闽江河口湿地植物枯落物立枯和倒伏分解主要元素动态

采用分解袋法,对闽江河口湿地2种挺水植物——芦苇(Phragmites australis)和互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)花和叶枯落物的立枯和倒伏分解过程及C、N、P元素动态进行研究。结果表明:(1)立枯分解是2种湿地盐沼植物重要的分解阶段,干物质损失率在13.26%—31.89%之间。多项式模型能较好描述2种植物花和叶的枯落物分解残留率动态。(2)立枯分解阶段,芦苇花和叶的C含量主要为波动下降,互花米草较为稳定;倒伏阶段后期,2种植物都以升高为主。立枯分解阶段2种植物枯落物N含量略有下降,而倒伏阶段逐渐上升。分解过程中枯落物P含量的波动较大。(3)2种植物花和叶C、N的NAI值在分解过程中<100%。芦苇的花和叶中P的NAI值在立枯和倒伏分解阶段都经历了明显下降和升高的过程,而互花米草在立枯阶段变化不大,倒伏阶段下降较为明显。(4)与芦苇相比,互花米草的花和叶枯落物C库较高,N库较低,P库差异不大。     

互花米草与短叶茳芏枯落物分解过程中碳氮磷化学计量学特征

为了揭示植物枯落物分解过程中元素生态化学计量学特征,对闽江河口湿地互花米草和短叶茳芏枯落物分解过程进行了测定.结果表明:整个分解期间内(2007年1-10月),在近潮沟生境和远潮沟生境,互花米草枯落物分解速率、氮磷养分含量低于短叶茳芏枯落物,但热值高于短叶茳芏枯落物;近潮沟生境,互花米草和短叶茳芏枯落物分解过程中平均C/N、C/P和N/P分别为70.5和34.7,2285.8和1210.7,32.8和35.4;远潮沟生境互花米草和短叶茳芏枯落物分解过程中平均C/N、C/P和N/P分别为72.7和33.2,2519.2和1167.0,34.0和35.9,两种生境下均表现为互花米草具有较高的C/N、C/P和较低的N/P;互花米草枯落物分解过程中具有较高的C/N和C/P,其分解速率较低.     

闽江河口湿地枯落物分解及主要影响因子

以闽江河口湿地挺水植物本地种芦苇和入侵种互花米草的花和叶枯落物为研究对象,采用分解袋法分析其分解过程及主要影响因素.结果表明:立枯分解(0～90 d)是2种湿地盐沼植物重要的分解阶段,芦苇和互花米草的花和叶质量损失率分别为(15.0±3.5)％、(13.3±1.1)％和(31.9±1.1)％、(20.8±1.4)％.倒伏分解阶段(91 ～210 d),芦苇和互花米草的花和叶质量损失率分别为(69.5±0.6)％、(71.5±2.5)％和(76.8±1.9)％、(67.5±2.1)％.在立枯分解阶段,2种挺水植物枯落物的分解速率与C/N呈正相关,与N/P呈负相关,分解过程受到P的限制程度较大.倒伏分解阶段,枯落物C/N、C/P和N/P的影响降低,而大气温湿度、土壤水分、酸碱度、盐度和沉积物特性等的影响加大.不同分解阶段枯落物分解影响因子的差异主要与其所处的微域环境和潮汐因素有关.     

