不同流速下杂交鲟幼鱼游泳状态与活动代谢研究

为研究水流速度对杂交鲟幼鱼行为和代谢的影响,探讨游泳状态与活动代谢及相关游泳运动参数之间的关系,在26℃水温下,使用特制的鱼类游泳行为和活动代谢同步测定装置,测定了杂交鲟幼鱼在0.1、0.3、0.5 m/s三种流速和静水条件下的游泳状态、趋流率、摆尾频率和耗氧率。结果表明:随着流速的增大,杂交鲟幼鱼逆流前进和逆流静止游泳状态所占时间比例显著减少,而逆流后退所占时间比例显著增加,顺流而下时间比例有所上升。在0.0—0.3 m/s的流速范围内,杂交鲟幼鱼各个时段的平均趋流率、摆尾频率和耗氧率均随着流速的增加而增大,在0.3 m/s流速下分别达到100%﹑(2.53±0.34)Hz和(490.99±164.59)mg O2/(kg.h)。当流速增加至0.5 m/s时,在趋流率仍保持100%的情况下,其耗氧率相比0.3 m/s增加了21.86%,而摆尾频率却减小了6.70%。实验过程杂交鲟幼鱼趋流率与摆尾频率呈显著线性正相关,而摆尾频率与耗氧率在大部分时段却无相关性。随着时间的延长,各流速组杂交鲟幼鱼趋流率、摆尾频率和耗氧率呈现不同的变化趋势,其趋流率均相对稳定;但摆尾频率均随时间延长呈下降趋势,而耗氧率则在实验前9h随时间延长逐渐增加,随后趋于稳定。研究结果提示:杂交鲟幼鱼游泳状态的变化与流速有关,而反映运动强度大小的摆尾频率与活动代谢率的关系受到游泳状态的显著影响,同时也与运动代谢特征的时间变化有关。       

流速对红鳍银鲫幼鱼游泳状态的影响

在28℃水温下,采用特制的鱼类游泳行为测定装置,研究体重(125.94±13.87)g的红鳍银鲫(Barbodes schwanenfeldi)幼鱼在0.0m/s(对照组)和0.1m/s、0.3m/s、0.5m/s3种流速下的游泳行为。结果表明,从0.0～0.3m/s,红鳍银鲫幼鱼平均趋流率和摆尾频率均随着流速的增加而增大,而0.5m/s组在90min内随时间延长而下降。红鳍银鲫游泳状态明显受到所处流速的影响,在静水对照组以"逆流前进"和"顺流而下"为主,两者共占总观察时间的98%以上;各流速组均以逆流静止为主,且随着流速的增大,逆流静止所占时间比例从45.8%增加至81.3%,而逆流前进所占时间比例由24.1%减至5%以下;逆流后退所占时间比例以0.1m/s组最大,为16.4%;顺流而下的比例随着流速增大先减小后增大,3个流速组依次为13.7%、2.1%和10.9%。红鳍银鲫幼鱼的游泳速度(V)和摆尾频率(TBF)在逆流前进及逆流静止两种游泳状态下呈线性正相关,而在逆流后退和顺流而下两种状态下两者没有显著相关。     

不同流速下红鳍银鲫趋流行为与耗氧率的变化

在28℃水温下,使用特制的鱼类游泳行为和活动代谢同步测定装置对红鳍银鲫(Barbodes schwanenfeldi)幼鱼在0 m/s、0.1 m/s、0.3 m/s、0.5 m/s 4种流速条件下的趋流行为和耗氧率进行了同步测定和统计分析.结果表明: 红鳍银鲫在静水下的游泳活动表现出随机而无特定的方向性,当流速达到0.3 m/s以上时则呈现很强的趋流性.和静水对照组相比,三个流速实验组在各个时间段的趋流率、摆尾频率和耗氧率均显著上升,其中多数时间段以0.3 m/s流速组最大,0.5 m/s流速组次之.低流速组(0,0.1 m/s)三个指标在90 min内随时间变化不显著,而高流速组(0.3,0.5 m/s)随时间变化明显.红鳍银鲫在90 min各个时间段摆尾频率(Tail beat frequency)与趋流率(Rheotaxis frequency)均呈显著的线性相关,其回归关系式为:RF=a bTBF,a值在41.13-55.02、b值在8.0 7-11.42、R在0.69-0.95之间;摆尾频率和耗氧率(Oxygen consumption rate)同样呈 显著的线性相关,其回归关系式为:OCR=a bTBF,a值在77.38-137.42, b值在10.85-59.36,R在0.87-0.96之间.0.3 m/s流速下红鳍银鲫趋流率、摆尾频率和耗氧率24 h的变化规律为:实验开始时三个指标均随时间延长而逐渐增大,在3 h达到最大值,然后开始下降并长时间维持在一定水平上,其中耗氧率在最初3 h的增幅显著大于趋流率和摆尾频率,而随后回落的幅度却小于前两者.在较高流速下,红鳍银鲫幼鱼不能长期保持趋流状态和维持较高的代谢水平     

