Evaluation of methods for estimating soil carbon dioxide efflux across a gradient of forest disturbance

Better understanding of variation in soil carbon dioxide (CO₂) efflux caused by measurement techniques is needed, especially over gradients of site disturbance, to accurately estimate the global carbon cycle. We present soil CO₂ efflux data from a gradient of disturbance to ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa C. Lawson var. scopulorum Engelm.) forests in northern Arizona, USA that were obtained using four different techniques: vented static chambers, a Licor 6400‐09, and soil CO₂ diffusion profiles using two different models (Moldrup, Millington–Quirk) to estimate soil gas diffusivity. We also compared soil CO₂ efflux measured by the Moldrup and Millington–Quirk diffusion profile methods to nighttime total ecosystem respiration (TER) data from an eddy covariance tower. We addressed four questions: (1) Does the use of a given method to measure soil CO₂ efflux bias results across a disturbance gradient? (2) Does the magnitude of difference between observed and modeled estimates of soil CO₂ differ between methods and across sites? (3) What is the spatial variability of each method at each site? (4) Which method is closest to the estimate of TER measured by the eddy covariance tower? Although soil CO₂ efflux varied significantly among methods the differences were consistent among sites. Measured and modeled total growing season fluxes were generally higher for the Licor 6400‐09 and Millington–Quirk diffusion gradient methods compared with static chamber and the Moldrup diffusion gradient methods. A power analysis showed that the larger static chamber was the most efficient method at sampling spatial variation in soil CO₂ efflux. Nighttime measurements of soil CO₂ efflux from the Moldrup diffusion gradient method were most strongly related to nighttime TER assessed with eddy covariance. The use of a single, well‐implemented method to measure soil CO₂ efflux is unlikely to create bias in comparisons across a gradient of forest disturbance.     

Soil properties and Austrocedrus chilensis forest decline in Central Patagonia, Argentina

Austrocedrus chilensis forests in Argentina suffer a widespread mortality, locally known as `mal del ciprés', whose causes remain unknown. `Mal del ciprés' occurs throughout the cypress range in Argentina, being Río Grande Valley, in Central Patagonian Andes, an area where the disease has notoriously increased its extension and importance in the last years. The purpose of this work was to characterize Río Grande Valley soils where declining cypress stands develop and to determine what soil properties are associated with the disease. Four sampling sites with pure cypress forests expressing `mal del ciprés' were selected. In each of them, 3 declining and 3 asymptomatic plots were established and were characterized by edaphic features. Selected morphological, physical and chemical soil properties were related to the occurrence of the decline by means of analysis of variance. The cypress forest developed in a wide range of soils with different parent materials: glacifluvial, alluvial, volcanic with a glacifluvial discontinuity, volcanic on an andesitic substratum, and soils derived from andesite alteration. All the soils presented dark superficial horizons, rich in organic matter and with granular structure. Cypress growing on volcanic soils with a glacifluvial discontinuity presented symptoms of decline in areas where the discontinuity, and therefore the clayey horizon and the redoximorphic features, were close to the surface. In soils derived from andesite alteration, the declining forest was also present on shallow soils with redoximorphic features near the surface. In volcanic soils with a lithological discontinuity of andesite, the decline was restricted to areas near a water stream. In alluvial soils, declining trees appeared related with the flood plain of the river; healthy forest stands developed on higher lands, where soils were well drained. Glacifluvial soils, presenting clayey textures and great difficulties for rooting, were the soils submitted to the worst drainage conditions. In these soils, the decline presented a random pattern of distribution, suggesting that the whole area is prone to develop the decline. Results showed cypress capacity to inhabit different soils; however microsite features related to poor drainage (i.e., low slope, nearness to water streams, the presence of clay and redoximorphic features near to the surface) determined a higher risk of disease occurrence.     