盐度和淹水程度对短叶茳芏枯落物分解初期DOM含量及其组成结构的影响

选取闽江河口潮汐湿地短叶茳芏枯落物为研究对象,通过设置不同盐度(0、5、10、15)和淹水程度(不浸没分解袋,淹水Ⅰ和持续浸没分解袋,淹水Ⅱ)等处理,分析枯落物分解过程中可溶性有机物(DOM)的含量及组成结构的紫外光谱、荧光光谱和红外光谱学等变化特征。研究结果表明,在181 d的分解过程中,枯落物可溶性有机碳(DOC)、可溶性总氮(DTN)、可溶性无机氮(DIN)和可溶性有机氮(DON)等浓度在不同盐度和淹水处理下均有显著差异(P0.05)。盐度对DOC和DON影响不显著,但高盐组的DIN显著较低(P0.05);除淹水Ⅰ对照组外,各盐分处理组的芳香化指数(AI)随分解时间推移呈上升趋势。不同分解阶段对枯落物DOM组分和光谱特征有重要影响。分解前期(前89 d),淹水Ⅰ处理下,盐分升高可导致枯落物中的腐殖化指数(HIX_(syn), HIX_(em))降低。分解中、后期(120 d后),盐分较高条件下,腐殖质在枯落物中累积;而淹水Ⅱ处理下,盐分处理组在整个实验期内始终抑制枯落物的分解,腐殖化程度较高。淹水程度也会影响枯落物DOM的淋溶和腐殖化过程。在分解前期,淹水Ⅰ处理的AI和HIX_(em)显著高于淹水Ⅱ处理,而淹水Ⅱ处理下枯落物DOM较淹水Ⅰ处理更容易发生N的淋溶;分解中、后期,淹水Ⅱ处理下的厌氧环境反而抑制枯落物DOM中的腐殖质和芳香类物质析出。红外光谱分析表明,闽江河口短叶茳芏枯落物DOM中结构简单、容易分解的碳水化合物含量相对较高,但是不同淹水处理并未改变枯落物DOM的结构特征。     

闽江河口湿地枯落物分解及主要影响因子

以闽江河口湿地挺水植物本地种芦苇和入侵种互花米草的花和叶枯落物为研究对象,采用分解袋法分析其分解过程及主要影响因素.结果表明: 立枯分解(0～90 d)是2种湿地盐沼植物重要的分解阶段,芦苇和互花米草的花和叶质量损失率分别为(15.0±3.5)%、(13.3±1.1)%和(31.9±1.1)%、(20.8±1.4)%.倒伏分解阶段(91～210 d),芦苇和互花米草的花和叶质量损失率分别为(69.5±0.6)%、(71.5±2.5)%和(76.8±1.9)%、(67.5±2.1)%.在立枯分解阶段,2种挺水植物枯落物的分解速率与C/N呈正相关,与N/P呈负相关,分解过程受到P的限制程度较大.倒伏分解阶段,枯落物C/N、C/P和N/P的影响降低,而大气温湿度、土壤水分、酸碱度、盐度和沉积物特性等的影响加大.不同分解阶段枯落物分解影响因子的差异主要与其所处的微域环境和潮汐因素有关.     

互花米草生物量变化对盐沼沉积物有机碳的影响

以江苏王港典型互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)盐沼湿地为研究对象,分析光滩及互花米草滩沉积物中有机碳的水平和垂向分布特征,了解互花米草生物量的季节动态变化,探讨二者之间的相互关系,在此基础上研究互花米草生物量分布和季节变化对沉积物中有机碳(TOC)含量的影响。结果表明,互花米草枯落物中的有机碳数量在两个月内衰减了40%,而表层沉积物中TOC含量及其中互花米草来源TOC所占比例的变化,均与互花米草地表枯落物量的季节变化存在两个月的"相位差",这与枯落物快速分解时间大致吻合,说明枯落物是表层沉积物中TOC的重要来源。高达60%的互花米草地下生物量分布在0—20cm深度内,该深度范围内沉积物中TOC含量较高,且TOC主要来源于互花米草。此外,不同深度TOC含量与地下生物量之间存在良好的正相关关系,说明地下生物量是影响沉积物TOC含量的重要因子。研究区互花米草年固碳能力为2274g m-2a-1,盐沼沉积物中TOC埋藏速率达到了470 g m-2a-1,是地表一个重要的碳汇;同时研究区每年向近岸水域输出大量的TOC,是近岸海域生态系统的一个重要碳源。     

