湖泊硫循环微生物研究进展

湖泊是响应气候和环境变化的关键生态系统,是研究元素(如碳、氮和硫等)生物地球化学循环的热点环境。湖泊(尤其咸盐湖)具有硫酸盐含量高且含硫化合物种类丰富的特点,因而湖泊中硫元素生物地球化学循环过程非常活跃。微生物是驱动湖泊硫循环的重要推手。因此,研究湖泊中微生物参与的硫元素生物地球化学循环过程以及相关微生物类群构成,对于深入探索微生物在湖泊生态系统中的作用具有重要意义。本文综述了湖泊中驱动硫循环的微生物(硫氧化菌和硫酸盐还原菌)种群多样性、功能基因、代谢途径、硫氧化/硫酸盐还原速率及其对环境条件变化响应等方面的研究现状,并对未来湖泊微生物驱动的硫循环研究方向进行了展望。     

湖泊微生物反硝化过程及速率研究进展

湖泊中微生物介导的反硝化过程对于区域乃至全球的气候环境变化有着深远的影响。因此,研究湖泊微生物反硝化过程及速率有助于我们深刻理解湖泊氮元素生物地球化学循环规律,全面认识湖泊生境对全球氮循环的贡献。本文综述了湖泊生境中反硝化过程(包括典型的反硝化过程及与其他物质循环耦合的反硝化过程,如与有机氮耦合的共反硝化作用、与碳循环耦合的硝酸盐/亚硝酸盐依赖型厌氧甲烷氧化、与铁循环耦合的硝酸盐依赖型铁氧化、与硫循环耦合的硝酸盐还原硫氧化)的速率、驱动微生物及其影响因素。最后对湖泊反硝化过程研究现状和未来发展方向提出总结与展望。     

生源要素有效性及生物因子对湿地土壤碳矿化的影响

湿地土壤是全球碳存储的重要场所,湿地生态系统的碳循环过程对全球变化有重要指示作用。土壤碳矿化是湿地生态系统碳循环的重要环节,对于认知湿地生态系统生物地球化学循环过程具有重要的意义。综述了生源要素及生物因素对湿地土壤碳矿化的内在作用机制。土壤活性有机碳库通过调节土壤能源物质和微生物活性影响土壤碳库的有效性,是表征土壤碳矿化的敏感指标。湿地其它养分如N、P、S等元素的有效性也是影响土壤碳矿化的关键要素。电子受体(NO₃^-、SO₄^2-、Fe³⁺、Mn⁴⁺等)对湿地土壤碳矿化和有机碳转变的影响主要通过电子受体的还原过程完成,在厌氧分解过程中,湿地土壤利用难溶性电子受体可能是土壤C矿化的更重要途径。动物、植物、微生物群落和区系等则是土壤碳矿化的主要驱动因子。土壤动物区系在有机态养分矿化为无机态养分的过程有着独特的功能,能显著增加土壤碳矿化。土壤微生物的活性,决定着土壤中有机碎屑的降解速率,是土壤有机碳分解周转的主要诱导因素。湿地植物则通过影响根系、微生物呼吸底物的供应以及对小气候和土壤因子的调节而影响土壤有机质的分解。湿地生源要素和生物因子还极易与土壤理化性质如温度、水分、pH值和质地等环境因素形成交互和制约,共同影响土壤碳矿化。最后,提出了进一步研究生源要素和生物因素与湿地土壤碳矿化关系需要解决的一些重要问题。     

高原湿地的碳循环

<正>湿地生态系统是陆地生态系统中仅次于森林生态系统的最大碳库,湿地生态系统碳循环在全球碳循环中起着重要作用。湿地独特的水文条件,使得湿地碳循环具有与其他生态系统不同的特点。湿地土壤有机碳的循环过程生态系统有机碳的积累取决于系统植被净初级生产力(NPP)与有机碳分解和净排放之间的差异。湿地植物残体因受湿地多水和还原性强的限制,其分解、转化速度比较缓慢,通常以泥炭或有机质的形式表现为有     

稳定碳同位素技术在土壤-植物系统碳循环中的应用

碳作为重要的生命元素,在土壤-植物系统物质循环中发挥重要作用.作为一种天然的示踪物,稳定碳同位素（13C）较放射性同位素具有安全、无污染、易控制的优点,在土壤-植物生态系统碳循环研究中得到广泛应用.通过检测土壤-植物体系中稳定碳同位素的自然丰度或采用稳定碳同位素标记有机材料,能够较真实地了解植物的光合特性、光合产物在土壤-植物体系中的运转及其在土壤中的分解、转化等过程.本文概述了稳定碳同位素技术在植物光合作用及光合产物运转、古气候重建、土壤有机质周转以及植物-根际微生物相互作用等方面的研究进展,并针对当前研究中存在的问题提出了今后的研究展望.     

