中国森林土壤碳储量与土壤碳过程研究进展

森林是陆地生态系统的主体,是陆地上最大的碳储库和碳吸收汇。国内外研究表明,土壤亚系统在调节森林生态系统碳循环和减缓全球气候变化中起着重要作用。但是,由于森林类型的多样性、结构的复杂性以及森林对干扰和变化环境响应的时空动态变化,至今对森林土壤碳储量和变率的科学估算,以及土壤关键碳过程及其稳定性维持机制的认识还十分有限。综述了近十几年来我国森林土壤碳储量和土壤碳过程的研究工作,主要包括不同森林类型土壤碳储量、土壤碳化学稳定性、土壤呼吸及其组分、土壤呼吸影响机制、气候变化与土地利用对土壤碳过程的影响等;评述了土壤碳过程相关科学问题的研究进展,讨论了尚未解决的主要问题,并分析了未来土壤碳研究的发展趋势,以期为促进我国森林土壤碳循环研究,科学评价森林土壤碳固持潜力及其稳定性维持机制和有效实施森林生态系统管理提供科学参考。     

林火干扰对森林生态系统土壤有机碳的影响研究进展

林火干扰是森林生态系统特殊而重要的生态因子,可改变生态系统的养分循环与能量传递。研究林火干扰对森林生态系统土壤有机碳的影响,有助于理解森林生态系统中土壤碳固持和碳循环过程,为制定科学合理的旨在减缓全球变化的林火管理策略具有重要意义。从4个方面阐述了林火干扰对森林生态系统土壤有机碳的影响及内在机制:分别从大尺度和小尺度两个方面阐述了林火干扰对土壤有机碳的影响及对森林生态系统碳循环与碳平衡的作用机制;探讨了不同林火干扰类型和林火干扰强度下,土壤活性有机碳对林火干扰的响应机制;阐明了林火干扰对土壤惰性有机碳的影响及作用机制;论述了林火干扰主要通过改变土壤有机碳的输入和输出过程进而影响土壤有机碳的稳定性及内在机制。最后提出了提高林火干扰对森林生态系统土壤有机碳影响定量化研究的4种路径选择:(1)全面比较研究不同林火干扰类型对土壤有机碳循环及其碳素再分配过程的功能特征;(2)进一步阐明林火干扰通过改变植被结构进而影响土壤生物群落结构,剖析土壤碳库循环的内在机制;(3)完善不同时空尺度下林火干扰对森林生态系统土壤碳库周转过程的定量化研究;(4)加强不同林火干扰类型土壤碳库稳定性差异的研究。     

森林碳计量方法研究进展

森林是陆地生态系统的主体,不仅是巨大的碳库而且对减缓气候变暖具有积极作用。科学有效的森林碳计量方法,有助于加深对全球碳循环过程的理解。然而,由于森林生态系统结构复杂,对森林碳计量的估算结果普遍存在精度低、不确定性高的问题。近年来,国内外发展了大量对森林碳计量进行估算的方法,主要有基于样地清查的森林植被和土壤碳估算、基于生长收获的经验模型估算、基于定量遥感雷达观测的遥感估测、基于多尺度森林生态系统网络的通量观测和陆地生态系统过程模型模拟等方法。在实际的森林碳计量中,根据不同的森林类型特征和数据获取情况,往往采取不同的碳计量方法,甚至不止一种。以生态过程模型模拟、遥感反演和数据同化技术为主要手段,基于碳通量观测数据、控制实验数据和遥感影像数据,发展多学科、多过程、多尺度的综合联网观测,充分认识森林碳循环过程中碳源/汇的时空分布特征,开展区域、洲际乃至全球尺度碳循环及其对全球变化和人类活动响应的系统性、集成性研究,以便建立高效、可靠的碳计量体系是未来林业碳计量的发展趋势。随着世界各国温室气体排放清单的编制,中国迫切需要科学的方法体系计量森林碳源/汇,提升我国在生态环境问题上的国际发言权和主导权,同时对我国森林可持续经营、生态环境保护以及美丽中国建设提供建议与支持。分析了各类森林碳计量方法的主要特征、优缺点,同时探讨了目前的森林碳计量方法存在的问题和未来的发展趋势,为不同时空尺度下森林碳计量提供参考。     