水流对团头鲂(Megalobrama amblycephala)幼鱼游泳行为的影响

为探讨团头鲂幼鱼(Megalobrama amblycephala)游泳行为对水流的响应规律,该文通过特制鱼类游泳行为测定装置,测定了团头鲂幼鱼在25℃,0、0.1、0.2、0.3、0.4m/s流速条件下的游速、游距、转角、至中心点的距离及游泳轨迹。结果表明:随着流速的增大,个体游速、游距及转角值均相应增大。0、0.1及0.2m/s流速组间的游速、游距及转角差异均不显著(P>0.05),但显著小于0.3和0.4m/s组别,且0.3和0.4m/s流速组之间差异均不显著(P>0.05);整个时间段内,个体至中心点的距离随流速增大并未呈现明显规律性,各流速间差异不显著(P>0.05),游速与游距呈显著线性正相关,而与转角呈显著线性负相关,与至中心点的距离则无相关性;游泳轨迹随水流增大趋向复杂化。     

流速对细鳞裂腹鱼游泳行为及能量消耗影响的研究

通过自制密封的鱼类游泳实验装置, 研究了流速对细鳞裂腹鱼游泳行为和能量消耗的影响。结果显示,细鳞裂腹鱼的摆尾频率随游泳速度的变化有明显的变化规律, 摆尾频率随着流速的增加而显著性的增加,而摆尾幅度有减小趋势, 差异性不显著。结果还表明, (26±1) ℃时, (10.60±0.54) cm 细鳞裂腹鱼的相对临界游泳速度为(11.5±0.5) BL/s, 绝对临界游泳速度为(110.28±2.02) cm/s。测定的相对临界流速较其他的鲤科鱼大,是对生存水流环境(流速0.5—1.5m/s)适应性的表现。这一结果表明鱼类的游泳能力是能够训练的。运动代谢率与相对流速的关系为, AMR = 93.08e(0.307v) + 314.33, R2= 0.994; 单位距离能耗与流速的指数关系为COT =28e (-1.03V) +6.05, R2= 0.998。流速达到8 BL/s 时, 裂腹鱼耗氧率开始下降, 从流速7 BL/s 时, (1245.57±90.97 )mg O2/(kg·h)最大, 下降到(978.78±189.38) mg O2/(kg·h)。1—7 BL/s 流速范围内, 裂腹鱼单位时间内的耗氧率随着游泳速度的增加而增加, 而且随着游泳速度的增加, 单位距离能耗(COT)逐渐减少, 最小能耗在6 倍体长流速, 0.68 m/s 时, 为(6.00±1.57) J/(kg·m), 其能量利用效率最大。       

齐口裂腹鱼上溯过程中“冲刺-滑行”行为对水动力的响应

研究以西南山区特有鱼种齐口裂腹鱼(Schizothorax prenanti)为研究对象, 对其游泳行为模式进行量化解译, 寻找其偏好的水动力学条件, 构建水流条件与生态行为的纽带。运用具有流速梯度的水槽创造非均匀流场条件, 得到齐口裂腹鱼在室内试验水槽内上溯的视频图像。运用图像识别技术, 计算上溯全过程的游泳动力学指标摆尾角度与摆尾频率, 在此基础上实现生态学与水动力学的耦合研究。研究表明, 齐口裂腹鱼在上溯过程中喜好在具有流速梯度处通过改变摆尾角度和摆尾频率等来适应非均匀流场, 其喜好摆尾角度为25°—35°, 喜好摆尾频率为2.5—3.5次/s, 偏好流速为0.20—0.40 m/s。随着水流速度的增大, 摆尾角度呈现逐渐减小的趋势, 且齐口裂腹鱼偏好选择在流速由大变小的区域, 进行摆尾冲刺加速, 且更趋向于摆尾角度变化为“弱强弱”的摆尾模式。滑行阶段引入滑行流速系数, 量化表示摆尾角度、滑行距离和流速三者间的耦合关系, 通过计算滑行距离对水流负方向上位移的贡献率, 得到滑行方向与水流负方向夹角。研究表明, 滑行流速系数为1.0—3.0时具有代表性, 齐口裂腹鱼对滑行方向与水流负方向夹角的偏好为40°—60°。研究利用多指标量化评价的方法, 以复杂流场为背景条件, 进一步满足过鱼设施建设需求。     

