal and tropical forests could stop the growth of atmospheric carbon dioxide mass even if the present high rate of fossil fuel combustion remains the same.