内蒙古森林生态系统碳储量及其空间分布

内蒙古森林面积居全国第一位, 林木蓄积量居第五位, 准确地估算该区域森林碳储量对于评估中国森林碳储量以及制定森林资源管理措施均具有重要意义。该研究基于内蒙古森林资源野外样方调查和室内分析, 评估了内蒙古森林生态系统的固碳现状, 估算了内蒙古森林生态系统不同林型和不同碳库(乔木、灌木、草本、凋落物和土壤碳库)的碳密度大小, 揭示了其空间分布特征。在此基础上估算了内蒙古森林碳储量大小及空间格局。结果表明: 1)内蒙古森林植被层碳储量为787.8 Tg C, 乔木层、凋落物层、草本层和灌木层分别占植被层总碳储量的93.5%、3.0%、2.7%和0.8%。内蒙古森林植被层平均碳密度为40.4 t·hm^-2, 其中, 乔木层、凋落物层、草本层和灌木层的碳密度分别为35.6 t·hm^-2、2.9 t·hm^-2、1.2 t·hm^-2和0.6 t·hm^-2。2)内蒙古森林土壤层(0-100 cm)碳储量为2449.6 Tg C, 其中0-30 cm的土壤碳储量最高, 占总碳储量的79.8%。0-10 cm、10-20 cm和20-30 cm的土壤碳储量分别占0-30 cm土壤碳储量的38.8%、34.1%和27.1%。内蒙古森林土壤平均碳密度为144.4 t·hm^-2。黑桦(Betula davurica)林土壤碳密度最高, 云杉(Picea asperata)林最小。土壤碳密度随土壤深度的增加而降低。3)内蒙古森林生态系统碳储量为3237.4 Tg C, 植被层和土壤层碳储量分别占森林生态系统碳储量的24.3%和75.7%。落叶松(Larix gmelinii)林总碳储量最高, 其次为白桦(Betula platyphylla)林、夏栎(Quercus robur)林、黑桦林、榆树(Ulmus pumila)疏林和山杨(Populus davidiana)林。内蒙古森林生态系统平均碳密度为184.5 t·hm^-2。土壤碳密度与植被碳密度呈显著正相关关系。4)内蒙古森林生态系统碳储量和碳密度的空间分布总体上为东部地区高、西部地区低的趋势。在降水量充沛的东部地区和降水偏少的中西部地区, 有针对性地开展森林保护区建设和人工造林, 可显著提升区域的碳汇能力。     

粗木质残体贮量和分解进展

粗木质残体是指森林生态系统中的枯立木、根桩、倒木以及大枝,是森林生态系统的重要组分,发挥着重要的生态功能,是一个长期碳库,但在碳库研究中,经常被忽略。CWD贮量变化较大,从世界范围看,随着纬度降低,CWD体积下降;美国和我国CWD碳贮量亦呈现出随纬度的降低而降低;天然林CWD时间动态一般呈"U"型,但也存在其他模式,或者无明确的模式。CWD的分解受到温度和降水等气候因子的影响,并与木材特性密切相关。我国森林类型丰富,为CWD研究提供了良好条件。国内学者对CWD贮量和分解进行了大量研究,但与世界先进水平相比,仍处于初级阶段,需要结合野外调查、长期实验和模型模拟,明确CWD碳库当前和未来的地位。     