基于雅砻江两种裂腹鱼游泳能力的鱼道设计

为探究雅砻江两种裂腹鱼的游泳能力,给过鱼设施设计和鱼类游泳行为学研究提供基础参数,本研究采用递增流速法对长丝裂腹鱼、齐口裂腹鱼的感应流速、临界游泳速度、突进游泳速度进行测试,采用固定流速法对长丝裂腹鱼的耐久游泳速度进行测试。结果表明: 长丝裂腹鱼与齐口裂腹鱼的感应流速随着体长的增加均出现了先增加后平稳的趋势,但最大感应流速均小于0.2 m·s^-1;长丝裂腹鱼的临界游泳速度与突进游泳速度分别为(0.81±0.20)和(1.49±0.26) m·s^-1,相对临界游泳速度为(4.90±1.73) BL·s^-1,相对突进游泳速度为(9.77±1.72) BL·s^-1(BL为体长);齐口裂腹鱼的临界游泳速度与突进游泳速度分别为(0.73±0.24)和(1.17±0.39) m·s^-1,相对临界游泳速度为(6.88±2.82) BL·s^-1,相对突进游泳速度为(11.75±2.77) BL·s^-1。耐久测试发现,随着流速增加(0.7～1.5) m·s^-1,长丝裂腹鱼持续游泳时间与水流速度呈负相关,疲劳时间(T)与水流速度(V)的关系可以拟合为lgT=-2.52V+5.59,预测鱼道长度(d)与鱼道内可通过的最大平均水流速度(V_fmax)的关系式为V_{f max}=-0.17lnd+1.74。根据试验结果,当以长丝裂腹鱼和齐口裂腹鱼为主要过鱼对象时,建议鱼道内最小水流速度应大于0.2 m·s^-1,进口及竖缝处水流速度为0.73～1.67 m·s^-1,休息池主流水流速度为0.2～0.7 m·s^-1。     

不同流速对流水槽大口黑鲈生长性能、抗氧化能力、能量代谢及组织结构的影响

研究旨在探明池塘内循环流水养殖(Inner-Pond Raceway Aquaculture, IPRA)系统中不同水流速度对大口黑鲈(Micropterus salmoides)生长性能、抗氧化能力、能量代谢及组织结构的影响。选取已驯食好、体质健康、大小均一的大口黑鲈[放养规格为(8.13±0.82) g]192尾,随机分配到4个模拟水槽中,每组3个重复,每个重复16尾。养殖试验设置空白静水组和3个水流速度组,分别为低流速0.2 m/s、中流速0.4 m/s和高流速0.6 m/s,养殖周期为154d。结果显示:(1)中流速组大口黑鲈的增重率和特定生长率显著高于其他3个处理组(P<0.05);中、高流速组肥满度显著低于静水组和低流速组(P>0.05);大口黑鲈内脏脂肪指数随着流速的增加而显著降低(P<0.05);(2)中流速组肌肉粗蛋白显著高于其他3个处理组(P<0.05),静水组和低流速组肌肉粗脂肪含量显著高于中、高流速组(P<0.05);中、高流速组肝脏粗蛋白显著高于静水组和低流速组(P<0.05);(3)中、高流速组血清中甘油三酯和总胆固醇显著...     

