华南亚热带山地土壤有机质更新特征及其影响因子

选择鼎湖山自然保护区及中国科学院华南植物研究所小良生态站6个土壤剖面,根据土壤有机质碳稳定同位素特征、^14C放射性水平、有机质含量、粒度特征,研究土壤有机质更新特征及其制约因素。结果表明,土壤有机质分解呈明显阶段性：有机质快速分解发生在0－100a之内,自地表向下,有机质含量急剧降低,因碳同位素分馏效应,有机质δ^13C值迅速增加;至170／240a,有机质δ^13C值达最大;自170／240－800／1400a,有机质分解速度变慢,有机质含量缓慢降低,因高δ^13C值组分分解,δ^13C值逐渐减小;约在1500a之后,有机质含量变化甚微,δ^13C值趋于稳定。对比研究表明,粘粒对有机质赋存状态及其更新有直接影响,粒度是制约土壤有机质动态的重要因子;地表植被类型及其发育特征直接影响土壤有机质更新,在植被类型相似情况下,植被覆盖史对土壤剖面有机质动态有明显影响。     

土壤有机碳含量与同位素特征

根据长江口崇明东滩典型高程部位柱状样与鼎湖山不同海拔土壤剖面土壤有机碳(SOC)含量与SOC同位素资料(δ13C、Δ14C),研究了土壤有机质更新的元素与同位素特征。结果表明,土壤剖面δ13C最大值(δ13Cmax)深度以上土层的SOC含量与δ13C值呈负相关,该深度以下呈正相关。土壤SOC含量与δ13C呈负相关,说明有机质分解程度低,有机质中快循环组分的比例较高,为土壤表层新鲜有机质,有机质14C表观年龄不足200年;二者呈正相关指示有机质分解程度较高,为中、下部土层较稳定的有机质组分,成土年龄在300年以上。土壤SOC含量随时间下降的速率与成土时间呈负相关,δ13Cmax深度以下土层的下降速率明显低于该深度以上土层,且年代越老,SOC含量下降速率越慢,表明其有机质主要为慢循环组分。不同土壤剖面δ13C的时间趋势基本一致,在δ13Cmax深度以上土层,δ13C随时间延长而增大,该深度以下δ13C随时间延长而降低。土壤有机碳δ13C与SOC含量随时间的变化具有明显对应关系,表明二者的变化机制存在内在关联。     

长期施肥条件下水稻土腐殖质组成及稳定性碳同位素特性

利用太湖地区26年水稻土长期定位施肥试验，分析了长期不同施肥处理对土壤剖面有机碳分布和稳定性碳同位素自然丰度(δ¹³C)的影响，以及土壤中不同结合态腐殖质组成的变化.结果表明：长期施肥使水稻土表层土壤有机碳含量显著升高，不同处理土壤剖面有机碳含量与土层深度呈极显著指数负相关(P<0.01)；施化肥处理10～30 cm土层和施有机肥处理20～40 cm土层有机碳含量变化相对稳定；随土层深度增加，土壤δ¹³C值逐渐升高，其变化范围在-24‰～-28‰，不同处理土壤剖面有机碳含量与δ¹³C值呈显著线性负相关(P<0.05)；0～20 cm土层，仅施有机肥处理(M0)、有机肥+氮+磷处理(MNP)、有机肥+氮+磷+钾处理(MNPK)、有机肥+秸秆+氮处理(MRN)以及秸秆+氮处理(CRN)的δ¹³C值明显降低；30～50 cm土层，除CRN外，有机肥和化肥处理土壤的δ¹³C值均明显升高；不同处理土壤中结合态腐殖质均以紧结合态腐殖质(胡敏素)为主，其含量在50%以上，其余部分为松结合态和稳结合态腐殖质；长期施肥使土壤松结合态腐殖质含量及富啡酸(FA)与胡敏酸(HA)比值(HA/FA)升高.     