稳定碳同位素技术在土壤-植物系统碳循环中的应用

碳作为重要的生命元素,在土壤 植物系统物质循环中发挥重要作用.作为一种天然的示踪物,稳定碳同位素（¹³C）较放射性同位素具有安全、无污染、易控制的优点,在土壤 植物生态系统碳循环研究中得到广泛应用.通过检测土壤 植物体系中稳定碳同位素的自然丰度或采用稳定碳同位素标记有机材料,能够较真实地了解植物的光合特性、光合产物在土壤 植物体系中的运转及其在土壤中的分解、转化等过程.本文概述了稳定碳同位素技术在植物光合作用及光合产物运转、古气候重建、土壤有机质周转以及植物 根际微生物相互作用等方面的研究进展,并针对当前研究中存在的问题提出了今后的研究展望.     

基于碳、氮稳定同位素技术的东太湖水生食物网结构

稳定同位素技术是研究生态系统食物网中物质循环与能量流动的有效技术之一。碳稳定同位素比值(δ13C)常用来分析消费者食物来源,而氮稳定同位素比值(δ15N)常用来确定生物在食物网中的营养位置。本研究应用碳、氮稳定同位素技术构建了东太湖食物网结构。结果表明:东太湖食物网主要由两条营养传递途径组成,即浮游植物为初级生产者的浮游营养传递途径和苦草等大型水生植物为初级生产者的近岸底层营养传递途径,湖中9种主要鱼虾类能量主要来自近岸底层传递;翘嘴鲌(Erythroculter ilishaeformis)、鳜(Siniperca chuatsi)和鲶(Silurus sp.)作为湖泊中的顶极捕食者,具有相对最高的营养级,并占据食物网的顶层。     

菌根真菌在陆地生态系统碳循环中的作用

在陆地生态系统中,土壤、植被与大气之间有着可观的碳交换通量,陆地生态系统碳循环也和全球气候变化密切关联。菌根真菌可与绝大多数陆地植物建立菌根共生关系,通过矿质养分-碳交换连接起生态系统地上与地下部分,深度参与和影响陆地生态系统的碳循环过程。该文从碳的输入,土壤有机质的形成、稳定和分解等4个关键环节分别论述了菌根真菌在陆地生态系统碳循环中的作用。研究表明,菌根真菌在陆地生态系统碳的输入过程中扮演关键角色,其通过改善植物矿质营养,参与植物逆境响应,影响植物的光合作用强度,以及调控植物多样性与生产力之间的关系等多种途径,维持或提高植被初级生产力;大气中的CO₂被植物固定后,一部分碳经由菌丝网络输送到土壤中,随后经微生物的分解和转化,与矿物结合或被团聚体包裹而被稳定在土壤中;同时,菌根真菌通过影响根际激发效应和菌丝际生物化学过程,如分泌特定胞外酶,与菌丝际微生物互作,驱动芬顿反应,以及与腐生微生物竞争等,调控土壤有机质的分解和转化过程。考虑到菌根真菌对环境和气候变化的敏感性,该文还探讨了全球变化因子对菌根真菌介导的碳循环过程的影响。最后,该文对未来研究方向进行了展望,并提...     

碳同位素示踪技术及其在陆地生态系统碳循环研究中的应用与展望

碳同位素示踪技术具有高度的专一性和灵敏度, 经过几十年的发展, 形成了一系列成熟的标记方法, 在陆地生态系统碳循环过程的研究中已得到广泛应用。目前, 自然丰度法、与¹³C贫化示踪技术结合的自由空气中气体浓度增加(FACE)实验、脉冲与连续标记法以及碳同位素高丰度底物富集标记法是研究陆地生态系统碳循环过程常用的碳同位素示踪方法; 通过将长期定位实验和室内模拟实验结合, 量化光合碳在植物-土壤系统的传输与分配特征, 明确植物光合碳对土壤有机质的来源、稳定化过程的影响及其微生物驱动机制; 阐明土壤碳动态变化(迁移与转化)和新碳与老碳对土壤碳库储量的相对贡献, 评估有机碳输入、转化与稳定的生物与非生物微观界面过程机制。然而, 生态系统碳循环受气候、植被、人为活动等多因素影响, 碳同位素技术需要结合质谱、光谱技术实现原位示踪, 结合分子生物学技术阐明其微生物驱动机制, 从而构建灵敏、准确、多尺度、多方位的同位素示踪技术体系。因此, 该文以稳定碳同位素为主, 综述了碳同位素示踪技术的原理、分析方法和在陆地生态系统碳循环过程中的应用进展, 归纳总结了碳同位素示踪技术结合原位检测技术和分子生物学技术的研究进展和应用前景, 并对碳同位素示踪技术存在的问题进行了分析和展望。     

