Early-stage litter decomposition and its influencing factors in the wetland of the Sanjiang Plain, China

Using the litter bag technique, the decomposition rates and their influencing factors were studied by investigating three wetland macrophytes, Calamagrostics angustifolia, Carex meyeriana and Carex lasiocapa, in Sanjiang Plain, Northeast China. It was revealed that C. lasiocapa lost 28.91% of its weight, C. angustifolia lost 31.98% and C. meyeriana lost 32.99% after 164 days. Another finding was that the amount of organic carbon in the litter of C. angustifolia and C. lasiocapa fluctuated, but continuously decreased in that of C. meyeriana. However, all the three types of litter released organic carbon. Nitrogen was released substantially from the litter of both C. angustifolia and C. meyeriana, but accumulated in the litter of C. lasiocapa. Phosphorus concentrations in all the three types of litter apparently decreased first and then slightly increased. Overall, P release was observed in all the three types of litter. The C/N and C/P ratios varied significantly in the decomposition process. The decomposition rates and nutrient content variations were simultaneously influenced by the quality of the litter as well as the environmental factors in the Sanjian Plain, but they were more strongly affected by the quality of the litter.     

两种树叶在华南地区贫营养型池塘中的分解速率研究

在热带亚热带地区,凋落物在湖泊、湿地中的分解过程知之甚少。为了解亚热带地区树叶凋落物在静水环境中的分解状况,利用分解网袋法对2种树叶（大叶相思和人心果）在广州长岗山自然保护小区一贫营养型池塘中进行了为期130d的树叶分解研究。结果显示,两种树叶在池塘中的分解速度非常缓慢,130d后大叶相思和人心果树叶的干重剩余率分别为74.3％和77．5％,经指数衰减模型拟合,两者的分解速率系数（k）分别为0．00145d^-1和0．00105d^-1。定殖在两种树叶上的大型底栖动物仅5种,其中优势类群为摇蚊幼虫和钩虾。结果表明寡营养型池塘中大型底栖动物功能摄食群中撕食者种类与数量的稀少是引起这两种树叶分解缓慢的主要因素之一。     

Litter dynamics and its effects on the survival of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Castanopsis sieboldii</Emphasis> seedlings in a subtropical forest in southern Japan

Based on direct field measurement, this study quantitatively estimated the litter dynamics on the forest floor for a 1-year-period and then investigated its influence on the seedling dynamics of Castanopsis sieboldii, as well as interactions with adults in a subtropical forest in southern Japan. Litter dynamics is composed of three major components: falling litter, transport, and decomposition on the forest floor. Litterfall was measured by litter traps and did not exhibit clear spatial tendency. Lateral input was assessed by newly accumulated litter beneath the traps and showed no spatial variation, either. In contrast, lateral output of litter, which was quantified from disappearance of artificial litter, was correlated with local topography. Consequently, we found considerable spatial variations and seasonal changes in litter dynamics on the forest floor. In addition, we constructed survival models of C. sieboldii seedlings at the individual level. The lateral movement of accumulated litter had an influence on the survival of seedlings, which mostly occurred in periods of typhoons with heavy rain. Meanwhile, the distance from canopy trees, which is assumed to be a spacing mechanism due to seedling/adult interactions, played a lesser role in this subtropical forest. Our results suggest that the stability of accumulated litter on the forest floor was a predominant factor in the spatial dynamics of the early life stage of C. sieboldii.     

Multiple Scales of Temporal Variability in Ecosystem Metabolism Rates: Results from 2 Years of Continuous Monitoring in a Forested Headwater Stream

Headwater streams are key sites of nutrient and organic matter processing and retention, but little is known about temporal variability in gross primary production (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (ER) rates as a result of the short duration of most metabolism measurements in lotic ecosystems. We examined temporal variability and controls on ecosystem metabolism by measuring daily rates continuously for 2 years in Walker Branch, a first-order deciduous forest stream. Four important scales of temporal variability in ecosystem metabolism rates were identified: (1) seasonal, (2) day-to-day, (3) episodic (storm-related), and (4) inter-annual. Seasonal patterns were largely controlled by the leaf phenology and productivity of the deciduous riparian forest. Walker Branch was strongly net heterotrophic throughout the year with the exception of the open-canopy spring when GPP and ER rates were co-equal. Day-to-day variability in weather conditions influenced light reaching the streambed, resulting in high day-to-day variability in GPP particularly during spring (daily light levels explained 84% of the variance in daily GPP in April). Episodic storms depressed GPP for several days in spring, but increased GPP in autumn by removing leaves shading the streambed. Storms depressed ER initially, but then stimulated ER to 2–3 times pre-storm levels for several days. Walker Branch was strongly net heterotrophic in both years of the study, with annual GPP being similar (488 and 519 g O₂ m⁻² y⁻¹ or 183 and 195 g C m⁻² y⁻¹) but annual ER being higher in 2004 than 2005 (−1,645 vs. −1,292 g O₂ m⁻² y⁻¹ or −617 and −485 g C m⁻² y⁻¹). Inter-annual variability in ecosystem metabolism (assessed by comparing 2004 and 2005 rates with previous measurements) was the result of the storm frequency and timing and the size of the spring macroalgal bloom. Changes in local climate can have substantial impacts on stream ecosystem metabolism rates and ultimately influence the carbon source and sink properties of these important ecosystems.     

