杭州湾湿地不同演替阶段优势物种光合生理生态特性

采用LI-6400光合作用系统测定了杭州湾滨海湿地不同演替阶段6种优势植物-包括早期植物海三棱藨草(Scirpus mariqueter)和糙叶苔草(Carex scabrifolia)、中期植物芦苇(Phragmites communis)和柽柳(Tamarixchinensis)、后期植物白茅(Imperata cylindrica)和旱柳(Salix matsudana)的光合作用光响应曲线(LRC)和CO2响应曲线(A/Ci),并拟合得出多个光合生理指标.结果表明,6种优势植物LRC净光合速率(Pn)大小顺序为海三棱藨草>糙叶苔草>芦苇>柽柳>白茅>旱柳,且早期植物显著大于后期植物(P<0.05);光补偿点(LCP)、光饱和点(LSP)、最大净光合速率(Amax)、和暗呼吸速率(Rd)变化与Pn相同,也表现出演替早期植物>中期植物>后期植物;而表观量子效率(AQY)则表现出相反趋势.由A/Ci曲线可以发现,演替早期优势植物较后期植物具有更低的CO2羧化效率(CCE)和相对较高的CO2补偿点(CCP).可见群落演替与各阶段优势植物的光合生理特征密切相关.     

Interactions between Carbon and Nitrogen Mineralization and Soil Organic Matter Chemistry in Arctic Tundra Soils

We used long-term laboratory incubations and chemical fractionation to characterize the mineralization dynamics of organic soils from tussock, shrub, and wet meadow tundra communities, to determine the relationship between soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition and chemistry, and to quantify the relative proportions of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in tundra SOM that are biologically available for decomposition. In all soils but shrub, we found little decline in respiration rates over 1 year, although soils respired approximately a tenth to a third of total soil C. The lack of decline in respiration rates despite large C losses indicates that the quantity of organic matter available was not controlling respiration and thus suggests that something else was limiting microbial activity. To determine the nature of the respired C, we analyzed soil chemistry before and after the incubation using a peat fractionation scheme. Despite the large losses of soil C, SOM chemistry was relatively unchanged after the incubation. The decomposition dynamics we observed suggest that tundra SOM, which is largely plant detritus, fits within existing concepts of the litter decay continuum. The lack of changes in organic matter chemistry indicates that this material had already decomposed to the point where the breakdown of labile constituents was tied to lignin decomposition. N mineralization was correlated with C mineralization in our study, but shrub soil mineralized more and tussock soil less N than would have been predicted by this correlation. Our results suggest that a large proportion of tundra SOM is potentially mineralizable, despite the fact that decomposition was dependent on lignin breakdown, and that the historical accumulation of organic matter in tundra soils is the result of field conditions unfavorable to decomposition and not the result of fundamental chemical limitations to decomposition. Our study also suggests that the anticipated increases in shrub dominance may substantially alter the dynamics of SOM decomposition in the tundra. Received 31 January 2002; accepted 16 July 2002.     

Effects of Succession on Nitrogen Export in the West-Central Cascades, Oregon

This study examined impacts of succession on N export from 20 headwater stream systems in the west central Cascades of Oregon, a region of low anthropogenic N inputs. The seasonal and successional patterns of nitrate (NO₃−N) concentrations drove differences in total dissolved N concentrations because ammonium (NH₄−N) concentrations were very low (usually < 0.005 mg L⁻¹) and mean dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) concentrations were less variable than nitrate concentrations. In contrast to studies suggesting that DON levels strongly dominate in pristine watersheds, DON accounted for 24, 52, and 51% of the overall mean TDN concentration of our young (defined as predominantly in stand initiation and stem exclusion phases), middle-aged (defined as mixes of mostly understory reinitiation and older phases) and old-growth watersheds, respectively. Although other studies of cutting in unpolluted forests have suggested a harvest effect lasting 5 years or less, our young successional watersheds that were all older than 10 years still lost significantly more N, primarily as NO₃−N, than did watersheds containing more mature forests, even though all forest floor and mineral soil C:N ratios were well above levels reported in the literature for leaching of dissolved inorganic nitrogen. The influence of alder may contribute to these patterns, although hardwood cover was quite low in all watersheds; it is possible that in forested ecosystems with very low anthropogenic N inputs, even very low alder cover in riparian zones can cause elevated N exports. Only the youngest watersheds, with the highest nitrate losses, exhibited seasonal patterns of increased summer uptake by vegetation as well as flushing at the onset of fall freshets. Older watersheds with lower N losses did not exhibit seasonal patterns for any N species. The results, taken together, suggest a role for both vegetation and hydrology in N retention and loss, and add to our understanding of N cycling by successional forest ecosystems influenced by disturbance at various spatial and temporal scales in a region of relatively low anthropogenic N input.     

