Abstract
Phosphorus (P) is often one of the most limiting nutrients in highly
weathered soils of humid tropical forests, which may regulate the
responses of carbon (C) feedback to climate warming. Based on a 7-year
continuous field warming experiment conducted by translocating microcosm
forest ecosystems from a high-elevation site to low-elevation sites, we
detected changes in the ecosystem P cycle in response to warming. We
report that warming drives sustained plant P demand by increasing P
uptake and thus decreasing foliar N:P. This increased plant P content is
supplied by multiple processes including enhanced plant P resorption,
soil P mineralization and dissolution without changing litter P
mineralization and leachate P. These findings suggest that warming may
alleviate initial P deficiency and/or limitation of plant growth and
contribute to sustaining plant C fixation in these tropical forests.