贵州麻若平台泥炭藓沼泽中泥炭藓持水特性及其与土壤营养元素关系研究

泥炭藓属(Sphagnum)植物的持水特性在泥炭湿地形成过程中起着重要作用,研究其与土壤营养元素之间的关系有助于地区湿地保护和退化湿地的修复。以贵州麻若平台分布的泥炭沼泽为对象,采用方差分析、相关性分析和冗余分析等方法对沼泽内泥炭藓的生物量、蓄水量、吸水率和土壤营养元素含量等进行研究。结果显示,该区域泥炭藓物种组成主要包括狭叶泥炭藓(Sphagnum cuspidatum Ehrh.)、多纹泥炭藓(Sphagnum multifibrosum X. J. LiM. Zang)和卵叶泥炭藓(Sphagnum ovatum Hampe.) 3种,狭叶泥炭藓为优势种,占泥炭藓总盖度的87.2%。沼泽中泥炭藓的生物量为(0.62±0.01) kg/m~2,自然蓄水量为(9.42±0.45) kg/m~2,饱和吸水率达1827.41%±34.56%,说明泥炭藓具有很强的持水能力。RDA分析表明,泥炭藓的生物量、饱和吸水量和饱和吸水率主要受沼泽土壤总钾、总磷、有效磷、有效氮、有效钾的影响,泥炭藓的鲜重、自然蓄水量和自然吸水率受土壤pH和水位的影响较大。泥炭藓的生物量、饱和蓄水量、饱和吸水率与土壤总钾含量呈正相关,与土壤总磷、有效磷、总钾、有效氮、总氮、有机质含量呈负相关,说明土壤总磷、有效磷、有效钾、有效氮、总氮、有机质对沼泽中泥炭藓的持水能力具有抑制作用。     

贵州麻若平台泥炭藓沼泽中泥炭藓持水特性及其与土壤营养元素关系研究

泥炭藓属（Sphagnum）植物的持水特性在泥炭湿地形成过程中起着重要作用,研究其与土壤营养元素之间的关系有助于地区湿地保护和退化湿地的修复。以贵州麻若平台分布的泥炭沼泽为对象,采用方差分析、相关性分析和冗余分析等方法对沼泽内泥炭藓的生物量、蓄水量、吸水率和土壤营养元素含量等进行研究。结果显示,该区域泥炭藓物种组成主要包括狭叶泥炭藓（Sphagnum cuspidatum Ehrh.）、多纹泥炭藓（Sphagnum multifibrosum X.J.Li&M.Zang）和卵叶泥炭藓（Sphagnum ovatum Hampe.）3种,狭叶泥炭藓为优势种,占泥炭藓总盖度的87.2%。沼泽中泥炭藓的生物量为（0.62 ±0.01）kg/m²,自然蓄水量为（9.42 ±0.45）kg/m²,饱和吸水率达1827.41%±34.56%,说明泥炭藓具有很强的持水能力。RDA分析表明,泥炭藓的生物量、饱和吸水量和饱和吸水率主要受沼泽土壤总钾、总磷、有效磷、有效氮、有效钾的影响,泥炭藓的鲜重、自然蓄水量和自然吸水率受土壤pH和水位的影响较大。泥炭藓的生物量、饱和蓄水量、饱和吸水率与土壤总钾含量呈正相关,与土壤总磷、有效磷、总钾、有效氮、总氮、有机质含量呈负相关,说明土壤总磷、有效磷、有效钾、有效氮、总氮、有机质对沼泽中泥炭藓的持水能力具有抑制作用。     

小兴安岭兴安落叶松泥炭藓沼泽植物的主要微量元素

小兴安岭兴安落叶松、泥炭藓沼泽是我国典型贫营养型沼泽。沼泽中树木生长发育不良,泥炭藓和常绿小灌木发育十分良好。这与沼泽水文状况和泥炭中营养元素和微量元素有关。各种植物的主要微量元素硼、铜、钴、锰、锌等含量不同,植物的不同器官中的含量亦不同,而且随季节而变化。狭叶杜香和甸杜的主要微量元素含量特点及其季节变化规律基本相似,两种泥炭藓相似,都与兴安落叶松有明显的区别。 本文重点探讨植物体内主要微量元素及其含量变化规律,为揭示贫营养型森林沼泽生态、为合理利用与改造沼泽提供依据。     