封面说明

<正>鼎湖山生物圈保护区森林景观(张倩媚摄)。熊鑫等通过对鼎湖山森林演替序列植物-土壤碳氮同位素自然丰度的测定,分析了叶片稳定碳同位素比率(δ~(13)C)和稳定氮同位素比率(δ~(15)N)与其叶片元素含量的关系,叶片-凋落物-土壤δ~(13)C、δ~(15)N沿演替方向以及土壤δ~(13)C、δ~(15)N沿剖面深度的变化特征,借此探讨该地区植物群落对资源的利用策略以及森林演替过程中碳氮元素循环过程的变化(本期533–542页)。     

C的海拔响应及其机理

以分布于祁连山北麓中段的两种优势乔木祁连圆柏(Sabina przewalskii)和青海云杉(Picea crassifolia)为研究对象, 分析了高山乔木叶片δ¹³C值对海拔(2 600–3 600 m)、土壤含水量和叶片含水量、叶片碳氮含量的响应及其机理。结果表明, 这两种乔木叶片δ¹³C值均随海拔升高呈增重趋势, 与海拔呈显著正相关关系(p < 0.000 1)。海拔2 600–3 600 m阳坡树种祁连圆柏叶片的δ¹³C值显著高于同海拔梯度阴坡树种青海云杉。祁连圆柏和青海云杉叶片的δ¹³C值均与年平均气温呈显著负相关关系(p < 0.000 1), 与年平均降水量呈显著正相关关系(p < 0.000 1)。祁连圆柏叶片δ¹³C值与土壤含水量(p < 0.000 1)、叶片含水量(p = 0.01)和叶片碳氮比(C/N) (p < 0.000 1)呈显著正相关关系, 与叶片全氮呈显著负相关关系(p < 0.000 1)。而青海云杉叶片δ¹³C值与土壤含水量、叶片全氮、叶片碳氮比和叶片含水量不相关。说明海拔变化引起的水热条件的改变, 尤其是温度变化对高山乔木叶片碳同位素分馏起主要作用, 但各个因子综合对高山植物叶片碳同位素分馏的作用机制可能比较复杂, 需进一步深入研究。     

半干旱沙丘与草甸典型植被类型区大气-叶片-凋落物-土壤连续体碳同位素特征

稳定碳同位素技术能够指示生态系统的物质循环与能量流动,根据生态系统碳转移动态,可以探明生态系统中碳循环过程和固碳能力。以科尔沁沙地半流动沙丘固沙植被差巴嘎蒿（Artemisia halodendron）、半流动半固定沙丘固沙植被小叶锦鸡儿（Caragana microphylla）和黄柳（Salix gordejevii Chang）,以及在草甸地广泛分布的芦苇（Phragmites australis）与玉米（Zea mays Linn）5种典型植被为研究对象,分析了各植被群落冠层处大气、叶片、凋落物、土壤连续体的δ¹³C值和碳含量的分布特征及各组分间的关系。结果表明：沙丘植被冠层处大气CO₂浓度显著低于草甸植被,受控于土壤水分特征和植物生长特性。在逆境胁迫下,小叶锦鸡儿叶片水分利用效率最高,固碳耗水成本最低。叶片碳含量和δ¹³C值均受叶片生育期的影响,新叶片潜在碳蓄积能力更强,水分利用效率更高。叶片凋落物δ¹³C值在不同植被间存在显著差异,说明了植物功能性的驱动作用。随着土壤深度的增加,有机质分解彻底,土壤有机碳含量减小,δ¹³C值呈偏正的趋势。沙丘土壤δ¹³C值高于草甸,沙丘土壤有机碳周转速率高于草甸,土壤类型对有机碳周转影响较大。有助于深入理解沙地-草甸相间地区碳循环关键过程,为荒漠化治理提供理论依据。     

黄土地区不同覆被下土壤无机碳分布及同位素组成特征

土壤无机碳在剖面上的分布在评估区域碳库储量、陆地碳循环以及全球变化的研究中具有重要作用.本文通过测定黄土地区不同植被类型覆盖下土壤pH值、碳酸盐含量、δ13C和δ18O值,探讨了黄土地区植被类型对碳酸盐在土壤剖面中分布和同位素组成特征的影响.结果表明:各剖面碳酸盐含量为5.7％ ～ 14.1％,其均值大小为荒地＞草地＞林地;林地中,阔叶林＞灌木林＞针叶林,针叶林变化最明显;受成土母质影响,各剖面土壤pH值在7～8,呈弱碱性;土壤碳酸盐δ13C值分布为-6.2‰～-1.8‰,各剖面δ13C均值大小为荒地＞灌木林＞针叶林＞草地＞阔叶林;植被类型主要是通过向土壤输入有机质来影响土壤无机碳同位素组成;不同覆被下土壤剖面碳酸盐δ18O值差异明显,其可能受土壤物理性质如孔隙度、湿度等影响;黄土地区不同覆被下土壤无机碳含量和δ13C、δ18O值明显不同,因此,在植被演替过程中,植被类型的改变会影响到土壤无机碳库的储量和区域碳循环过程.     