外来种互花米草和土著种芦苇空中凋落物氮动态的比较研究

土壤氮含量是限制植物生长的重要因素, 所以入侵植物要入侵成功必须突破土壤氮限制的瓶颈。近年来, 外来种互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)在中国海岸带盐沼中快速取代土著种芦苇(Phragmites australis), 引起了多方面的生态学后果。为了解互花米草与本地种芦苇空中凋落物的氮含量是否存在差异及产生这种差异的机制, 2003年11月至2004年4月, 作者在长江口九段沙湿地对互花米草与芦苇空中凋落物氮含量(单位面积凋落物的总氮量, N g/m²)进行了测定, 结果表明互花米草的氮含量比芦苇高。在空中分解过程中, 互花米草茎(包括叶鞘与秆)凋落物的氮含量显著上升, 但芦苇茎凋落物的氮含量显著降低。2006年1月, 又对中国海岸带6个地点的盐沼中互花米草的凋落物进行取样和氮浓度测定, 发现互花米草空中叶鞘与秆的老凋落物(2004年冬季产生)的氮浓度均显著高于其新产生的凋落物(2005年冬季产生), 表明在空中分解过程中, 互花米草叶鞘与秆凋落物氮含量增加具有普遍性。进一步的温室受控实验结果表明, 互花米草凋落物氮含量增加可能是由腐生固氮微生物引起的。以上结果表明,互花米草取代芦苇后, 改变了空中凋落物的氮动态, 增加了生态系统中氮的输入, 可能有利于互花米草的快速扩张。     

半干旱草地植物枯落物碳、氮和磷元素释放对放牧和封育管理的响应

在半干旱草地,关于放牧和封育管理对草地植物枯落物分解及其与土壤动物互作关系的研究一直是该区域生态系统物质循环与生态恢复过程研究的重要科学问题。以放牧和封育样地中赖草(Leymus secalinus)、牛枝子(Lespedeza potaninii)及其混合枯落物为研究对象。于2017年9月、2018年5月和9月、2019年5月和9月,采用2种不同孔径(30目和250目)网袋量化中小型土壤动物的作用,调查了宁夏半干旱草地枯落物碳、氮和磷元素分解与土壤动物群落分布及其对放牧和封育样地的响应规律。结果显示：(1)封育样地中,枯落物碳元素最终残留率均表现为3种枯落物处理间无显著差异;但250目网孔中枯落物氮、磷元素最终残留率和30目网孔中氮元素最终残留率均表现为牛枝子显著高于赖草和混合物,而后两者间无显著差异;仅30目网孔中磷元素最终残留率表现为牛枝子和混合物显著高于赖草,而前两者间无显著差异。放牧样地中,250目网孔的碳、磷元素最终残留率和30目网孔中的氮、磷元素最终残留率均表现为牛枝子显著高于混合物,而赖草居中;氮元素最终残留率表现为牛枝子显著高于赖草和混合物,后两者间无显著差异。(2)...     

闽江口潮滩湿地不同植被带土壤及间隙水中硅的分布特征

以闽江口潮滩湿地为研究对象,由岸及海方向对芦苇、短叶茳芏、互花米草(潮沟内)和互花米草(潮沟外)4种湿地土壤生物硅和土壤间隙水氮硅营养盐含量及其随深度变化的特征进行为期1a的季度观测。结果显示:互花米草(外)、短叶茳芏、芦苇和互花米草(内)带湿地土壤生物硅的年均含量依次降低,分别为14.33、10.40、9.98、7.50 mg/g;互花米草(外)、互花米草(内)、短叶茳芏和芦苇带湿地土壤间隙水活性硅酸盐年均含量依次降低,分别为407、359、344、323μmol/L;湿地各植被带土壤及间隙水含硅量均呈现夏秋季节高于冬春季节的趋势。统计分析表明:间隙水活性硅酸盐与土壤生物硅含量、距潮沟的距离之间的正相关性均比较显著(P0.05),温度对土壤中硅含量的影响也有一定的正相关性,说明湿地植被、温度和潮汐作用是影响闽江口湿地硅分布的重要因素。与土著种对比,互花米草入侵在一定程度上改变了闽江口潮滩湿地土壤硅分布的格局。     