增温和外源碳输入对泥炭地土壤碳氮循环关键微生物功能基因丰度的影响

为探讨温度升高和外源碳输入对泥炭地土壤碳氮循环关键微生物的影响,于2017年7月采集多年冻土区泥炭地表层(0—10 cm和10—20 cm)土壤样品,在10、15℃两个温度下开展为期42d的增温模拟试验,同时设置葡萄糖添加处理,利用荧光定量PCR技术分析泥炭地土壤碳氮循环关键微生物丰度变化,同时分析增温和外源碳输入对泥炭地土壤活性碳组分和无机氮含量的影响。结果表明:温度升高可导致北方泥炭地表层土壤微生物丰度以及群落结构变化,0—10 cm土壤微生物比10—20 cm土壤微生物更加敏感。增温条件下微生物首先快速分解活性有机碳,同时温度升高加快土壤氮周转速率,增加有效氮含量。外源碳输入整体提高了深层土壤微生物丰度,使得10—20 cm土壤细菌、产甲烷菌、甲烷氧化菌、氨氧化细菌以及反硝化细菌丰度显著增加,说明外源碳输入可能会促进10—20 cm土壤甲烷氧化过程、氨氧化过程和反硝化过程。温度和葡萄糖的交互作用对泥炭地表层土壤碳氮循环关键微生物丰度均有显著影响。在增温和外源碳输入条件下,北方泥炭地表层土壤微生物丰度受土壤碳氮活性基质的影响。     

闽江河口区淡水和半咸水潮汐沼泽湿地土壤产甲烷菌多样性

为认识盐度对河口潮汐沼泽湿地土壤产甲烷菌的影响,应用PCR-RFLP技术及测序分析对闽江河口区淡水-半咸水盐度梯度上分布的4个短叶茳芏潮汐沼泽湿地土壤产甲烷菌群落结构进行研究。闽江河口区短叶茳芏潮汐沼泽湿地土壤产甲烷菌群落结构受盐度影响明显,位于下洋洲和塔礁洲的短叶茳芏潮汐淡水沼泽湿地土壤产甲烷菌的香农-威纳多样性指数值分别为2.81和2.65,位于蝙蝠洲和鳝鱼滩的短叶茳芏潮汐半咸水沼泽湿地土壤产甲烷菌香农-威纳多样性指数值分别仅为2.33和2.27。系统发育分析表明:短叶茳芏沼泽湿地土壤产甲烷菌类群主要有甲烷杆菌目(Methanobacteriales),包括Methanobacterium、Methanobrevibacter和Methanobacteriaceae;甲烷微菌目(Methanomicrobiales),主要有Methanoregula,以及甲烷八叠球菌目(Methanosarcinales),主要有Methanosarcina和Methanococcoides。闽江河口区短叶茳芏潮汐淡水沼泽湿地土壤主要的优势产甲烷菌有Methanoregula、Methanosarcina和Methanobacterium,而短叶茳芏潮汐半咸水沼泽湿地土壤主要的优势产甲烷菌则转化为仅以Methanoregula为主。     