细菌与古菌之间的直接电子传递

冰川占地球陆地表面的11%,储存了约10⁴ Pg有机碳。随着冰川消融有机碳被释放至下游生态系统中,刺激海洋、湖泊和径流的初级生产力进而影响其生态系统。微生物参与的固碳过程决定了冰川有机碳储量及向下游输出碳量。研究冰川固碳微生物群落构成及其生态功能,可为估算冰川碳积累量和保护下游生态系统提供数据基础。本文综述了冰川碳储量和释放量、冰川生态系统主要固碳途径、固碳微生物群落组成、固碳速率以及影响固碳速率的环境因素。最后基于研究现状展望了冰川生态系统固碳微生物的未来研究和发展方向。     

Shallow lakes theory revisited: various alternative regimes driven by climate,nutrients, depth and lake size

Shallow lakes have become the archetypical example of ecosystems with alternative stable states. However, since the early conception of that theory, the image of ecosystem stability has been elaborated for shallow lakes far beyond the simple original model. After discussing how spatial heterogeneity and fluctuation of environmental conditions may affect the stability of lakes, we review work demonstrating that the critical nutrient level for lakes to become turbid is higher for smaller lakes, and seems likely to be affected by climatic change too. We then show how the image of just two contrasting states has been elaborated. Different groups of primary producers may dominate shallow lakes, and such states dominated by a particular group may often represent alternative stable states. In tropical lakes, or small stagnant temperate waters, free-floating plants may represent an alternative stable state. Temperate shallow lakes may be dominated alternatively by charophytes, submerged angiosperms, green algae or cyanobacteria. The change of the lake communities along a gradient of eutrophication may therefore be seen as a continuum in which gradual species replacements are interrupted at critical points by more dramatic shifts to a contrasting alternative regime dominated by different species. The originally identified shift between a clear and a turbid state remains one of the more dramatic examples, but is surely not the only discontinuity that can be observed in the response of these ecosystems to environmental change.     

Long-term pattern of alternative stable states in two shallow eutrophic lakes

• 1 Lake Tåkern and Lake Krankesjön, two moderately eutrophic, shallow lakes in southern Sweden, have during the past few decades shifted several times between a clear-water state with abundant submerged vegetation and a turbid state with high phytoplankton densities.
• 2 Between 1985 and 1991, Lake Takern was in a clear state, whereas Lake Krankesjon shifted from a turbid to a clear state. During this shift, the area covered by submerged macrophytes expanded, followed by an increase in water transparency, plant-associated macroinvertebrates, and piscivorous fish. Nutrient concentrations, phytoplankton biomass and abundance of planktonic cladocerans decreased.
• 3 In both lakes, water level fluctuations were the most common factor causing shifts, affecting submerged macrophytes either through changes in light availability or through catastrophic events such as dry-out or mechanical damage by ice movement.
• 4 Our data give further support for the existence of two alternative stable states in shallow lakes maintained by self-stabilizing feedback mechanisms.

     

Long Transients Near the Ghost of a Stable State in Eutrophic Shallow Lakes with Fluctuating Water Levels