三峡库区森林生态系统有机碳密度及碳储量

森林生态系统作为陆地生态系统的重要组成部分,在减缓全球气候变化过程中发挥重要作用.基于104块样地调查和森林资源二类清查数据,运用GIS平台,对三峡库区森林生态系统有机碳密度及储量进行研究,结果表明:(1)三峡库区森林优势树种各器官的含碳率为44.59%～54.45%,森林凋落物含碳率为30.61%～42.73%,平均为36.38%;(2)三峡库区森林生态系统平均碳密度为117.68t · hm-2,低于我国森林平均水平;植被层碳密度平均为24.15 t · hm-2,其中常绿阔叶林植被层碳密度最高,达42.80 t · hm-2;枯落物层平均碳密度为2.74 t · hm-2,土壤有机碳密度平均为9.09 kg · m-2;(3)三峡库区森林生态系统总有机碳储量为286.14×106t,其中植被层碳储量为58.72×106t,凋落物碳储量为6.67×106t,土壤碳储量为220.74×106t;(4)三峡库区马尾松林分布面积最大,其总有机碳储量为77.24×106t,占三峡库区森林有机碳总储量的26.99%;在各森林类型中,马尾松林植被层、凋落物层和土壤层有机碳储量均最高,分别达到20.70 × 106t、2.66×106t和53.89×106t;(5)三峡库区森林有机碳密度呈现"东高西低"分布格局,巴东-秭归、巫山-巫溪、石柱-武隆及江津南部有机碳密度较高.在三峡库区提高森林质量、扩大森林面积是增强森林生态系统碳汇功能的有效途径.     

森林生态系统碳循环的基本概念和野外测定方法评述

全球气候变化与森林生态系统碳循环息息相关,定量评估森林碳收支是生态系统与全球变化研究的重要任务。30年来森林生态系统碳循环研究已经取得了长足的进展,但全球和区域森林碳收支仍然存在很大的不确定性。这一方面与森林生态系统本身的复杂性有关,另一方面也与具体研究方法有关。评述了森林生态系统碳循环的基本概念和主要野外测定方法,为我国森林生态系统碳循环研究提供可参考的方法论。从生态系统碳浓度、密度、通量、分配和周转5个方面回顾了碳循环相关概念,指出碳浓度和碳储量是对碳库的静态描述,而碳通量和碳周转是对碳库的动态描述。净初级生产力是测量最普遍的碳通量组分,但大多数情况下因忽略了一些细节而被系统低估。普遍使用的净生态系统生产力,由于没有包含非CO2形式的水文、气象和干扰过程产生的碳通量,通常情况下高于生态系统净碳累积速率。在详细介绍碳通量组分的基础上,改进了森林生态系统碳循环的概念模型。重点讨论了碳通量的3种地面实测方法:测树学方法、箱法和涡度协方差法,并指出了其注意事项和不确定性来源。针对当前碳循环研究的突出问题,建议从4个方面减小碳循环测定的不确定性:(1)恰当运用生物量方程估算乔木生物量;(2)尽可能全面测定生态系统碳组分;(3)给出碳通量估算值的不确定性;(4)多种途径交互验证。     

土壤有机碳对外源氮添加的响应及其机制

土壤有机碳库是陆地生态系统碳库的重要组成, 在全球碳循环中发挥着重要的作用。受元素化学计量平衡调控作用, 氮输入的增加将会对土壤有机碳库产生重要影响。然而, 目前关于陆地生态系统碳库对氮添加的响应主要集中在植被碳库, 对土壤碳库研究较少, 且研究结论争议较大, 尤其对其响应机制缺少系统梳理。该文作者通过对已有文献进行梳理, 认为生态系统类型、土壤碳变化的检测方法、土壤深度, 以及土壤稳定性碳和易变碳含量的差异可能是造成当前研究土壤碳汇增量(每克氮输入所增加的碳)差异的重要原因。氮添加条件下土壤有机碳的积累机制可能包括3个方面: 1)氮添加增加了凋落物输入, 促进了碳积累; 2)氮添加减少土壤碳输出, 尤其是抑制了稳定性碳的分解; 3)促进土壤腐殖质及稳定性碳的形成。此外, 该文结合当前研究中存在的不足, 提出今后需加强对深层土壤碳、土壤可溶性有机碳的淋溶及吸附, 以及不同土壤碳组分对氮添加的响应研究, 并通过改进检测方法减少氮添加条件下碳储量的测量误差。     