短期增温对青藏高原高寒草甸植物群落结构和生物量的影响

采用增温棚模拟增温的方法,对比研究了青藏高原腹地典型高寒草甸和沼泽草甸在两种增温梯度条件下植物群落结构及植物生长对温度升高的初期响应。由于开顶式生长室(OTC)的增温作用,在整个生长季内,沼泽草甸月平均气温分别较对照提高2.98℃ (OTC1)和 5.52℃((OTC2),20cm处土壤水分分别减少了2.45%(OTC1)和3.44%(OTC2);高寒草甸月平均气温分别比对照升高了2.59℃(OTC1)和 5.16℃ (OTC2)。20cm处土壤水分分别减少了1.83%(OTC1)和7.71%(OTC2)。受温度升高及土壤含水量减少的影响,模拟增温2个生长季后,与对照样地相比,群落种群高度、密度、盖度、频度和重要值发生变化,群落结构也发生一定变化。增温处理使高寒草甸禾草和莎草盖度减少,杂草盖度增加,而使沼泽草甸中禾草和莎草盖度增加,杂草盖度减少。增温后,两种草甸总生物量均增加,但大幅度的增温条件抑制了高寒草甸的这种促进作用,而促进了沼泽草甸的这种促进作用。两种草甸的地下生物量主要分布在土壤表层,模拟增温使得高寒草甸的生物量分配格局向深层转移,但不明显;而使沼泽草甸生物量明显的趋向深层土壤中转移。     

大兴安岭林区不同植被对冻土地温的影响

植被常常通过反射太阳辐射、遮阳、蒸腾散热、阻风挡雪、保水吸水等来影响下伏多年冻土.但是不同的植被类型,对下伏冻土热状况的影响也不尽相同.为了探讨大兴安岭林区不同植被对冻土的影响,选取大兴安岭森林生态站实验区杜香-真藓-落叶松林、真藓-落叶松林、塔头-落叶松林、柴桦落叶松林和伊图里河镇原冻土观测场塔头湿地5种典型林型,分析不同林型对冻土的温度和冻融作用的影响.研究发现不同林型的不同组分,由于反射率、覆盖度和根系吸水能力的差别,使得各种林型下的地面温度也不相同.在夏季,月平均地面温度从高到低依次为真藓-落叶松林、杜香-真藓-落叶松林、伊图里河塔头湿地、柴桦落叶松林和塔头落叶松林.由于塔头落叶松林存在乔木层和灌木层,与伊图里河塔头湿地相比,8月份平均地面温度差值低10℃以上.柴桦落叶松林两个钻孔的对比实验表明,铲除地表植被会使活动层0.8 m以上部分的地温升高,并且主要发生在8、9、10月份.对冻土而言,林区植被暖季降温的贡献大于冷季增温的贡献.另外,塔头一落叶松林根系吸水能力最强,这种林型下的土壤开始融化和冻结的日期最晚,冻结初期地面降温速率为0.1 ℃/d,而0.2 m以下降温速率几乎为零.同样柴桦落叶松林的塔头根系吸水能力使得其0.5 m和0.8 m的降温速率低于除塔头落叶松林外的其他林型,但是地面上植物的凋零和枯萎会加快地面的冻结速率.真藓-落叶松林的乔灌木层发育不好,地面降温速率大于杜香-真藓-落叶松林和伊图里河塔头湿地,而伊图里河塔头湿地由于没有乔灌木层的庇护,地面以下的降温速率高于其他林型.     

基于MODIS数据的神农架大九湖泥炭藓沼泽植被指数变化研究

泥炭藓是陆地生态系统中最重要的固碳植物之一,固碳量约占全球土壤碳的15%。近几十年来,由全球气候变暖导致的泥炭藓沼泽水热状况变化对泥炭藓的固碳量和速率产生影响。选取我国最重要的亚高山泥炭沼泽——神农架大九湖泥炭藓沼泽为试验区,以分析中纬度地区泥炭藓沼泽植被生长状况受气候变化的影响。研究以2000—2017年MODIS植被指数NDVI和EVI为数据源,通过对比Logistic模型订正后的NDVI和EVI时间序列在泥炭藓沼泽植被生长状况监测中的优劣,选出最佳指标以获得18年来泥炭藓沼泽植被生长状况的变化趋势。研究结果表明:1)Logistic模型能够很好的消除泥炭藓沼泽植被指数时间序列的噪声;2)在季节和年际两个时间尺度上,EVI对泥炭藓沼泽植被生长状况的监测效果均优于NDVI。在季节周期上,虽然EVI和NDVI均得到泥炭藓沼泽植被生长周期规律,但EVI更灵敏。在年际分析中,EVI有更大的值域响应空间,以准确反映泥炭藓沼泽植被的年际变化规律;3)由EVI获得18年来泥炭藓沼泽植被变化趋势指出,泥炭藓沼泽植被呈显著微弱增长,年均EVI增长率为3.8‰(R~2=0.45,P0.01)。相比于EVI年均值,EVI年内最大值(R~2=0.47,P0.01)更敏锐的反映泥炭藓沼泽植被生长状况的动态变化。     