Alternative stable states in shallow lakes have received much attention over the past decades, but less is known about transient dynamics of such lakes in the face of stochastic perturbations such as incidental extremes in water levels driven by climatic variability. Here, we report on the ecosystem dynamics of 70 lakes in the floodplains of the Lower Rhine in The Netherlands from 1999 to 2004. In any particular year, most lakes were either in a macrophyte-dominated clear state or in a contrasting state with turbid water and sparse submerged macrophyte cover. Macrophyte dominance was positively related to the occurrence of drawdown, and negatively to lake surface area and mean depth. We did not find a relation with nutrient levels. Remarkably, shifts between the two contrasting states were common, and episodes of low water levels appear to be an important external driver. A dry period before our study and the exceptionally dry summer of 2003 caused widespread drawdown of floodplain lakes, resulting in establishment of submerged macrophytes in the next year upon refill. In the 4 years without drawdown, many lakes returned to a macrophyte-poor turbid state. Although some lakes turned turbid again quickly, others took several years to shift into the turbid state. A model analysis suggests that such prolonged transient vegetated states may be explained by the fact that the system dynamics slow down in the vicinity of the “almost stable” macrophyte-dominated state. Such a “ghost” of an equilibrium causes the system to stick around that state relatively long before slipping into the only true stable state. Our results support the idea that transient dynamics rather than equilibrium may be the key to understanding the overall state of some ecosystems. A practical implication of our findings is that artificial stabilization of the water level in shallow lakes may have been an important factor aggravating the permanent loss of submerged macrophytes due to cultural eutrophication.     

Divergence in plant and microbial allocation strategies explains continental patterns in microbial allocation and biogeochemical fluxes

Allocation trade‐offs shape ecological and biogeochemical phenomena at local to global scale. Plant allocation strategies drive major changes in ecosystem carbon cycling. Microbial allocation to enzymes that decompose carbon vs. organic nutrients may similarly affect ecosystem carbon cycling. Current solutions to this allocation problem prioritise stoichiometric tradeoffs implemented in plant ecology. These solutions may not maximise microbial growth and fitness under all conditions, because organic nutrients are also a significant carbon resource for microbes. I created multiple allocation frameworks and simulated microbial growth using a microbial explicit biogeochemical model. I demonstrate that prioritising stoichiometric trade‐offs does not optimise microbial allocation, while exploiting organic nutrients as carbon resources does. Analysis of continental‐scale enzyme data supports the allocation patterns predicted by this framework, and modelling suggests large deviations in soil C loss based on which strategy is implemented. Therefore, understanding microbial allocation strategies will likely improve our understanding of carbon cycling and climate.     

Mechanisms of plant species impacts on ecosystem nitrogen cycling

Plant species are hypothesized to impact ecosystem nitrogen cycling in two distinctly different ways. First, differences in nitrogen use efficiency can lead to positive feedbacks on the rate of nitrogen cycling. Alternatively, plant species can also control the inputs and losses of nitrogen from ecosystems. Our current understanding of litter decomposition shows that most nitrogen present within litter is not released during decomposition but incorporated into soil organic matter. This nitrogen retention is caused by an increase in the relative nitrogen content in decomposing litter and a much lower carbon‐to‐nitrogen ratio of soil organic matter. The long time lag between plant litter formation and the actual release of nitrogen from the litter results in a bottleneck, which prevents feedbacks of plant quality differences on nitrogen cycling. Instead, rates of gross nitrogen mineralization, which are often an order of magnitude higher than net mineralization, indicate that nitrogen cycling within ecosystems is dominated by a microbial nitrogen loop. Nitrogen is released from the soil organic matter and incorporated into microbial biomass. Upon their death, the nitrogen is again incorporated into the soil organic matter. However, this microbial nitrogen loop is driven by plant‐supplied carbon and provides a strong negative feedback through nitrogen cycling on plant productivity. Evidence supporting this hypothesis is strong for temperate grassland ecosystems. For other terrestrial ecosystems, such as forests, tropical and boreal regions, the data are much more limited. Thus, current evidence does not support the view that differences in the efficiency of plant nitrogen use lead to positive feedbacks. In contrast, soil microbes are the dominant factor structuring ecosystem nitrogen cycling. Soil microbes derive nitrogen from the decomposition of soil organic matter, but this microbial activity is driven by recent plant carbon inputs. Changes in plant carbon inputs, resulting from plant species shifts, lead to a negative feedback through microbial nitrogen immobilization. In contrast, there is abundant evidence that plant species impact nitrogen inputs and losses, such as: atmospheric deposition, fire‐induced losses, nitrogen leaching, and nitrogen fixation, which is driven by carbon supply from plants to nitrogen fixers. Additionally, plants can influence the activity and composition of soil microbial communities, which has the potential to lead to differences in nitrification, denitrification and trace nitrogen gas losses. Plant species also impact herbivore behaviour and thereby have the potential to lead to animal‐facilitated movement of nitrogen between ecosystems. Thus, current evidence supports the view that plant species can have large impacts on ecosystem nitrogen cycling. However, species impacts are not caused by differences in plant quantity and quality, but by plant species impacts on nitrogen inputs and losses.     