温度驯化对鲫偏好游泳行为的影响

温度变化通常会引起鱼类的生理功能和游泳行为产生适应性变化。为考察温度驯化对鲫偏好游泳速度的影响,本研究以鲫(Carassius auratus)为实验对象,分别在(15±1)℃和(25±1)℃条件下将单尾实验鱼置于梯度流速选择仪(流速范围为11.86~65.45 cm·s-1,等距离划分为5个流速区域,从第一到第五流速区域的流速连续增加)中拍摄1 h,采用Ethovision XT9软件分析视频资料并计算实验鱼在不同流速区域平均进入频次(F,次)、单次进入停留时间(T,s·次-1)和平均停留时间百分比(Pt,%)等流速选择行为指标。结果表明:25℃下,随着流速的上升、F值显著增加以及水流速度过高,鲫无法在最高流速区域停留较长时间而导致鲫在第四流速区域的Pt达到47%,显著高于其他流速区域(P0.05);15℃下,鲫第一到第三流速区域的F值相近,而第四和第五流速区域F显著下降;同时其T值的最大值也出现在最低流速区域,导致该温度组的最低流速区域的Pt达到最大(37%),显著高于其他流速区域(P0.05);在第一至第三速流速区域25℃组的F显著低于15℃组,且25℃组实验鱼在第四流速区域的T值显著大于15℃组(P0.05),导致25℃组在第一、第二速流速区域的Pt显著低于15℃组,而25℃组在第四、第五速流速区域的Pt显著高于15℃组(P0.05);实验鱼在25和15℃下其偏好游泳速度分别为27.91~41.30和11.86~15.18 cm·s-1;温度下降导致鲫的偏好游泳速度明显降低,与低温环境下鲫的整体生理功能受限有关。     

基于Matlab的鱼类游泳动力学分析

鱼类游泳动力学分析研究对解决鱼道等工程应用中水力学设计方面的关键问题有着重要的意义,利用计算机技术对鱼类游泳动力学进行分析有助于研究目标鱼类的生理特性、游泳能力及其与水力环境因子的响应关系。基于MATLAB软件对我国特有鱼类鲢幼鱼进行游泳动力学分析,借助鲢幼鱼游泳时的摆尾行为,得到不同水流速度下鲢幼鱼的摆尾频率、摆尾幅度、游泳速度和加速度;对比人工计数和手动跟踪分析方法,从实际操作复杂程度和实验数据准确性的角度,分析各数据采集方法的优劣性。结果表明基于Matlab软件采用跟踪鱼的身体中线的思路能更高效的获取大量的运动参数,比如摆尾频率、摆尾幅度、游泳速度和加速度等指标。文章介绍了一种基于Matlab开发的鱼类游泳动力学分析方法,有助于为以后鱼类游泳动力学研究提供依据。     

常绿阔叶林与杉木林的土壤碳矿化潜力及其对土壤活性有机碳的影响

采用室内土壤培养法,比较分析了湖南省会同地区常绿阔叶林、杉木纯林土壤有机碳的矿化速率和累计矿化量,分析了有机碳矿化量与土壤活性有机碳初始含量的关系。结果表明:常绿阔叶林土壤有机碳矿化速率和累计矿化量均显著高于杉木纯林。在培养的第21天,在培养温度为9℃和28℃条件下,常绿阔叶林0～10和10～20cm土层的土壤有机碳累计矿化量为杉木纯林的1.7～2.7倍。常绿阔叶林土壤有机碳矿化释放的CO2-C分配比例高于杉木纯林。林地土壤有机碳矿化量受土壤微生物碳、可溶性有机碳初始含量的影响(P<0.01)。土壤有机碳矿化使土壤微生物碳增加而可溶性有机碳下降,但变化幅度均不大。温度从9℃升高到28℃后,林地土壤有机碳矿化速率提高3.1～4.5倍;2林地有机碳矿化对温度的敏感性无显著差异。     

Species richness promotes ecosystem carbon storage: evidence from biodiversity-ecosystem functioning experiments

Plant diversity has a strong impact on a plethora of ecosystem functions and services, especially ecosystem carbon (C) storage. However, the potential context-dependency of biodiversity effects across ecosystem types, environmental conditions and carbon pools remains largely unknown. In this study, we performed a meta-analysis by collecting data from 95 biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF) studies across 60 sites to explore the effects of plant diversity on different C pools, including aboveground and belowground plant biomass, soil microbial biomass C and soil C content across different ecosystem types. The results showed that ecosystem C storage was significantly enhanced by plant diversity, with stronger effects on aboveground biomass than on soil C content. Moreover, the response magnitudes of ecosystem C storage increased with the level of species richness and experimental duration across all ecosystems. The effects of plant diversity were more pronounced in grasslands than in forests. Furthermore, the effects of plant diversity on belowground plant biomass increased with aridity index in grasslands and forests, suggesting that climate change might modulate biodiversity effects, which are stronger under wetter conditions but weaker under more arid conditions. Taken together, these results provide novel insights into the important role of plant diversity in ecosystem C storage across critical C pools, ecosystem types and environmental contexts.     