青藏高原土壤碳储量及其影响因素研究进展

青藏高原是全球变化的敏感区,也是泛第三极地区气候变化的启动区。青藏高原土壤碳作为生态系统碳库的重要组成部分,对生态系统碳循环过程具有非常重要的作用。目前,对青藏高原土壤碳储量的估算仍存在很大的不确定性。为此,本文综述了近30年来关于青藏高原土壤碳储量研究,比较不同研究的土壤碳储量估算结果,以固有因子和变化因子两类影响因素作为切入点,分析了土壤碳储量时空分异规律。从估算模型和方法看,CENTURY和TEM模型综合考虑了影响土壤碳储量的多种机理过程,结果可信度高于EVI、NDVI模型以及插值估算法。青藏高原草地土壤表层(0～20 cm)有机碳储量约10 Pg C(1 Pg=10~(15)g)。高原冻土区土壤有机碳储量(0～200 cm)约16.5 Pg C,土壤无机碳储量(0～100 cm)约14 Pg C。青藏高原土壤碳储量沿东南向西北方向逐渐降低,而关于变化因子对青藏高原土壤碳储量的作用规律还没有一致的认识。此外,采样点选择、数据源选择、估算深度以及估算方法等影响了青藏高原土壤碳储量估算结果的精确性。未来青藏高原土壤碳储量研究应建立土壤碳储量估算标准来提高结果的可比性;同时增大采样区、采样量以及采样深度并保障采样周期的时间连贯性等,有效减少土壤碳储量估算不确定性。以期更好地理解和预测未来青藏高原生态系统对气候变化的响应。     

甘肃省森林碳储量现状与固碳速率北大核心CSCD

针对森林碳平衡再评估的重要性和区域尺度森林生态系统碳库量化分配的不确定性,该研究依据全国森林资源连续清查结果中甘肃省各森林类型分布的面积与蓄积比重以及林龄和起源等要素,在甘肃省布设212个样地,经野外调查与采样、室内分析,并对典型样地信息按照面积权重进行尺度扩展,估算了甘肃省森林生态系统碳储量及其分布特征。结果表明:甘肃省森林生态系统总碳储量为612.43 TgC,其中植被生物量碳为179.04 TgC,土壤碳为433.39 TgC。天然林是甘肃省碳储量的主要贡献者,其值为501.42 TgC,是人工林的4.52倍。天然林和人工林的植被碳密度均表现为随林龄的增加而增加的趋势,同一龄组天然林植被碳密度高于人工林。天然林土壤碳密度从幼龄林到过熟林逐渐增加,但人工林土壤碳密度最大值主要为近熟林。全省森林植被碳密度均值为72.43 Mg C·hm–2,天然林和人工林分别为90.52和33.79 Mg C·hm–2。基于森林清查资料和标准样地实测数据,估算出全省天然林和人工林在1996年的植被碳储量为132.47和12.81 TgC,2011年分别为152.41和26.63 TgC,平均固碳速率分别为1.33和0.92 TgC·a–1。甘肃省幼、中龄林面积比重较大,占全省的62.28%,根据碳密度随林龄的动态变化特征,预测这些低龄林将发挥巨大的碳汇潜力。     