Regime shifts: catastrophic responses of ecosystems to human impacts

Evidence of abrupt changes in ecosystem states, such as sudden eutrophication in lakes, has been increasingly reported in a variety of aquatic and terrestrial systems. Ecosystems may have more than one state with a self-stabilizing mechanism, so that a shift between states does not occur frequently and is not readily reversible. These big changes are termed regime shifts where often one state is preferred over another. Thus, regime shifts are problematic for ecosystem managers, and the need exists for studies that lead to the identification of thresholds of key variables that trigger regime shifts. Regime shifts are currently difficult to predict and in many cases may be caused by the human pursuit of efficiency in land and water productivity in the last few decades. Here I briefly introduce a theoretical approach to predict the shift between a clear-water state and a turbid state in lakes, the best-studied example of regime shifts. This paper also discusses alternative states in other natural systems besides ecosystems to draw more attention to the research currently being performed on regime shifts. Motomi Genkai-Kato is the recipient of the 10th Denzaburo Miyadi Award.     

南极冰下水生态系统微生物与生源元素循环研究进展

南极大陆冰盖下存在液态水,形成了由冰下湖、冰下河/溪、冰封湖和冰架下水体等组成的冰下水生态系统,具有低温、黑暗和寡营养等极端的环境条件特征。微生物主导了南极冰下水生态系统,其具有丰富多样的种群构成、功能形式和独特的适应机制,在生源元素生物地球化学循环过程中起了重要作用。研究南极冰下微生物群落的生态特征及其参与的生源元素地球化学循环过程,可为揭示地球生命演化和探索外星生命提供指示,具有重要的科学意义。本文综述了南极冰下水生态系统的极端环境条件、冰下微生物的多样性、冰下微生物参与的生物地球化学循环以及冰下微生物的适极机理,最后基于研究现状展望了南极冰下微生物的未来研究方向。     

微生物驱动的滨海湿地N2O产生及其机制研究进展

滨海湿地位于海陆交界,具有初级生产力高、生物多样性丰富以及微生物驱动的营养元素循环活跃等特点,同时也是大气中一氧化二氮(N_2O)的重要排放源。N_2O是仅次于二氧化碳(CO2)和甲烷(CH4)的第三大温室气体,而全球90%以上的N_2O排放由微生物主导,并与滨海湿地氮循环的微生物群落多样性及功能密切相关。因此,滨海湿地系统中N_2O的产生与转化逐渐受到关注。本文综述了滨海湿地生态系统中微生物驱动下N_2O的产生过程,以及氮元素及其与碳、硫和金属元素耦合过程中产生N_2O的代谢途径,N_2O排放的时空变化与微生物调控,并对未来相关研究方向进行了展望,旨在揭示微生物驱动的N_2O产生及环境调控机制,为减缓全球变暖提供科学依据。     

Enhanced Input of Terrestrial Particulate Organic Matter Reduces the Resilience of the Clear-Water State of Shallow Lakes: A Model Study

The amount of terrestrial particulate organic matter (t-POM) entering lakes is predicted to increase as a result of climate change. This may especially alter the structure and functioning of ecosystems in small, shallow lakes which can rapidly shift from a clear-water, macrophyte-dominated into a turbid, phytoplankton-dominated state. We used the integrative ecosystem model PCLake to predict how rising t-POM inputs affect the resilience of the clear-water state. PCLake links a pelagic and benthic food chain with abiotic components by a number of direct and indirect effects. We focused on three pathways (zoobenthos, zooplankton, light availability) by which elevated t-POM inputs (with and without additional nutrients) may modify the critical nutrient loading thresholds at which a clear-water lake becomes turbid and vice versa. Our model results show that (1) increased zoobenthos biomass due to the enhanced food availability results in more benthivorous fish which reduce light availability due to bioturbation, (2) zooplankton biomass does not change, but suspended t-POM reduces the consumption of autochthonous particulate organic matter which increases the turbidity, and (3) the suspended t-POM reduces the light availability for submerged macrophytes. Therefore, light availability is the key process that is indirectly or directly changed by t-POM input. This strikingly resembles the deteriorating effect of terrestrial dissolved organic matter on the light climate of lakes. In all scenarios, the resilience of the clear-water state is reduced thus making the turbid state more likely at a given nutrient loading. Therefore, our study suggests that rising t-POM input can add to the effects of climate warming making reductions in nutrient loadings even more urgent.