胶州湾滨海湿地枯落物分解过程中枯落物-土壤养分动态

通过为期52 d的室内实验模拟胶州湾滨海湿地米草、碱蓬、芦苇枯落物的分解过程,测定枯落物及土壤中有机碳(TOC)、氮(N)和磷(P)含量,研究枯落物分解过程中枯落物-土壤养分的动态变化。结果表明:52 d的分解过程中,米草、碱蓬和芦苇枯落物碳损失分别占初始总碳含量的24.44%、74.20%和49.75%;土壤中碳发生净积累;米草枯落物中氮发生净积累,碱蓬枯落物中氮发生净释放,芦苇枯落物中氮先积累后释放,后两者枯落物氮损失分别占初始总氮含量的37.93%和4.81%;土壤中氮发生净积累;枯落物和土壤中磷均表现为净释放,米草、碱蓬和芦苇枯落物磷损失分别占初始总磷含量的42.37%、59.27%和28.48%;枯落物-土壤系统中C、N、P的动态变化与枯落物和土壤性质密切相关,这主要是由微生物的活性和养分需求决定的。     

鄱阳湖湿地优势植物枯落物的分解速率及碳、氮、磷释放动态特征

植物枯落物分解对生态系统碳通量和养分循环有至关重要的作用,这一过程主要由3个相互作用的因素决定,即化学（枯落物理化特性）、物理（气候和环境）以及生物（参与枯落物分解的微生物和无脊椎动物）因素。在气候和立地环境条件相同的情况下,枯落物质量是制约分解的内在因素。在鄱阳湖湿地开展了野外定位观测实验,采用分解袋技术研究了鄱阳湖湿地优势植物芦苇（Phragmite）、南荻（Triarrhena lutarioriparia）和薹草（Carex.cinerascens Kükenth）枯落物分解速率及碳（C）、氮（N）、磷（P）元素释放动态特的征差异性。结果表明,在0-150 d内三种植物枯落物的干物质分解速率和残留率以及碳相对归还指数（CRRI）、氮相对归还指数（NRRI）、磷相对归还指数（PRRI）差异性都极其显著。在0-150 d内分解速率都是芦苇的最大,薹草的次之,南荻最小。分解进行150 d后,芦苇、南荻和薹草枯落物干物质残留率依次约为56.57%、67.99%和60.88%,CRRI依次约为57.44%、34.58%和41.75%,NRRI依次约为50.71%、-22.66%、和23.18%,PRRI依次约为88.91%、79.27%和85.63%。用Olson负指数衰减模型拟合方程预测芦苇、南荻、薹草枯落物分解完成50%所需的时间大约依次为184 d、249 d和210 d,分解完成95%所需的时间依次为795 d、1078 d和908 d。芦苇和薹草枯落物碳、氮和磷在分解过程中都表现出净释放模式,而南荻枯落物的碳和磷也一直表现为净释放模式,但是氮一直表现为净积累模式。芦苇分解过程中的营养释放作用最强,而南荻群落对氮的吸收和富集效应最强。研究表明植物种类及基质物质量对枯落物分解及其养分释放有很强的调控作用。今后的研究应考虑不同物种枯落物混合时的分解过程以及分解过程中的微生物因素,以便能揭示植物群落物种多样性及微生物活动在湿地生物地球化学循环中的调控作用机制,以期为鄱阳湖湿地碳、氮和磷的生物地球化学循环提供更新的认识,为鄱阳湖湿地的科学管理、保护与恢复提供科学依据。     