内蒙古退化荒漠草原土壤有机碳和微生物生物量碳含量的季节变化

为探明荒漠草原土壤有机碳（SOC）和微生物生物量碳（MBC）含量特征,分别在内蒙古达茂旗、四子王旗和苏尼特右旗设置样地,依次代表轻度、中度和重度退化草地,分析了不同样地表层土壤(0～20 cm)SOC和MBC含量变化及季节动态.结果表明：退化草地SOC和MBC含量均随草地退化程度增加而减小;除2006年夏季外,轻度、中度退化荒漠草地的土壤可培养微生物总数都高于重度退化荒漠草地;MBC含量和土壤可培养微生物总数均在夏秋季较高,春冬季较低.相关分析结果显示,SOC含量与MBC含量之间呈极显著正相关（P<0.01）,说明两者均可作为评价荒漠草原草地退化的敏感指标.     

中国森林植被碳库的动态变化及其意义

利用1949年至1998年间7次森林资源清查资料,结合使用森林生物量实测资料,采用改良的生物量换算因子法,推算了中国50年来森林碳库和平均碳密度的变化,分析了中国森林植被的CO2源汇功能,结果表明,70年代中期以前,主要由于森林砍伐等人为作用,中国森林碳库和碳密度都是减少的,碳储量减少了0．62PgC（Pg＝10^15g),年均减少约0．024PgC。之后,呈增加趋势。在最近的20多年中,森林碳库由70年代末期的4．38PgC增加到1998年的4．75PgC,共增加0．37PgC,年平均增加0．022PgC。这种增加主要由人工造林增加所致。20多年来,由于人工林增加导致碳汇增加0．45PgC,年平均增加吸收0．021PgC／a。人工林的平均碳密度也显增加,共增加了约一倍。这除了人工成林增多外,气温上升和CO2浓度施肥也可能是促进森林生长的重要因子。     

Influence of CO2 enrichment and nitrogen fertilization on tissue chemistry and carbon allocation in longleaf pine seedlings

One-year old, nursery-grown longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) seedlings were grown in 45-L pots containing a coarse sandy medium and were exposed to two concentrations of atmospheric CO₂ (365 or 720 mol^-1) and two levels of nitrogen (N) fertility (40 or 400 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1) within open top chambers for 20 months. At harvest, needles, stems, coarse roots, and fine roots were separated and weighed. Subsamples of each tissue were frozen in liquid N, lyophilized at -50°C, and ground to pass a 0.2 mm sieve. Tissue samples were analyzed for carbon (C), N, nonpolar extractives (fats, waxes, and oils = FWO), nonstructural carbohydrates (total sugars and starch), and structural carbohydrates (cellulose, lignin, and tannins). Increased dry weights of each tissue were observed under elevated CO₂ and with high N; however, main effects of CO₂ were significant only on belowground tissues. The high N fertility tended to result in increased partitioning of biomass aboveground, resulting in significantly lower root to shoot ratios. Elevated CO₂ did not affect biomass allocation among tissues. Both atmospheric CO₂ and N fertility tended to affect concentration of C compounds in belowground, more than aboveground, tissues. Elevated CO₂ resulted in lower concentrations of starch, cellulose, and lignin, but increased concentrations of FWO in root tissues. High N fertility increased the concentration of starch, cellulose, and tannins, but resulted in lower concentrations of lignin and FWO in roots. Differences between CO₂ concentrations tended to occur only with high N fertility. Atmospheric CO₂ did not affect allocation patterns for any compound; however the high N treatment tended to result in a lower percentage of sugars, cellulose, and lignin belowground.Joseph W. Jones     

根结线虫病土引入秸秆碳源对土壤微生物生物量和原生动物的影响

研究了添加秸秆碳源在连续种植条件下对根结线虫病害严重土壤中微生物生物量和原生动物丰富度的影响. 供试作物为番茄, 设置3个梯度的小麦秸秆添加量\[1N(2.08 g·kg^-1)、2N (4.16 g·kg^-1)和4N(8.32 g·kg^-1)\].结果表明: 添加秸秆碳源对微生物生物量碳、氮和原生动物丰富度具有显著影响,且这种影响呈现为4N>2N>1N>CK.添加秸秆碳源对原生动物群落结构也具有显著影响,各处理鞭毛虫、肉足虫和纤毛虫的平均比例分别为36.0%、59.5%和4.5%.在相同秸秆添加量下,土壤微生物量碳氮、微生物碳氮比和原生动物丰富度随种植年限的延长而提高.     