贵州白云岩地区植物群落叶片-凋落物-土壤化学计量与碳氮同位素特征

剖析天然次生林生态化学计量与C、N同位素丰度的关系,能够阐明元素平衡对同位素分馏的影响规律,深刻揭示生态系统资源分配机制与利用策略。以贵州白云岩地区马尾松林(Pinus massoniana forest)、山胡椒林(Lindera glauca forest)、烟管荚蒾林(Viburnum utile forest)、化香林(Platycarya strobilacea forest)和白栎林(Quercus fabri forest)为对象,厘清叶片-凋落物-土壤连续体的生态化学计量特征与C、N同位素丰度及其内在关联。结果表明：(1)不同群落叶片、凋落物、土壤C、N、P含量存在差异,总体为叶片>凋落物>土壤,N在连续体间的继承性较强,C则较弱。(2)不同植物群落连续体间C∶N、C∶P、N∶P差异显著,5种群落均受到N元素限制,化香林和白栎林还受P限制;烟管荚蒾林C∶N、C∶P与化香林N∶P显著性较高,植物通过协调化学计量平衡以满足自身生长发育和适应环境的需求。(3)叶片、凋落物、土壤δ¹³C分别为-32.45‰—-29.22‰、-30.11‰—-2...     

长白山苔原带凋落物生态化学计量特征及其对模拟氮沉降的响应

长白山苔原是我国乃至欧亚大陆东部独有的高山苔原,根据前人调查植被以灌木苔原为主要类型。在全球变暖背景下,近30年来,长白山岳桦林下的草本植物侵入苔原带,原生灌木苔原分化为灌木苔原、灌草苔原和草本苔原,形成了灌木、灌草混合和草本3种不同类型的凋落物,凋落物数量和质量发生显著改变。与此同时长白山苔原氮沉降量也在逐年增加,导致了土壤中氮的累积,势必影响凋落物的分解。凋落物作为连接植物和土壤的纽带,其分解过程中碳（C）、氮（N）、磷（P）等化学组分和化学计量比的变化直接和间接影响着土壤养分有效性和植物养分利用策略。为揭示氮沉降增加对长白山苔原带不同类型凋落物化学组分及生态化学计量特征早期变化的影响,开展了为期8个月的模拟氮沉降室内凋落物分解实验。在苔原带采集灌木优势种牛皮杜鹃和草本优势种小叶章的凋落物带回实验室,模拟灌木牛皮杜鹃群落、灌草混合的牛皮杜鹃-小叶章群落和草本小叶章群落的3种不同类型凋落物,设置三个施氮处理：对照（CK,0 g N m^-2 a^-1）、低氮（LN,10 g N m^-2 a^-1）、高氮（HN,20 g N m^-2 a^-1）。研究表明：（1）不施氮处理时,3种凋落物的C、P均呈释放状态,木质素（Li）呈先累积再略有降解趋势;牛皮杜鹃凋落物的N元素富集而其余两种凋落物N元素呈释放状态;灌草混合和草本凋落物比原生的灌木凋落物C和N元素释放快、Li累积少;而灌木凋落物的P释放略快于灌草和草本凋落物。3种植被类型凋落物的C/N、C/P、Li/N大小表现为：牛皮杜鹃凋落物>牛皮杜鹃-小叶章混生群落凋落物>小叶章凋落物;N/P表现为：小叶章凋落物>牛皮杜鹃凋落物>牛皮杜鹃-小叶章混生群落凋落物。（2）氮沉降促进3种类型凋落物分解过程中C、N和P化学组分的释放,且氮浓度越高促进作用越显著。在牛皮杜鹃凋落物分解过程中,氮素添加到达某一阈值后,其C/N、C/P、N/P、Li/N的降幅最大,后续若再增加氮素,其对化学计量比的影响均会减弱;本实验中的氮素添加量增加促进了小叶章凋落物的C/N、Li/N下降。（3）草本植物入侵引起凋落物类型的变化带来凋落物分解加快,将导致长白山苔原带养分循环的变化;氮沉降增加对小叶章凋落物化学组分的释放及C/N、Li/N的下降更为促进,小叶章凋落物内难分解化合物减少,分解受到促进。高氮沉降加快了小叶章凋落物与土壤、草本植物之间的养分循环。因此,随着未来苔原带氮沉降量的增加,将更有利于小叶章在与牛皮杜鹃的竞争中获胜,使苔原带呈现草甸化趋势。     