黄土高原典型草原优势植物凋落物分解及养分释放对氮添加的响应

利用原位分解袋法研究了黄土高原典型草原优势植物长芒草(Stipa bungeana)和阿尔泰狗娃花(Heteropappus altaicus)凋落物的养分释放过程对氮添加的响应,试验周期为1 a。设置6个氮添加水平,分别为N0(0)、N1(1.15 g N m~(-2)a~(-1))、N2(2.3 g N m~(-2)a~(-1))、N3(4.6 g N m~(-2)a~(-1))、N4(9.2 g N m~(-2)a~(-1))和N5(13.8 g N m~(-2)a~(-1)),氮素类型为尿素((NH_2)_2CO)。结果表明:(1)氮添加处理两年显著改变了长芒草和阿尔泰狗娃花凋落物的初始化学性质。随着氮梯度的增加,凋落物的N(氮)含量逐渐增加,木质素含量先增加后下降,C/N(碳氮比)和木质素/N降低,C(碳)、P(磷)和C/P(碳磷比)没有显著的差异。(2)氮处理对长芒草和阿尔泰狗娃花凋落物的分解速率的影响不显著。长芒草和阿尔泰狗娃花凋落物C含量随分解时间整体为降低过程,N和P含量总体上为增加过程,且整个分解过程中N含量各处理间差异显著。(3)氮处理对长芒草和阿尔泰狗娃花凋落物C和P的分解基本无影响,两种元素都呈现释放过程。氮处理对凋落物的N残留率有显著的影响,在N1—N3(1.15—4.6 g/m~2)处理下的长芒草凋落物N残留率高于其他处理,且呈现富集过程;而阿尔泰狗娃花凋落物中的N呈现富集-释放过程。在土壤养分贫瘠的黄土高原典型草原,适量的氮输入可以促进系统的固氮。     

杉木人工林凋落物分解对氮沉降的响应

凋落物分解是陆地生态系统养分循环的关键过程,是全球碳（C）收支的一个重要主要组成部分,正受到全球大气氮（N）沉降的深刻影响。探讨大气氮沉降条件下森林凋落物的分解,有利于揭示森林生态系统C平衡和养分循环对全球变化的响应。选择福建沙县官庄林场1992年栽种的杉木（Cunninghamia lanceolata）人工林为研究对象,自2004年开始野外模拟氮沉降试验,至今12年。氮沉降处理分4个水平,N0、N1、N2和N3分别为0、60、120、240 kg N hm^-2 a^-1。2015年12月开展分解袋试验,对经过氮沉降处理12年的凋落物（叶、枝、果）进行模拟原位分解,每3个月收回一次分解袋样品,为期2年,同时测定凋落物干物质残留量及其C、N和磷（P）含量。结果表明,经2年分解后,氮沉降条件下凋落物叶、枝和果的干物质残留率平均值分别为27.68%、47.02%和43.18%,说明分解速率大小依次为叶 > 果 > 枝。凋落物叶、枝和果的分解系数平均为0.588、0.389和0.455,周转期（分解95%年限）分别为4-5年、6-8年和5-7年。低-中氮处理（N1和N2）均促进凋落物叶、枝和果的分解,以N1的效果更明显,而N3起到抑制作用。N1处理的凋落物叶、枝和果的周转期分别为：4.50年、6.09年和5.85年,N2处理的分别为4.95年、8.16年和6.19年。模拟氮沉降在一定程度上增加了凋落物叶、枝和果分解过程中的N和P含量,但降低了C含量。凋落物叶、枝和果分解过程中C元素呈现释放-富集-释放模式,N和P元素呈现释放与富集交替,除枝的N元素外,其他均表现为释放量大于富集量。     