CO2浓度增加对长白山森林土壤甲烷氧化影响

大气CO2浓度升高可能对森林土壤的甲烷(CH4)氧化速率产生影响.本文采用开顶箱技术,对连续6年高浓度CO2（500 μmol·mol-1）处理的长白山森林典型树种蒙古栎树下土壤CH4氧化速率进行研究,并利用CH4氧化菌的16S rRNA特异性引物以及CH4单加氧酶功能基因引物分析了土壤中CH4氧化菌的群落结构与数量.结果表明： CO2浓度增高后,生长季土壤甲烷氧化量与对照和裸地相比分别降低了4%和22%;基于16S rRNA特异性引物的DGGE分析表明,CO2浓度增高导致两类甲烷氧化菌的多样性指数降低;CO2浓度增高对土壤中Ⅰ类甲烷氧化菌数量无显著影响,而使土壤中Ⅱ类甲烷氧化菌数量显著减少,功能基因pmoA拷贝数与对照和裸地相比分别降低了15%和46%.CO2浓度增高导致森林土壤甲烷氧化菌数量与活性降低,土壤含水量的增加可能是导致这一现象的主要原因.     

呼中自然保护区多年冻土活动层厚度的影响因子分析

以大兴安岭呼中国家级自然保护区为对象,调查了该区多年冻土的活动层厚度,并利用多重对比分析和相关分析方法,对多年冻土活动层的影响因子进行了分析。结果表明,多年冻土活动层厚度与多个环境因子之间存在着复杂的关系。土壤含水量、地形条件和不同群落对于活动层厚度具有重要影响,而活动层厚度也会反作用于这些影响因子。其中,土壤表层含水量与活动层厚度呈极显著负相关(P<0.001)。地形坡度和活动层厚度呈显著正相关(P=0.006)。几乎每个样带的海拔与活动层厚度都有显著的相关性,但在整个研究区域内海拔与活动层厚度不存在相关性。这说明活动层厚度的变异仅在本研究的样带尺度上具有规律性,而这种规律性在稍大尺度上会消失。对于不同的群落活动层厚度的多重对比分析表明,群落的差异对活动层厚度也有明显的影响,其中狭叶杜香-泥炭藓群落更有利于多年冻土的保存。     

Recovery of Methanogenesis Following Summer Drought in Soils from Two Cool Temperate Peatlands,New York State,USA

Following a summer drought, intact cores of peat soil from two cool temperate peatlands (a rain-fed bog and a groundwater-fed swamp) were exposed experimentally to three different water table levels. The goal was to examine recovery of anaerobic methanogenesis and to evaluate peat soil decomposition to methane (CH₄), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) upon rewetting. Methane emission from soils to the atmosphere was greatest (mean = 80 μmol m^?2 s^?1) when the entire peat core was rewetted quickly; emission was negligible at low water level and when peat cores were rewetted gradually. Rates of CO₂ emission (mean = 1.0 μmol m^?2 s^?1) were relatively insensitive to water level. Concentrations of CH₄ in soil air spaces suggest that onset of methanogenesis induces, but later represses, aerobic oxidation of CH₄ above the water table. Concentrations of CO₂ suggest production at the soil surface of swamp peat versus at greater depths in bog peat. Portions of peat soil incubated in vitro without oxygen (O₂) exhibited a lag before the onset of methanogenesis, and the lag time was less in peat from the cores rewetted quickly. The inhibition of methanogenesis by the selective inhibitor 2-bromoethanesulfonic acid (BES) decreased CO₂ production by 20 to 30% but resulted in an increase in concentrations of DOC by 2 to 5 times. The results show that methanogens in peat soils tolerate moderate drought, and recovery varies among different peat types. In peat soils, the inhibition of methanogenesis might enhance DOC availability.     