Contrasting soil respiration in young and old-growth ponderosa pine forests

Three years of fully automated and manual measurements of soil CO₂ efflux, soil moisture and temperature were used to explore the diel, seasonal and inter‐annual patterns of soil efflux in an old‐growth (250‐year‐old, O site) and recently regenerating (14‐year‐old, Y site) ponderosa pine forest in central Oregon. The data were used in conjunction with empirical models to determine which variables could be used to predict soil efflux in forests of contrasting ages and disturbance histories. Both stands experienced similar meteorological conditions with moderately cold wet winters and hot dry summers. Soil CO₂ efflux at both sites showed large inter‐annual variability that could be attributed to soil moisture availability in the deeper soil horizons (O site) and the quantity of summer rainfall (Y site). Seasonal patterns of soil CO₂ efflux at the O site showed a strong positive correlation between diel mean soil CO₂ efflux and soil temperature at 64 cm depth whereas diel mean soil efflux at the Y site declined before maximum soil temperature occurred during summer drought. The use of diel mean soil temperature and soil water potential inferred from predawn foliage water potential measurements could account for 80% of the variance of diel mean soil efflux across 3 years at both sites, however, the functional shape of the soil water potential constraint was site‐specific. Based on the similarity of the decomposition rates of litter and fine roots between sites, but greater productivity and amount of fine litter detritus available for decomposition at the O site, we would expect higher rates of soil CO₂ efflux at the O site. However, annual rates were only higher at the O site in one of the 3 years (597 ± 45 vs. 427 ± 80 g C m^?2). Seasonal patterns of soil efflux at both sites showed influences of soil water limitations that were also reflected in patterns of canopy stomatal conductance, suggesting strong linkages between above and below ground processes.     

茶树根际土壤磷的解吸特性

为了探明茶树根际土壤磷的释放过程与供应机制,采用外源磷吸附培养方法,研究了不同母质、不同种植年限茶树根际土壤磷的解吸过程与特性,并用最小二乘法进行最优函数拟合.结果表明:茶树根际土壤与非根际土壤磷的解吸过程有明显的差异.茶树根际土壤的磷解吸能力极显著高于非根际土壤;与非根际土壤相比,根际土壤的平均有效磷含量、平均解吸率和平均β值(单位吸附量中的解吸量)分别高出5.49 mg.kg-1、1.7%和24.4%.不同成土母质发育的茶树根际土壤磷解吸能力为花岗岩风化物>第四纪红色粘土>板页岩风化物.随着种植年限的延长,3种母质茶树根际土壤的有效磷与磷解吸能力均有不同程度地提高.     

中亚热带不同母质和森林类型土壤生态酶化学计量特征

土壤生态酶化学计量比作为衡量土壤微生物能量和养分资源限制状况的重要指标,是当前生态学领域研究的热点之一,然而关于土壤母质和森林类型在调控土壤生态酶化学计量比中所扮演的角色及作用机制尚不明确。分别以砂岩和花岗岩发育的米槠林和杉木林土壤为研究对象,通过测定土壤物理化学性质、微生物量碳、氮和磷及土壤酶活性,探讨不同母岩发育的米槠林和杉木林土壤生态酶化学计量特征。结果显示,花岗岩发育的土壤酸性磷酸酶活性(AP)显著高于砂岩发育的土壤,βG:AP和NAG:AP的值显著低于砂岩发育的土壤。其中,花岗岩发育的米槠林土壤βG:AP和NAG:AP的值都显著高于杉木林,砂岩发育的土壤βG:AP和NAG:AP的值在两个林分间呈相反的结果。结果表明土壤生态酶化学计量比能够反映不同森林土壤之间磷养分限制强度,花岗岩比砂岩土壤受磷养分限制更严重。相关分析表明,土壤酶活性及生态酶化学计量比与土壤生物因子和非生物因子密切相关,而冗余分析发现土壤pH、总磷(TP)和微生物量碳(MBC)分别解释土壤酶活性和生态酶化学计量比变异的56.9%、27.9%和12.3%。未来森林经营及管理应考虑土壤母质和森林类型差异对区域森林土壤养分循环的影响。     

Does grazing mediate soil carbon and nitrogen accumulation beneath C4, perennial grasses along an environmental gradient?