模拟N沉降下不同林龄马尾松林凋落叶分解-土壤C、N化学计量特征

模拟N沉降对森林生态系统的影响是当今全球变化生态学研究的一个热点问题,土壤碳库对N沉降比较敏感,N沉降增加了凋落叶分解过程中外源N含量,间接影响凋落叶分解的化学过程并改变凋落叶分解速率,因此,研究模拟N沉降下凋落叶分解-土壤C-N关系对预测森林C吸存有重要意义。利用原位分解袋法研究了模拟N沉降下三峡库区不同林龄马尾松林(Pinus massoniana)凋落叶分解过程中凋落叶-土壤C、N化学计量响应及其关系;N沉降水平分对照(CK,0 g m~(-2)a~(-1))、低氮(LN,5 g m~(-2)a~(-1))、中氮(MN,10 g m~(-2)a~(-1))和高氮(HN,15 g m~(-2)a~(-1))。结果表明:分解540 d后,N沉降促进20年生和30年生马尾松林凋落叶分解,46年生马尾松林中仅低氮处理促进凋落叶分解,4种处理均是30年生分解最快,说明同一树种起始N含量低的凋落叶对N沉降呈正响应,N沉降处理促进起始N含量低的凋落叶分解,起始N含量高的凋落叶分解过程中易达到"N饱和"。N沉降抑制20年生和46年生凋落叶C释放(低于对照0.62%—6.69%),促进30年生C释放(高于对照0.28%—5.55%);30年生和46年生林分N固持量均高于对照(高于对照0.15%—21.34%),20年生则低于对照(5.70%—13.87%),说明模拟N沉降处理促进起始C含量低的凋落叶C释放和起始N含量低的凋落叶N固持。N沉降处理下仅30年生马尾松林土壤有机碳较对照增加,且土壤有机质与凋落叶C、N和分解速率呈正相关,与凋落叶C/N比呈显著负相关;土壤总氮与凋落叶分解速率、凋落叶N含量呈正相关,土壤有机碳/总氮比与凋落叶C、N含量呈正相关;对照处理中凋落叶分解指标对土壤养分影响顺序是分解速率凋落物C含量凋落物C/N比凋落物N含量,低、中、高氮处理中则是凋落物C含量分解速率凋落物N含量凋落物C/N比。研究表明低土壤养分含量马尾松林对N沉降呈正响应,N沉降促进低土壤养分马尾松林凋落叶分解并提高土壤肥力;凋落叶质量和土壤养分含量低的生态系统土壤C对N沉降响应更显著。     

Effects of nitrogen addition on litter decomposition, soil microbial biomass, and enzyme activities between leguminous and non-leguminous forests

Anthropogenic nitrogen (N) deposition is an expanding problem that affects the functioning and composition of forest ecosystems, particularly the decomposition of forest litters. Legumes play an important role in the nitrogen cycle of forest ecosystems. Two litter types were chosen from Zijin Mountain in China: Robinia pseudoacacia leaves from a leguminous forest (LF) and Liquidambar formosana leaves from a non-leguminous forest (NF). The litter samples were mixed into original forest soils and incubated in microcosms. Then, they were treated by five forms of N addition: NH₄ ⁺, NO₃ ^?, urea, glycine, and a mixture of all four. During a 6-month incubation period, litter mass losses, soil microbial biomass, soil pH, and enzyme activities were investigated. Results showed that mixed N and NO₃ ^?-N addition significantly accelerated the litter decomposition rates of LF leaves, while mixed N, glycine-N, and urea-N addition significantly accelerated the litter decomposition rates of NF leaves. Litter decomposition rates and soil enzyme activities under mixed N addition were higher than those under single form of N additions in the two forest types. Nitrogen addition had no significant effects on soil pH and soil microbial biomass. The results indicate that nitrogen addition may alter microbial allocation to extracellular enzyme production without affecting soil microbial biomass, and then affected litter decomposition process. The results further reveal that mixed N is a more important factor in controlling litter decomposition process than single form of N, and may seriously affect soil N cycle and the release of carbon stored belowground.     