Molecular Ecological Analysis of Methanogens and Methanotrophs in Blanket Bog Peat

Abstract Methane production and methane oxidation potential were measured in a 30 cm peat core from the Moorhouse Nature Reserve, UK. The distribution of known groups of methanogens and methane oxidizing bacteria throughout this peat core was assessed. Using 16S rRNA gene retrieval and functional gene probing with genes encoding key proteins in methane oxidation and methanogenesis, several major groups of microorganisms were detected. Methane production and oxidation was detected in all depths of the peat core. PCR amplification and oligonucleotide probing experiments using DNA isolated from all sections of the peat core detected methanotrophs from the groups Methylosinus and Methylococcus and methanogens from the groups Methanosarcinaceae, Methanococcaceae, and Methanobacteriaceae. 16S rDNA sequences amplified with the Methylosinus-specific primer were shown to have a high degree of identity with 16S rDNA sequences previously detected in acidic environments. However, no methanogen sequences were detected by the probes available in this study in the sections of the peat core (above 7 cm) where the majority of methanogenesis occurred, either because of low methanogen numbers or because of the presence of novel methanogen sequences. Received: 9 March 1999; Accepted: 21 June 1999     

Leaf litter decomposition in a tropical peat swamp forest in Peninsular Malaysia

It has long been assumed that the peat underlying tropical peat swamp forests accumulates because the extreme conditions (water logged, nutrient poor, anaerobic and acidic—pH 2.9–3.5) impede microbial activity. Litterbag studies in a tropical Malaysian peat swamp (North Selangor peat swamp forest) showed that although the sclerophyllous, toxic leaves of endemic peat forest plants (Macaranga pruinosa, Campnosperma coriaceum, Pandanus atrocarpus, Stenochlaena palustris) were barely decomposed by bacteria and fungi (decay rates of only 0.0006–0.0016 k day⁻¹), leaves of M. tanarius, a secondary forest species were almost completely decomposed (decay rates of 0.0047–0.005 k day⁻¹) after 1 year. Thus it is intrinsic properties of the leaves (that are adaptations to deter herbivory in the nutrient poor environment) that impede microbial breakdown. The water of the peat swamp was very high in dissolved organic carbon (70–84 mg l⁻¹ DOC). Laboratory studies revealed initial rapid leaching of DOC from leaves (up to 1,720 mg l⁻¹ from 4 g of leaves in 7 days), but the DOC levels then fell rapidly. The leaching of DOC resulted in weight loss but the physical structure of the leaves remained intact. It is suggested that the DOC is used as a substrate for microbial growth hence lowering the concentration of DOC in the water and transferring energy from the leaves to other trophic levels. This would explain how nutrient poor tropical peatswamps support diverse, abundant flora and fauna despite low nutrient levels and lack of rapid litter cycling such as occurs in other types of tropical rainforests.     

Molecular detection and direct enumeration of methanogenic Archaea and methanotrophic Bacteria in domestic solid waste landfill soils

Methane oxidizing and producing activities of cover soil (10, 30 cm depth) and burial waste (1, 3 m depth) were evaluated: top cover soil (10 cm) had the highest methane oxidizing activity, while 1 m depth buried waste showed the highest methane producing potential. All the sequences of the 1 m sample were found to be closely related to 16S rDNAs of mainly hydrogenotrophic methanogens known, such as genera Methanosarcina, Methanoculleus, and Methanobacterium. We developed a modified fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) direct counting method for landfill samples, resulting in the detection of approx. 1% of total cells as archaeal cells (presumably methanogens). However, probe-positive cells could not be found with probes for methanotrophs by the methods.     