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of long-term (>25 yrs) grazing on soil organic carbon (SOC) and total soil nitrogen (N) accumulation beneath individual plants of three perennial grasses along an environmental gradient in the North American Great Plains. The zone of maximum SOC and N accumulation was restricted vertically to the upper soil depth (0-5 cm) and horizontally within the basal area occupied by individual caespitose grasses, which contributed to fine-scale patterning of soil heterogeneity. Long-term grazing mediated SOC and N accumulation in the tall-, mid- and shortgrass communities, but the responses were community specific. SOC and N were lower beneath Schizachyrium scoparium plants in long-term grazed sites of the tall- and midgrass communities, but higher beneath Bouteloua gracilis plants in the long-term grazed site of the shortgrass community. SOC, but not N, was greater in soils beneath compared to between S. scoparium plants in an abandoned field seeded in 1941, indicating that this caespitose grass accumulated SOC more rapidly than N. SOC and N were greater in the 0-5 cm soil depth beneath a caespitose grass (S. scoparium) compared to a rhizomatous grass (Panicum virgatum) in the tallgrass community, with no significant accumulation of either SOC or N beneath P. virgatum plants. Grazing appears to indirectly mediate nutrient accumulation beneath caespitose grasses along the environmental gradient by modifying the size class distribution of plants. Populations with a greater proportion of large plants have a greater potential for biomass incorporation into soils and may more effectively capture redistributed organic matter from between plant locations. Contrasting plant responses to grazing at various locations along the environmental gradient conform to the predictions of the generalized grazing model, as the selection pressures of grazing and aridity may have also influenced the ability of caespitose grasses to accumulate nutrients in soils beneath them by mediating grazing resistance, competitive ability and population structure.     

中亚热带不同母质发育森林土壤磷组分特征及其影响因素

本研究以福建三明砂岩和花岗岩发育的米槠林土壤和杉木林土壤为对象,分析土壤磷组分、铁铝氧化物、微生物生物量以及磷酸酶活性等指标,研究母质和森林类型对土壤磷组分的影响程度和机制.结果表明:母质和森林类型显著影响土壤不同磷组分含量.总体上,砂岩发育土壤全磷含量、活性无机/有机磷、中等活性无机/有机磷以及惰性磷含量均显著高于花...     

Response of Dendroctonus brevicomis to different release rates of nonhost angiosperm volatiles and verbenone in trapping and tree protection studies

A blend of eight nonhost angiosperm volatiles (benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde, guaiacol, nonanal, salicylaldehyde, (E)‐2‐hexenal, (E)‐2‐hexen‐1‐ol and (Z)‐2‐hexen‐1‐ol) without [NAV] and with [NAVV] (–)‐verbenone (4,6,6‐trimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]hept‐3‐en‐2‐one) were tested at low (L), medium (M) and high (H) release rates for their ability to reduce attraction of western pine beetle, Dendroctonus brevicomis LeConte, to attractant‐baited (exo‐brevicomin [racemic, 3 mg/d], frontalin [racemic, 3 mg/d] and myrcene [18 mg/d]) multiple funnel traps. NAV‐L (40 mg/d) had no significant effect. Verbenone alone (50 mg/d) and NAV‐M (240 mg/d) both significantly reduced attraction, but no significant difference was observed between the two treatment means. NAV‐H (430 mg/d) significantly reduced catches by ～60% and 78% compared to verbenone alone and the baited control, respectively. In a second experiment, combining (–)‐verbenone with NAV (NAVV) increased the effects observed in Experiment 1. NAVV‐M (240 mg/d) resulted in an ～69% and 83% reduction in trap catch compared to verbenone alone and the baited control, respectively. Significantly fewer D. brevicomis were captured in NAVV‐H (430 mg/d) than any other treatment resulting in an ～93% reduction in trap catch compared to the baited control. In a third experiment, NAVV was tested at three release rates for its ability to protect individual ponderosa pines, Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws., from attack by D. brevicomis. Cumulative release rates varied in direct proportion to tree diameter, but represented quarter, half and full NAVV rates. NAVV significantly reduced the density of D. brevicomis attacks, D. brevicomis successful attacks, and levels of tree mortality on attractant‐baited trees. Only three of 15 NAVV‐treated trees died from D. brevicomis attack while ～93% mortality (14/15) was observed in the untreated, baited control. Quarter and half rates were ineffective for reducing tree mortality.     