Decomposition of standing litter of the freshwater emergent macrophyte Juncus effusus

1. Standing dead plant litter of emergent macrophytes frequently constitutes a significant fraction of the detrital mass in many freshwater wetland and littoral habitats. Rates of leaf senescence and decomposition of the emergent macrophyte Juncus effusus were examined in a small freshwater wetland in central Alabama, U.S.A. Juncus effusus leaves in the initial stages of senescence were tagged in random plant tussocks and monitored periodically to determine in situ rates of leaf senescence and death. Fully senescent leaves were collected, placed in litter bags, and suspended above the sediments to simulate standing dead decay conditions. Litter bags were periodically retrieved over 2 years and analysed for weight loss, litter nutrient contents (N, P), associated fungal biomass and fungal taxa. 2. Senescence and death of J. effusus leaves proceeds from the leaf tip to the base at an exponential rate. The rate of senescence and death of leaf tissue increased with increasing temperatures. Plant litter decomposition was slow (k = 0.40 yr^–1), with 49% weight loss observed in 2 years. Both the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentration (%) of litter increased during decomposition. However, the total amount of nitrogen (mg) in litter bags remained stable and phosphorus increased slightly during the study period. 3. Fungal biomass associated with plant litter, as measured by ergosterol concentrations, varied between 3 and 8% of the total detrital weight. Values were not significantly different among sampling dates (P > 0.05, ANOVA, Tukey). Fungi frequently identified on decaying litter were Drechslera sp., Conioscypha lignicola (Hyphomycetes), Phoma spp. (Coelomycetes), Panellus copelandii and Marasmiellus sp. (Basidiomycota). 4. These results support previous findings that plant litter of emergent macrophytes does not require submergence or collapse to the sediment surface to initiate microbial colonization and litter decomposition.     

The contribution of leaching to the rapid release of nutrients and carbon in the early decay of wetland vegetation

Our goal was to quantify the coupled process of litter turnover and leaching as a source of nutrients and fixed carbon in oligotrophic, nutrient-limited wetlands. We conducted poisoned and non-poisoned incubations of leaf material from four different perennial wetland plants (Eleocharis spp., Cladium jamaicense, Rhizophora mangle and Spartina alterniflora) collected from different oligotrophic freshwater and estuarine wetland settings. Total phosphorus (TP) release from the P-limited Everglades plant species (Eleocharis spp., C. jamaicense and R. mangle) was much lower than TP release by the salt marsh plant S. alterniflora from N-limited North Inlet (SC). For most species and sampling times, total organic carbon (TOC) and TP leaching losses were much greater in poisoned than non-poisoned treatments, likely as a result of epiphytic microbial activity. Therefore, a substantial portion of the C and P leached from these wetland plant species was bio-available to microbial communities. Even the microbes associated with S. alterniflora from N-limited North Inlet showed indications of P-limitation early in the leaching process, as P was removed from the water column. Leaves of R. mangle released much more TOC per gram of litter than the other species, likely contributing to the greater waterborne [DOC] observed by others in the mangrove ecotone of Everglades National Park. Between the two freshwater Everglades plants, C. jamaicense leached nearly twice as much P than Eleocharis spp. In scaling this to the landscape level, our observed leaching losses combined with higher litter production of C. jamaicense compared to Eleocharis spp. resulted in a substantially greater P leaching from plant litter to the water column and epiphytic microbes. In conclusion, leaching of fresh plant litter can be an important autochthonous source of nutrients in freshwater and estuarine wetland ecosystems.     

Litter decomposition promotes differential feedbacks in an oligotrophic southern Everglades wetland