典型亚热带森林生态系统碳密度及储量空间变异特征

以浙江省森林生态系统为研究对象,基于GIS网格布点,采集了838个森林样地样本(土壤、枯落物等),结合浙江省森林资源监测中心相关数据,利用地统计学和Moran's I相结合的方法系统研究了浙江省森林生态系统碳密度及碳储量空间变异特征。结果表明:浙江省森林生态系统平均碳密度为145.22 t/hm~2,其中森林植被、土壤、枯落物和枯死木层碳密度分别为27.34、108.89、1.79、1.38 t/hm~2。克里格空间插值和局部Moran's I指数结果表明碳密度空间分布规律呈现从西南向东北方向逐渐递减的趋势,与浙江省地形、地势较为一致,受海拔、树龄、森林类型、台风气候等自然因素和人类活动共同影响。浙江省森林生态系统碳储量为877.19 Tg C,森林植被、土壤、枯落物和枯死木层碳储量分别为203.88、656.20、10.84、6.27 Tg C,分别占总碳储量的23%、75%、1.3%、0.7%。在浙江省森林生态系统碳储量空间分布格局中,土壤层是森林生态系统中最大的碳库,约是森林植被层的3.22倍,是整个浙江省森林生态系统碳储量最主要的贡献者。浙江省森林资源丰富,大多数森林仍处于中幼龄林阶段,碳密度水平较低,但是中幼龄林生长速度较快,加强对全省中幼龄林的健康管理,是未来整体提升浙江省森林生态系统固碳潜力的关键。     

森林碳库特征及驱动因子分析研究进展

森林碳库作为全球碳库的重要组成部分,在区域以及全球碳循环中发挥重要作用。森林生态系统有机碳库主要由3部分组成:活植物碳库、土壤有机质碳库和死植物体碳库。各碳库时空差异很大,使研究森林碳储存机制存在很大的不确定性。在全球或者区域尺度上,森林生物量(与森林碳储量密切相关)呈现出清晰的分布格局,但对于这些格局的驱动因子与地上生物量的相关关系和尺度外推程度尚有很大的争议。分别讨论了气候、土壤、地形和生物因子对地上生物量的影响;而后,从各生态因子与地上生物量之间的直接或者间接关系入手,分析了各因子与生物量之间的交互作用,认为目前运用相同的处理方式来研究环境因子和生物因子对森林生物量的影响是不合适的。文章最后介绍两种新的研究方法:层次模型和生境分类,以期用来重新评估生态因子对森林生物量的影响,有助于更准确的了解森林碳储存机制。     

中国森林生态系统的植物碳储量和碳密度研究

提高森林生态系统C贮量的估算精度,对于研究森林生态系统向大气吸收和排放含C气体量具有重大意义.中国的森林生态系统植物C贮量的研究刚刚开始,由于估算方法问题,不同估算结果存在着较大的差异.本研究以各林龄级森林类型为统计单元,得出中国森林生态系统的植物C贮量为3.26～3.73Pg,占全球的0.6～0.7%;各森林类型和省市间有较大的差异.森林生态系统植物C密度在各森林类型间差异比较大,介于6.47～118.14Mg·hm^-2,并且有从东南向北和西增加的趋势.这种分布规律与我国人口密度的变化趋势正好相反,两者有一种对数关系.这说明我国实际森林植物C密度大小首先取决于人类活动干扰的程度.     

中国森林生态系统的植物碳储量和碳密度研究

提高森林生态系统C贮量的估算精度,对于研究森林生态系统向大气吸收和排放含C气体量具有重大意义.中国的森林生态系统植物C贮量的研究刚刚开始,由于估算方法问题,不同估算结果存在着较大的差异.本研究以各林龄级森林类型为统计单元,得出中国森林生态系统的植物C贮量为3.26～3.73Pg,占全球的0.6～0.7%;各森林类型和省市间有较大的差异.森林生态系统植物C密度在各森林类型间差异比较大,介于6.47～118.14Mg·hm^-2,并且有从东南向北和西增加的趋势.这种分布规律与我国人口密度的变化趋势正好相反,两者有一种对数关系.这说明我国实际森林植物C密度大小首先取决于人类活动干扰的程度.     