Molecular investigations into a globally important carbon pool: permafrost‐protected carbon in Alaskan soils

The fate of carbon (C) contained within permafrost in boreal forest environments is an important consideration for the current and future carbon cycle as soils warm in northern latitudes. Currently, little is known about the microbiology or chemistry of permafrost soils that may affect its decomposition once soils thaw. We tested the hypothesis that low microbial abundances and activities in permafrost soils limit decomposition rates compared with active layer soils. We examined active layer and permafrost soils near Fairbanks, AK, the Yukon River, and the Arctic Circle. Soils were incubated in the lab under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Gas fluxes at ?5 and 5 °C were measured to calculate temperature response quotients (Q₁₀). The Q₁₀ was lower in permafrost soils (average 2.7) compared with active layer soils (average 7.5). Soil nutrients, leachable dissolved organic C (DOC) quality and quantity, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the soils revealed that the organic matter within permafrost soils is as labile, or even more so, than surface soils. Microbial abundances (fungi, bacteria, and subgroups: methanogens and Basidiomycetes) and exoenzyme activities involved in decomposition were lower in permafrost soils compared with active layer soils, which, together with the chemical data, supports the reduced Q₁₀ values. CH₄ fluxes were correlated with methanogen abundance and the highest CH₄ production came from active layer soils. These results suggest that permafrost soils have high inherent decomposability, but low microbial abundances and activities reduce the temperature sensitivity of C fluxes. Despite these inherent limitations, however, respiration per unit soil C was higher in permafrost soils compared with active layer soils, suggesting that decomposition and heterotrophic respiration may contribute to a positive feedback to warming of this eco region.     

小兴安岭森林沼泽甲烷排放及其影响因子

 利用静态箱-气相色谱法, 对小兴安岭5种森林沼泽生长季甲烷(CH₄)排放通量进行研究, 并探讨了温度、地下水位和植被等主要环境因子对CH₄排放的影响。结果表明: 毛赤杨(Alnus sibirica)沼泽、落叶松(Larix gmelinii)-藓类(Moss)沼泽和落叶松-泥炭藓(Sphagnum spp.)沼泽的CH₄排放有明显的季节变化规律, 而白桦(Betula platyphylla)沼泽和落叶松-苔草(Carex schmidtii)沼泽CH₄通量的季节变化相对较小。落叶松-泥炭藓沼泽有爆发式CH₄通量现象出现, 对生长季CH₄排放通量影响较大。在生长季内落叶松-泥炭藓沼泽、毛赤杨沼泽和白桦沼泽为大气CH₄的源, 而落叶松-苔草沼泽和落叶松-藓类沼泽为大气CH₄的汇, 生长季CH₄的平均排放通量分别为(56.08 ± 200.38)、(15.34 ± 14.89)、(0.64 ± 0.88)、(–0.88 ± 1.76)和(–0.94 ± 3.00) mg·m^–2·d^–1。除落叶松-泥炭藓沼泽外, 不同森林沼泽类型间CH₄排放通量随地下水位升高而增大; 地下水位在–34.5 ~ –30.8 cm之间可能存在CH₄源与汇的临界点, 季节平均地下水位低于这一位置的森林沼泽为大气CH₄的汇。温度对森林沼泽CH₄通量的影响比较复杂, 二者间可能为正或负的显著(p＜0.05)或非显著(p＞0.05)相关关系。CH₄通量与乔木地上生物量有较强的负相关性, 这有可能成为小兴安岭森林沼泽CH₄通量的最佳预测因子。     

Sources and sinks of dissolved organic carbon in a forested swamp catchment

Concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were measured in precipitation, throughfall, stemflow, and soil, peat and stream water in a 50 ha catchment with a central 5 ha swamp at Mont St. Hilaire, Quebec. DOC concentrations in precipitation were low (2.0 mg L^–1), but increased in passage through the tree canopies as throughfall (9.1–14.6 mg L^–1) and stemflow (23.1–30.1 mg L^–1). For the period July 1–November 15, 1987, 0.5 g DOC m^–2 was imported as precipitation, and forest canopies contributed a further 1.4–1.7 g m^–2 2 to the soil surface. DOC concentrations were higher (46.0 and 67.6 mg L^–1) in upland soil organic horizons, but decreased with depth because subsoil mineral horizons acted as a major sink of DOC. A laboratory experiment using leaf leachate revealed that subsoil horizons were able to adsorb DOC, with equilibrium DOC concentrations ranging from 3 to 19 mg L^–1. Soil organic carbon appeared to be an important determinant of equilibrium DOC concentrations. The swamp was a major source of DOC, with an overall average DOC concentration of 58.6 mg L^–1 and showed strong spatial and temporal variations related to hydrologic and thermal regimes. During base flow periods, stream DOC concentrations were small (< 3 mg L^–1), dominated by water fed from springs draining upland soils. During high flows, stream DOC concentrations increased through the contribution of DOC-rich water originating in the swamp. Sources, sinks and transport of DOC are thus a function of a complex set of inter-related biotic and abiotic process.     