广州市主城区树冠覆盖景观格局梯度

城市树冠覆盖是城市森林在小尺度上的景观表达,是衡量城市森林生态功能服务质量的重要指标.通过在ArcGIS9.2中对广州市中心城区的高分辨率航片进行目视解译,对形成的树冠覆盖专题图分析并生成栅格数据,利用Fragstats3.3软件分别选择标准方法和移动窗口方法分析研究区景观格局特征.其中基于移动窗口法形成了一系列基于所选择格局特征的连续栅格表面,每一个栅格单元代表的是设定的移动窗口半径尺度下景观类型的格局特征.分析表明,研究区景观格局呈现明显的空间异质性梯度特征.基于样带区尺度效应分析的结果表明,粒度3-5m和移动窗口半径400-600m可适合于研究区的景观格局梯度分析,选择的景观指数能够形成较为平滑的栅格表面.基于移动窗口的分析结果以连续变量图的形式对景观格局空间异质性进行可视化表达,能够为小尺度上的城市森林景观格局优化提供重要的参考.     

秦岭北坡不同生境栓皮栎实生苗生长及其影响因素

栓皮栎(Quercus variabilis)是中国暖温带和亚热带林区的主要建群种,也是重要的栲胶、软木资源树种。为了阐明栓皮栎在不同生境条件下的种子成苗、实生苗生长及其与环境因素的关系,采用典型样地调查的方法,对秦岭北坡栓皮栎林3种生境中(林窗、林缘、林下)的栓皮栎种子库中种子数量、实生苗的存活数量、生长情况及生物量分配进行了研究,对影响实生苗生长发育的环境因素进行了相关分析。结果表明:林下、林窗和林缘的种子库中种子数量差异显著(P0.05),3种生境中能够萌发形成1a苗的种子数量少,种子能否萌发明显受枯枝落叶层厚度、光照强度和空气湿度的影响;栓皮栎种群有充足的苗库,其中较大年龄实生苗数量是种群能否持续更新的关键,林下、林窗和林缘中8a苗分别占该年龄实生苗总量的22.53%、45.60%和31.87%,林窗中较大年龄实生苗的数量比林下和林缘多,林窗为栓皮栎实生苗的定居提供了有利条件;栓皮栎实生苗的生长与光照强度和空气温度显著正相关,与土壤含水量显著负相关,林窗中实生苗的生长状况和生物量积累均优于林缘、林下。林窗对栓皮栎种群更新有利。在今后的栓皮栎林的经营过程中,可以适当间伐,增加林窗数量,为种群可持续发育提供有利条件。     

Huckleberry abundance, stand conditions, and use in western oregon: Evaluating the role of forest management

Huckleberries are major components of the understory vegetation in coniferous Pacific Northwest forests of the United States. Vaccinium species also have a long history of human use. However, little research has been done to ascertain how they respond to common forest management practices. We used data obtained from old-growth, young thinned, and young unthinned Douglas-fir stands in western Oregon to evaluate how forest management could potentially influence species abundance and product supply. Our analysis focused on three species: Vaccinium ovatum, V. parvifolium,and V. membranaceum. Results were variable, but indicate that overstory stand conditions and forest management can affect huckleberry species abundance. However, to assess fully the effects of forest management on these species, studies specifically designed to target areas where people harvest these products are needed. Measuring relevant product attributes such as commercial productivity is also critical.