海北高寒草甸土壤有机碳同位素组成及C3/C4碳源的变化

通过对高寒嵩草草甸土壤剖面不同深度(0～5cm,5～15cm,15～25cm,25～35cm,35～50cm,50～65cm)有机碳稳定性碳同位素的测定发现,土壤有机碳稳定性同位素(δ^13C)随土壤深度的增加而变大。表层土壤(0～5cm,定义为现代土壤)的δ^13C值最小,基本上接近现代植被的碳同位素特征。在土层5～10cm深度以下(粗略地定为古土壤),土壤有机碳稳定性同位素骤然上升,与表层土壤的同位素特征明显不同。考虑到影响土壤碳同位素的诸多因素,通过稳定性碳同位素的质量平衡模型计算,得出初步结果：来自C4(或CAM)植物的碳源随土壤深度的增加而增大。进一步推测,该地区植被可能经历由C4植物占优势的群落向C3植物占优势的群溶演化的过程。在这个过程中,大气碳同位素的变化和土壤有机质的形成过程(有机质淋溶过程)等也会引起土壤碳同位素的升高,因此质量平衡模型可能会过多地估算C4组分,而低估C3组分。     

三江平原草甸湿地土壤呼吸和枯落物分解的CO2释放

利用静态箱-碱液吸收法研究了三江平原草甸湿地土壤呼吸和枯落物分解的CO₂释放速率，讨论了影响CO₂释放的环境因素，估算了枯落物分解的CO₂释放对于总释放的贡献。结果表明，生长季，小叶章沼泽化草甸和小叶章湿草甸各部分CO₂释放均具有明显的时间变化特征，温度和水分是重要制约因素。两类草甸湿地的平均土壤呼吸速率分别为4.33g•m^-2•d^-1和6.15g•m^-2•d^-1，枯落物分解的CO₂平均释放速率分别为1.76g•m^-2•d^-1和3.10g•m^-2•d^-1，枯落物分解的CO₂释放占总释放量的31%和35%，说明在碳素由地上植物碳库转移到地下土壤碳库的过程中，湿地枯落物是一个不可忽略的碳损失源。     

荒漠植物红砂叶片δ13C值与生理指标的关系

红砂是我国西北干旱区荒漠植被的主要优势种，对荒漠生态系统的稳定性具有重要作用.通过测定我国境内红砂主要分布区21个自然种群407个植株叶片稳定碳同位素（δ¹³C）值、叶片氮磷钾含量、叶片含水量、脯氨酸和叶绿素含量等生理指标，分析了不同自然种群红砂叶片δ¹³C值与相关生理指标之间的关系.结果表明：红砂叶片钾含量、叶片含水量和脯氨酸含量均对δ¹³C值有显著影响（P<0.001），其中叶片钾含量的影响最大（r=0.793），叶片含水量次之（r=-0.786）.说明叶片的δ¹³C值可以反映植物的水分亏缺程度；不同种群间植物δ¹³C的丰度差异能从另一个侧面反映植物营养元素含量的变化状况；在干旱条件下，红砂叶片气孔导度的变化是影响其δ¹³C值随环境变化的主要原因.     

Spatial and temporal distribution of carbon isotopes in soil organic matter at the Dinghushan Biosphere Reserve, South China

The spatial and temporal distribution of carbon isotopes (¹³C, ¹⁴C) in soil organic matter (SOM) were studied based on SOM content, SOM ¹⁴C and SOM ¹³C of thinly layered soil samples for six soil profiles with different elevations at the Dinghushan Biosphere Reserve (DHSBR), South China. The results indicate that variations of SOM ¹³C with depth of the soil profiles at different elevations are controlled by soil development, and correlate well with SOM composition in terms of SOM compartments with different turnover rates, and SOM turnover processes at the DHSBR. The effect of carbon isotope fractionation was obvious during transformation of organic matter (OM) from plant debris to SOM in topsoil and SOM turnover processes after the topsoil was buried, which resulted in great increments of OM ¹³C, respectively. Increments of SOM ¹³C of topsoil from ¹³C of plant debris were controlled by SOM turnover rates. Both topsoil SOM ¹³C and plant debris ¹³C increase with elevation, indicating regular changes in vegetation species and composition with elevation, which is consistent with the vertical distribution of vegetation at the DHSBR. The six soil profiles at different elevations had similar characteristics in variations of SOM ¹³C with depth, alterations of SOM contents with depth and that SOM ¹⁴C apparent ages increasing with depth, respectively. These are presumably attributed to the regular distribution of different SOM compartments with depth because of their regular turnover during soil development. Depth with the maximal SOM ¹³C value is different in mechanism and magnitude with penetrating depth of ¹⁴C produced by nuclear explosion into atmosphere from 1952 to 1962, and both indicate controls of topography and vegetation on the distribution of SOM carbon isotopes with depth. Elevation exerts indirect controls on the spatial and temporal distribution of SOM carbon isotopes of the studied mountainous soil profiles at the DHSBR. This study shows that mountainous soil profiles at different elevations and with distinctive aboveground vegetation are presumably ideal sites for studies on soil carbon dynamics in different climatic-vegetation zones.     