Dissolved organic carbon dynamics in the peat–streamwater interface

A series of experiments were conducted to address the fate of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the peat–stream interface zone linking a minerotrophic poor fen and an ombrotrophic mire with surrounding stream water in the drainage area of Lake Örträsket in northern Sweden. Transport and mineralisation of DOC were quantified in peat–stream interface cores in response to variations in pore water velocity, DOC concentration and the molecular size and source of DOC. Mineralisation and CH₄ production were positively correlated with pore water velocity at rates between 0.08 and 0.20cmh^–1 and negatively correlated at rates between 0.20 and 0.40cmh^–1. The DOC concentration of the effluent from the peat cores was independent of the pore water velocity but proportional to the DOC concentration of the source water. Higher concentrations of DOC were exported from than imported to the peat cores, and the cores exported DOC molecules of smaller average molecular size than received. Carbon mineralisation in the peat, assessed in a static system, was independent of the concentration of DOC. DOC with a nominal cutoff at 100Da was mineralised faster by streamwater bacteria than DOC dialysed with a cutoff at 3500Da, and their mineralisation rate was positively correlated with the DOC concentration. Streamwater bacteria mineralised streamwater DOC at a lower rate than the peat–stream interface zone pore water DOC. The pattern of velocity dependence of mineralisation was the same for both sources of peat DOC but the mineralisation rates, average molecular size, and bioavailability of DOC were different, emphasising the importance of the compositional heterogeneity of the peat–stream interface zone for the DOC budget of streamwater.     

Dissolved Organic Carbon in Alaskan Boreal Forest: Sources, Chemical Characteristics, and Biodegradability

The fate of terrestrially-derived dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is important to carbon (C) cycling in both terrestrial and aquatic environments, and recent evidence suggests that climate warming is influencing DOC dynamics in northern ecosystems. To understand what determines the fate of terrestrial DOC, it is essential to quantify the chemical nature and potential biodegradability of this DOC. We examined DOC chemical characteristics and biodegradability collected from soil pore waters and dominant vegetation species in four boreal black spruce forest sites in Alaska spanning a range of hydrologic regimes and permafrost extents (Well Drained, Moderately Well Drained, Poorly Drained, and Thermokarst Wetlands). DOC chemistry was characterized using fractionation, UV–Vis absorbance, and fluorescence measurements. Potential biodegradability was assessed by incubating the samples and measuring CO₂ production over 1 month. Soil pore water DOC from all sites was dominated by hydrophobic acids and was highly aromatic, whereas the chemical composition of vegetation leachate DOC varied significantly with species. There was no seasonal variability in soil pore water DOC chemical characteristics or biodegradability; however, DOC collected from the Poorly Drained site was significantly less biodegradable than DOC from the other three sites (6% loss vs. 13–15% loss). The biodegradability of vegetation-derived DOC ranged from 10 to 90% loss, and was strongly correlated with hydrophilic DOC content. Vegetation such as Sphagnum moss and feathermosses yielded DOC that was quickly metabolized and respired. In contrast, the DOC leached from vegetation such as black spruce was moderately recalcitrant. Changes in DOC chemical characteristics that occurred during microbial metabolism of DOC were quantified using fractionation and fluorescence. The chemical characteristics and biodegradability of DOC in soil pore waters were most similar to the moderately recalcitrant vegetation leachates, and to the microbially altered DOC from all vegetation leachates.