Carbon storage of the forests and its spatial pattern in Nei Mongol,China

Aims
Forest carbon storage in Nei Mongol plays a significant role in national terrestrial carbon budget due to its large area in China. Our objectives were to estimate the carbon storage in the forest ecosystems in Nei Mongol and to quantify its spatial pattern.
Methods
Field survey and sampling were conducted at 137 sites that distributed evenly across the forest types in the study region. At each site, the ecosystem carbon density was estimated thorough sampling and measuring different pools of soil (0-100 cm) and vegetation, including biomass of tree, grass, shrub, and litter. Regional carbon storage was calculated with the estimated carbon density for each forest type.
Important findings
Carbon storage of vegetation layer in forests in Nei Mongol was 787.8 Tg C, with the biomass of tree, litter, herbaceous and shrub accounting for 93.5%, 3.0%, 2.7% and 0.8%, respectively. Carbon density of vegetation layer was 40.4 t·hm^-2, with 35.6 t·hm^-2 in trees, 2.9 t·hm^-2 in litter, 1.2 t·hm^-2 in herbaceous and 0.6 t·hm^-2 in shrubs. In comparison, carbon storage of soil layer in forests in Nei Mongol was 2449.6 Tg C, with 79.8% distributed in the first 30 cm. Carbon density of soil layer was 144.4 t·hm^-2. Carbon storage of forest ecosystem in Nei Mongol was 3237.4 Tg C, with vegetation and soil accounting for 24.3% and 75.7%, respectively. Carbon density of forest ecosystems in Nei Mongol was 184.5 t·hm^-2. Carbon density of soil layer was positively correlated with that of vegetation layer. Spatially, both carbon storage and carbon density were higher in the eastern area, where the climate is more humid. Forest reserves and artificial afforestations can significantly improve the capacity of regional carbon sink.     

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 12 plots 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.     

Coarse Woody Debris Stimulates Soil Enzymatic Activity and Litter Decomposition in an Old-Growth Temperate Forest of Patagonia, Argentina

In most temperate forest ecosystems, tree mortality over time generates downed logs that accumulate as coarse woody debris (CWD) on the forest floor. These downed logs and trunks have important recognized ecosystem functions including habitat for different organisms and long-term organic C storage. Due to its recalcitrant chemical composition and slow decomposition, CWD can also have direct effects on ecosystem carbon and nutrient turnover. CWD could also cause changes indirectly through the physical and chemical alterations that it generates, although it is not well-understood how important these indirect effects could be for ecosystem processes and soil biogeochemistry. We hypothesized that in an old-growth mature forest, CWD affects carbon and nutrient cycles through its “proximity effects”, meaning that the forest floor near CWD would have altered soil biotic activity due to the environmental and biogeochemical effects of the presence of CWD. We conducted our study in an old-growth southern beech temperate forest in Patagonia, Argentina, where we estimated and classified the distribution and mass, nutrient pools and decay stage of CWD on the forest floor, and evaluated its impact on litter decomposition, soil mites and soil enzymatic activity of carbon and phosphorus-degrading enzymes. We demonstrate here that CWD in this ecosystem represents an important organic carbon reservoir (85 Mg ha^?1) and nitrogen pool (0.42 Mg ha^?1), similar in magnitude to other old-growth forests of the Northern Hemisphere. In addition, we found significant proximity effects of CWD, with increased C-degrading soil enzyme activity, decreased mite abundance, and more rapid litter decomposition beneath highly decayed CWD. Considered at the ecosystem scale in this forest, the removal of CWD could cause a decrease of 6% in soil enzyme activity, particularly in the summer dry season, and nearly 15% in annual litter decomposition. We conclude that beyond the established importance of CWD as a long-term carbon reservoir and habitat, CWD contributes functionally to the forest floor by influencing the spatial heterogeneity of microbial activity and carbon and nutrient turnover. These proximity effects demonstrate the importance of maintenance of this ecosystem component and should be taken into consideration for management decisions pertaining to carbon sequestration and functional diversity in natural forest ecosystems.     

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.