鼎湖山自然保护区土壤有机碳贮量和分配特征

基于61个土壤剖面的数据,分析了鼎湖山自然保护区4种自然植被类型(沟谷雨林、季风常绿阔叶林、山地常绿阔叶林和山地灌木草丛)和4种次生植被类型(马尾松针叶林、针阔混交林、次生季风常绿阔叶林和常绿灌丛)的土壤有机碳贮量及其分配特征.结果如下(1)各植被类型土壤有机碳含量随深度增加而减少,但植被类型不同其减少程度不同.除 >40cm土层外,自然植被类型的土壤有机碳含量明显高于次生植被类型.(2)土壤碳密度和土壤有机碳含量一样随深度增加而减少.两大植被类型间比较,除山地灌木草丛 >40cm土层外,自然植被类型各个土层土壤碳密度都高于所有的次生植被类型对应的碳密度.对于整个土层而言,各植被类型土壤碳密度在30.9～127.9 t/hm2间,总平均为73.9 t/hm2.(3)各植被类型的土壤厚度平均为36.7～73.3cm,总平均为56.4cm.除了山地常绿阔叶林外,土壤厚度基本上沿海拔高度增加而减少.(4)保护区各植被类型总面积为1028.4 hm2,土壤总碳贮量为72287.0 t,其中0～10、10～20、20～40cm和 >40cm四个土层分别占32.0%、20.6%、25.8%和21.6%.自然植被土壤碳贮量在表层(0～20cm)的比重比次生植被的高.所有的植被类型中,混交林碳贮量贡献最大,季风常绿阔叶林次之.自然植被类型土壤在碳贮存方面发挥积极的作用.(5)通过比较,鼎湖山保护区土壤碳密度整体较低,表层土壤碳贮量贡献较大.分析表明人为干扰是制约土壤碳贮存量大小的重要因素.     

Initial differentiation of vertical soil organic matter distribution and composition under juvenile beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) trees

In a lysimeter experiment with juvenile beech trees (Fagus sylvatica L.) we studied the development of depth gradients of soil organic matter (SOM) composition and distribution after soil disturbance. The sampling scheme applied to the given soil layers (0–2 cm, 2–5 cm, 5–10 cm and 10–20 cm) was crucial to study the subtle reformation of SOM properties with depth in the artificially filled lysimeters. Due to the combination of physical SOM fractionation with the application of ¹⁵N-labelled beech litter and ¹³C-CPMAS NMR spectroscopy we were able to obtain a detailed view on vertical differentiation of SOM properties. Four years after soil disturbance a significant decrease of the mass of particulate OM (POM) with depth could be found. A clear depth distribution was also shown for carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) within the SOM fractions related to bulk soil. The mineral fractions <63 µm clearly dominated C storage (between 47 to 60% of bulk soil C) and N storage (between 68 to 86% of bulk soil N). A drastic increase in aliphatic C structures concomitant to decreasing O/N-alkyl C was detected with depth, increasing from free POM to occluded POM. Only a slight depth gradient was observed for ¹³C but a clear vertical incorporation of ¹⁵N from the applied labelled beech litter was demonstrated probably resulting from faunal and fungal incorporation. We clearly demonstrated a significant reformation of a SOM depth profile within a very short time of soil evolution. One important finding of this study is that especially in soils with reforming SOM depth gradients after land-use changes selective sampling of whole soil horizons can bias predictions of C and N dynamics as it overlooks a potential development of gradients of SOM properties on smaller scales.     