平果喀斯特山地不同植物群落的土壤质量评价

了解喀斯特山地的土壤环境质量,对其植被恢复和石漠化治理有着重要意义。基于群落土壤肥力分析,采用典范对应分析(CCA)和因子分析相结合的方法,定量评价了广西平果喀斯特山地灌丛、灌木、仪花和蚬木群落的土壤质量。结果表明:土壤物理结构随植被恢复得到改善,土壤容重下降、孔隙增多、持水能力增强。土壤p H值以灌丛最高,仪花和蚬木林的土壤有机质、全氮和碱解氮含量明显高于灌丛和灌木,灌丛、灌木的土壤全磷、全钾和速效钾含量则显著高于次生乔木林;土壤速效磷和交换性钙含量差异不显著。CCA可以有效筛选土壤质量评价指标,土壤质量综合评价分值的大小顺序为:仪花林(0.41)蚬木林(0.27)灌丛(-0.20)灌木林(-0.44)。导致灌丛和灌木林土壤质量较低的原因主要与群落生产力低、土壤有机质等养分积累少有关。     

高山林线交错带高山杜鹃的凋落物分解

凋落物分解是维持生态系统生产力、养分循环、土壤有机质形成的关键生态过程。高山林线交错带是陆地生态系统中对气候变化响应的敏感区域。季节变化和海拔梯度上的植被类型差异可能会影响该区域凋落物的分解,进而对高山生态系统的碳氮循环产生重要影响。采用凋落物分解袋的方法,研究了川西高山林线交错带优势种高山杜鹃(Rhododendron lapponicum)凋落叶在雪被期和生长季的分解特征。结果显示:(1)季节变化和植被类型对高山杜鹃凋落物的分解均具有显著影响(P0.05),凋落叶的质量损失主要发生在生长季且在高山林线最大,暗针叶林中雪被期的质量损失略高于生长季,但差异不显著;(2)林线交错带上高山杜鹃凋落叶分解缓慢,一年干物质失重率为9.62%,拟合分解系数k为0.145;(3)高山杜鹃凋落叶的质量变化主要体现在纤维素降解显著且集中在雪被期,木质素无明显降解,在高山林线上C/N、C/P、木质素/N变化幅度较小且C、N、P的释放表现得稳定而持续。结果表明,季节性雪被对林线交错带内高山杜鹃分解的影响不仅局限在雪被期内,雪被融化期间频繁的冻融作用和雪融水淋洗作用可能会促进高山杜鹃凋落物在生长季初期的分解。总的来看,在气候变暖的情景下,雪被的缩减、生长季的延长和高山杜鹃群落的扩张可能加速高山林线交错带高山杜鹃凋落物的分解。     

A new species of Noblella (Amphibia,Anura, Craugastoridae) from the humid montane forests of Cusco,Peru

A new species of Noblella is described from the humid montane forest of the Región Cusco in Peru. Specimens were collected at 2330–2370 m elevation in Madre Selva, near Santa Ana, in the province of La Convención. The new species is readily distinguished from all other species of Noblella by having a broad, irregularly shaped, white mark on black background on chest and belly. The new species further differs from known Peruvian species of Noblella by the combination of the following characters: tympanic membrane absent, small tubercles on the upper eyelid and on dorsum, tarsal tubercles or folds absent, tips of digits not expanded, no circumferential grooves on digits, dark brown facial mask and lateral band extending from the tip of the snout to the inguinal region. The new species has a snout-to-vent length of 15.6 mm in one adult male and 17.6 mm in one adult female. Like other recently described species in the genus, this new Noblella inhabits high-elevation forests in the Andes and likely has a restricted geographic distribution.     

Effects of dissolved oxygen on extracellular enzymes activities and transformation of carbon sources from plant biomass: implications for denitrification in constructed wetlands

Dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations have often been shown to be important to decomposition rates of plant litter and thus may be a key factor in determining the supply of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and carbon-dependent denitrification in wetlands. During the 2 months operation, DOC accumulation in anaerobic condition was superior to aerobic condition due to higher activities of hydrolase enzymes and lower hydrolysates converted to gaseous C. Also, much higher denitrification rates were observed in wetland when using anaerobic litter leachate as the carbon source, and the available carbon source (ACS) could be used as a good predictor of denitrification rate in wetland. According to the results of this study, extracellular enzymes activities (EEAs) in wetland would change as a short-term consequence of DO. This may alter balance of litter carbon flux and the characteristics of DOC, which may, in turn, have multiple effects on denitrification in wetlands.