Carbon density and distribution of six Chinese temperate forests

Quantifying forest carbon (C) storage and distribution is important for forest C cycling studies and terrestrial ecosystem mod-eling. Forest inventory and allometric approaches were used to measure C density and allocation in six representative temper-ate forests of similar stand age (42–59 years old) and growing under the same climate in northeastern China. The forests were an aspen-birch forest, a hardwood forest, a Korean pine plantation, a Dahurian larch plantation, a mixed deciduous forest, and a Mongolian oak forest. There were no significant differences in the C densities of ecosystem components (except for detritus) although the six forests had varying vegetation compositions and site conditions. However, the differences were significant when the C pools were normalized against stand basal area. The total ecosystem C density varied from 186.9 tC hm^-2 to 349.2 tC hm^-2 across the forests. The C densities of vegetation, detritus, and soil ranged from 86.3–122.7 tC hm^-2, 6.5–10.5 tC hm^-2, and 93.7–220.1 tC hm^-2, respectively, which accounted for 39.7%±7.1% (mean±SD), 3.3%±1.1%, and 57.0%±7.9% of the total C densities, respectively. The overstory C pool accounted for > 99% of the total vegetation C pool. The foliage bio-mass, small root (diameter < 5mm) biomass, root-shoot ratio, and small root to foliage biomass ratio varied from 2.08–4.72 tC hm^-2, 0.95–3.24 tC hm^-2, 22.0%–28.3%, and 34.5%–122.2%, respectively. The Korean pine plantation had the lowest foliage production efficiency (total biomass/foliage biomass: 22.6 g g^-1) among the six forests, while the Dahurian larch plantation had the highest small root production efficiency (total biomass/small root biomass: 124.7 g g^-1). The small root C density de-creased with soil depth for all forests except for the Mongolian oak forest, in which the small roots tended to be vertically dis-tributed downwards. The C density of coarse woody debris was significantly less in the two plantations than in the four natu-rally regenerated forests. The variability of C allocation patterns in a specific forest is jointly influenced by vegetation type, management history, and local water and nutrient availability. The study provides important data for developing and validating C cycling models for temperate forests.     

Biomass and carbon storage of the North American deciduous forest

Field measures of tree and shrub dimensions were used with established biomass equations in a stratified, two-stage cluster sampling design to estimate above-ground ovendry woody biomass and carbon storage of the eastern deciduous forest of North America. Biomass averaged 8.1 ± 1.4 (95% C.I.) kg/m² and totaled 18.1 ± 3.1 (95% C.I.) gigatons. Carbon storage averaged 3.6 ± 0.6 (95% C.I.) kg/m² and totaled 8.1 ± 1.4 (95% C.I.) gigatons. These values are lower than previous estimates commonly used in the analysis of the global carbon budget which range from 17.1 to 23.1 kg/m² for biomass and 7.7 to 10.4 kg/m² for carbon storage. These new estimates for the deciduous forest, together with earlier work in the boreal forest begin to reveal a pattern of overestimation of global carbon storage by vegetation in analyses of the global carbon budget. We discuss reasons for the differences between the new and earlier estimates, as well as implications for our understanding of the global carbon cycle.     

Lidar remote sensing of above-ground biomass in three biomes

Estimation of the amount of carbon stored in forests is a key challenge for understanding the global carbon cycle, one which remote sensing is expected to help address. However, estimation of carbon storage in moderate to high biomass forests is difficult for conventional optical and radar sensors. Lidar (light detection and ranging) instruments measure the vertical structure of forests and thus hold great promise for remotely sensing the quantity and spatial organization of forest biomass. In this study, we compare the relationships between lidar‐measured canopy structure and coincident field measurements of above‐ground biomass at sites in the temperate deciduous, temperate coniferous, and boreal coniferous biomes. A single regression for all three sites is compared with equations derived for each site individually. The single equation explains 84% of variance in above‐ground biomass (P < 0.0001) and shows no statistically significant bias in its predictions for any individual site.