Soil Organic Matter Dynamics Along a Vertical Vegetation Gradient in the Gongga Mountain on the Tibetan Plateau

Our knowledge about soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics is limited although this is an important issue in the study of responses of ecosystems to global climate changes. Twelve sampling plots were set up every 200 m from 1 700 to 3 900 m along the vertical vegetation gradient along the east slope of Gongga Mountain. Samples were taken from all 12 plots for SOM content measurement, although only 5 of the 12plots were subjected to radiocarbon measurements. A radiocarbon isotope method and a time-dependent model were used to quantify the SOM dynamics and SOM turnover rates along the vertical vegetation gradient. The results showed that the SOM turnover rate decreased and turnover time increased with soil depth for all vegetation types. The litter layer turnover rates presented a clear trend along the gradient. The litter layer turnover rates decreased with an increase in elevation, except that the litter layer turnover rate of mixed forest was higher than that of evergreen forest. Climatic factors, such as temperature and precipitation,were the main factors influencing the surface soil carbon dynamics. The turnover rates of the subsoil (including the A, B, and C horizons in the soil profiles) along the vertical gradient had no clear trends. The SOM of subalpine shrub and meadow turned over more slowly than that of the forest types in almost all soil horizons. The characteristic of short roots distributing in the upper part of the soil profile leads to different SOM dynamics of shrub and meadow compared with the forest types. Coniferous and mixed forests were susceptible to carbon loss from the young carbon pool, but their long and big roots resulted in high △14C values of the deep soil profiles and increased the input of young carbon to the deep soil. In evergreen forest,the carbon cumulative ability from the B horizon to the C horizon was weak. The different vegetation types,together with their different modes of nutrient and carbon intake, may be the mechanism conditioning the subsoil organic matter dynamics.     

华南亚热带山地土壤剖面有机质分布特征数值模拟研究

选择鼎湖山自然保护区两种植被带土壤剖面,利用有机质扩散—平移—分解模型,定量研究土壤有机质分布、更新与运移特征及其控制因子,为陆地生态系统有机质模型提供运行基础数据．数值试验表明,华南亚热带山地土壤剖面有机质分布遵从物质扩散、平移、分解规律;森林植被带土壤有机质快组分分解速率为0．483·年^-1,灌丛植被带土壤的为0．694·年^-1;两类剖面有机质慢组分、稳定组分的分解速率分别一致,为0．02·年^-1、0．001·年^-1;森林植被带土壤有机质扩散、平移系数分别为4和0．2mm·年^-1,灌丛植被带土壤相应参数分别为1和0．5mm·年^-1．有机质含量计算值与实测值的明显偏差出现在0～10cm土层,这很可能与土壤表层处于陆一气界面,受气候、环境变化直接影响有关;在中、下部,两种结果吻合较好,反映成土环境稳定．扩散作用对土壤剖面有机质分布影响显著,平移作用仅对上部0～10cm层段影响明显．对比分析表明,土壤有机质动态主要受剖面性状制约;提高地表植被初级生产力,快组分分解速率降低,有机质累积．     

Drivers of microbially and plant-derived carbon in topsoil and subsoil

Plant- and microbially derived carbon (C) are the two major sources of soil organic matter (SOM), and their ratio impacts SOM composition, accumulation, stability, and turnover. The contributions of and the key factors defining the plant and microbial C in SOM along the soil profile are not well known. By leveraging nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and biomarker analysis, we analyzed the plant and microbial C in three soil types using regional-scale sampling and combined these results with a meta-analysis. Topsoil (0–40 cm) was rich in carbohydrates and lignin (38%–50%), whereas subsoil (40–100 cm) contained more proteins and lipids (26%–60%). The proportion of plant C increases, while microbial C decreases with SOM content. The decrease rate of the ratio of the microbially derived C to plant-derived C (C_M:P) with SOM content was 23%–30% faster in the topsoil than in the subsoil in the regional study and meta-analysis. The topsoil had high potential to stabilize plant-derived C through intensive microbial transformations and microbial necromass formation. Plant C input and mean annual soil temperature were the main factors defining C_M:P in topsoil, whereas the fungi-to-bacteria ratio and clay content were the main factors influencing subsoil C_M:P. Combining a regional study and meta-analysis, we highlighted the contribution of plant litter to microbial necromass to organic matter up to 1-m soil depth and elucidated the main factors regulating their long-term preservation.     