The differential accumulation or loss of carbon and nutrients during decomposition can promote differentiation of wetland ecosystems, and contribute to landscape-scale heterogeneity. Tree islands are important ecosystems because they increase ecological heterogeneity in the Everglades landscape and in many tropical landscapes. Only slight differences in elevation due to peat accumulation allow the differentiation of these systems from the adjacent marsh. Hydrologic restoration of the Everglades landscape is currently underway, and increased nutrient supply that could occur with reintroduction of freshwater flow may alter these differentiation processes. In this study, we established a landscape-scale, ecosystem-level experiment to examine litter decomposition responses to increased freshwater flow in nine tree islands and adjacent marsh sites in the southern Everglades. We utilized a standard litterbag technique to quantify changes in mass loss, decay rates, and phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) dynamics of a common litter type, cocoplum (Chrysobalanus icaco L.) leaf litter over 64 weeks. Average C. icaco leaf degradation rates in tree islands were among the lowest reported for wetland ecosystems (0.23 ± 0.03 yr⁻¹). We found lower mass loss and decay rates but higher absolute mass C, N, and P in tree islands as compared to marsh ecosystems after 64 weeks. With increased freshwater flow, we found generally greater mass loss and significantly higher P concentrations in decomposing leaf litter of tree island and marsh sites. Overall, litter accumulated N and P when decomposing in tree islands, and released P when decomposing in the marsh. However, under conditions of increased freshwater flow, tree islands accumulated more P while the marsh accumulated P rather than mineralizing P. In tree islands, water level explained significant variation in P concentration and N:P molar ratio in leaf tissue. Absolute P mass increased strongly with total P load in tree islands (r ² = 0.81). In the marsh, we found strong, positive relationships with flow rate. Simultaneous C and P accumulation in tree island and mineralization in adjacent marsh ecosystems via leaf litter decomposition promotes landscape differentiation in this oligotrophic Everglades wetland. However, results of this study suggest that variation in flow rates, water levels and TP loads can shift differential P accumulation and loss leading to unidirectional processes among heterogeneous wetland ecosystems. Under sustained high P loading that could occur with increased freshwater flow, tree islands may shift to litter mineralization, further degrading landscape heterogeneity in this system, and signaling an altered ecosystem state.     

美国南卡罗来纳州森林湿地十种典型植物凋落叶的分解特征

凋落叶分解是控制森林湿地物质循环的重要生态过程,是全球C、N等元素循环的重要一部分。以美国南卡罗来纳州10种典型植物的凋落叶为研究对象,通过2a的分解实验测定分解阶段凋落叶的生物量残留率、分解速率常数k和C、N残留百分比,探讨初始凋落叶化学性质对分解速率常数k的影响。结果表明:(1)十种凋落叶生物量在两年内降解至初始的14.5%—66.2%,种间差异可达4倍以上;分解速率常数k在0.26—1.64a~(-1)之间,针叶分解速率阔叶分解速率;(2)分解速率常数k与初始凋落叶酸溶性组分(AS)极显著正相关(P0.001),与初始C含量、酸不溶组分(AIF)和AIF/N比均显著负相关(P0.05);(3)凋落叶C残留百分比持续下降至10.2%—66.1%,而N残留百分比因物种与分解阶段不同呈现不同变化规律。结果表明,森林湿地中凋落叶初始C组分差异是其分解速率的种间极大差异的主要原因,评估森林湿地的C、N循环应充分考虑种间差异。     

High Temperature and Salinity Enhance Soil Nitrogen Mineralization in a Tidal Freshwater Marsh

Soil nitrogen (N) mineralization in wetlands is sensitive to various environmental factors. To compare the effects of salinity and temperature on N mineralization, wetland soils from a tidal freshwater marsh locating in the Yellow River Delta was incubated over a 48-d anaerobic incubation period under four salinity concentrations (0, 10, 20 and 35‰) and four temperature levels (10, 20, 30 and 40°C). The results suggested that accumulated ammonium nitrogen (NH₄ ⁺-N) increased with increasing incubation time under all salinity concentrations. Higher temperatures and salinities significantly enhanced soil N mineralization except for a short-term (≈10 days) inhibiting effect found under 35‰ salinity. The incubation time, temperature, salinity and their interactions exhibited significant effects on N mineralization (P<0.001) except the interactive effect of salinity and temperature (P>0.05), while temperature exhibited the greatest effect (P<0.001). Meanwhile, N mineralization processes were simulated using both an effective accumulated temperature model and a one-pool model. Both models fit well with the simulation of soil N mineralization process in the coastal freshwater wetlands under a range of 30 to 40°C (R² = 0.88–0.99, P<0.01). Our results indicated that an enhanced NH₄ ⁺-N release with increasing temperature and salinity deriving from the projected global warming could have profound effects on nutrient cycling in coastal wetland ecosystems.