Effects of altitudinal gradient on Salix atopantha foliar delta13C

In 2010, measurements were conducted on the foliar delta13C, photosynthesis, CO2 diffusive conductivity, nitrogen content, photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (PNUE), and special leaf area (SLA) of Salix atopantha at different altitudes (2350 m, 2700 m, 3150 m, and 3530 m) in Wolong Natural Reserve. With the increase of altitude, the foliar nitrogen content (especially the nitrogen content per unit leaf area, N(area)) and the PNUE increased, and the foliar delta13C had a significant increase, with an increment of 1.4 per thousand per 1000 m altitude. The stomatal and mesophyll CO2 diffusion conductance also increased with increasing altitude, which had definite negative effect on the increase of foliar delta13C, but the effect was not strong enough. Comparing with CO2 diffusion conductance, carboxylation capacity was a more important factor limiting the P(c)/P(a), and even, the foliar delta13C. At altitude 2350-2700 m, air temperature was the main factor affecting the allocation of nitrogen in S. atopantha photosynthetic system, whereas at altitude 2700-3530 m, light could be the main affecting factor. No significant difference was observed in the SLA at different altitudes.     

海拔梯度对长白山北坡岳桦水分利用效率的影响

以分布于长白山北坡海拔1800～2050 m的岳桦林为对象,以叶片碳稳定同位素(δ13C)值作为岳桦长期水分利用效率指示值,探讨海拔梯度对岳桦林水分利用效率的影响.结果表明:随海拔升高,岳桦林土壤体积含水量、比叶质量极显著增加,而叶片含水量和土壤温度显著降低;岳桦叶片δ13C值与海拔呈极显著正相关,增幅为1.013‰·(100 m)-1,与土壤体积含水量、比叶质量呈显著正相关,与生长季土壤平均温度、叶片含水量呈显著负相关.温度不是长白山林线的唯一限制性因子,海拔梯度上水热条件的差异及其交互作用可能造成岳桦生长期间的生理干旱.     

Forest soil organic matter delta 13C along a altitudinal transect on northern slope of Changbai Mountains under effects of simulated warming

The litters, bulk soils, and soil particle-size fractions were sampled from three typical natural forests, i.e., broadleaf Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) mixed forest (PB, altitude 740 m), spruce-fir (Picea asperata-Abies nephrolepis) forest (SF, altitude 1350 m), and Erman's birch (Betula ermanii) forest (EB, altitude 1996 m), on the northern slope of Changbai Mountains to analyze their organic matter delta13C values, and the intact soil cores (20 cm depth) from EB (high altitude) were relocated to PB and SF (low altitudes) for a year to study the responses of the delta13C values to simulated warming. It was shown that the litters had a significantly lower delta13C value than the soils, and the delta13C values of the litters and soils increased downward through the litter- and soil layers in all the three typical forest types. Soil particle-size fractions had an increased delta13C value with decreasing particle size fractions. The delta13C value of the litters was in the order of SF (-28.3 per thousand) >PB (-29.0 per thousand) >EB (-29.6 per thousand), while that of the soils was in the order of EB (-25.5 per thousand) >PB (-25.8 per thousand) >SF (-26.2 per thousand). Over one-year soil warming (an increment of 0.7 degrees C - 2.9 degrees C) , the delta13C values of the bulk soils and soil particle-size fractions all presented a decreasing trend, and the decrement of the delta13C value was larger in <2 microm (0.48 per thousand) and 2-63 microm fractions (0.47 per thousand) than in >63 microm fraction (0.33 per thousand). The results suggested that climate warming could have great effects on the older organic carbon associated with fine soil particle-size fractions.     

Climatic Control on Plant and Soil δ13C along an Altitudinal Transect of Lushan Mountain in Subtropical China: Characteristics and Interpretation of Soil Carbon Dynamics

Decreasing temperature and increasing precipitation along altitude gradients are typical mountain climate in subtropical China. In such a climate regime, identifying the patterns of the C stable isotope composition (δ¹³C) in plants and soils and their relations to the context of climate change is essential. In this study, the patterns of δ¹³C variation were investigated for tree leaves, litters, and soils in the natural secondary forests at four altitudes (219, 405, 780, and 1268 m a.s.l.) in Lushan Mountain, central subtropical China. For the dominant trees, both leaf and leaf-litter δ¹³C decreased as altitude increased from low to high altitude, whereas surface soil δ¹³C increased. The lower leaf δ¹³C at high altitudes was associated with the high moisture-related discrimination, while the high soil δ¹³C is attributed to the low temperature-induced decay. At each altitude, soil δ¹³C became enriched with soil depth. Soil δ¹³C increased with soil C concentrations and altitude, but decreased with soil depth. A negative relationship was also found between O-alkyl C and δ¹³C in litter and soil, whereas a positive relationship was observed between aromatic C and δ¹³C. Lower temperature and higher moisture at high altitudes are the predominant control factors of δ¹³C variation in plants and soils. These results help understand C dynamics in the context of global warming.