子午岭植被自然演替中植物多样性变化及其与土壤理化性质的关系

在野外样方调查和室内实验分析的基础上,采用相关性分析和多元逐步回归方法,分析了黄土高原子午岭地区不同演替阶段群落物种多样性、土壤理化特性以及二者的相互关系.结果表明:群落物种多样性随演替进展呈增长趋势,但其增长并非完全线性,主要表现为草本群落演替阶段物种多样性指数高于灌木演替阶段.0~20 cm和20~40 cm土层土壤的全氮、有效氮和有机质等土壤养分指标随着植被演替不断增大.在演替过程中,土壤含水量变化虽有波动,但总体上升,土壤容重波动下降,说明演替过程中土壤环境在不断得到改善.40~60 cm土层土壤理化性质变化未表现出一定规律,说明其与植被演替没有必然联系.物种多样性指数与土壤因子的相关性分析表明,群落演替过程中物种多样性变化与土壤因子存在一定相关性,其中0~20 cm土层土壤的全氮和有机质与物种的多样性指数呈显著正相关.随着土层加深,物种多样性对土壤理化性质影响表现出减弱趋势.     

植物群落的演替理论

演替是植被动态的中心问题.与演替有关的理论有接力植物区系学说、初始植物区系学说、促进忍耐和抑制学说、生活史对策演替学说、资源比率学说、Odum-Margelef生态系统发展理论、McMahon系统概念模型、变化镶嵌体稳态学说、演替的尺度等级系统观点. 文章论述了演替的分类、演替的进程、演替机制、顶极群落与非平衡态、植物群落的线性与线性系统、演替的细胞学和遗传学特征、演替与进化、演替的研究方法等.     

土壤及凋落物源氮对中亚热带森林土壤SON的影响

土壤可溶性有机氮(SON)含量虽低,却是土壤氮库中最活跃的组分之一;主要来源于凋落物分解和土壤氮素转化。但是它们各自对土壤的影响还不清楚。通过添加杉木和~(15)N标记的阔叶凋落物于土壤表面,研究针阔叶凋落物分解对土壤SON的影响,及与土壤氮的关系。结果表明:由于没有降水的淋溶影响,培养期间,凋落物SON的显著降低,并没有直接增加土壤SON。与对照比较,杉木凋落物添加显著增加了土壤无机氮的含量,而较高C/N比的阔叶凋落物在其分解初期首先需要吸收更多的土壤氨态氮。添加~(15)N标记的阔叶凋落物提高了土壤SON在培养90—210天来自凋落物的比例,在第210天高达74.8%;来自凋落物的氨态氮比例在实验30天开始增加,到第210天高达39.8%;但是对硝态氮的影响不大。结果表明,土壤SON在培养初期因受凋落物的影响,主要来自土壤有机质的分解,而来自凋落物的SON更容易矿化;且土壤源的氮更容易发生硝化作用。可见,土壤中的SON是与凋落物分解动态、以及对土壤的影响有关。     

有机物料在维持土壤微生物体氮库中的作用

采用室内和田间培养试验,研究了有机物料矿化过程中土壤微生物体氮的变化,测定结果表明,有机物料对矿化过程和微生物体氮的影响,既与有机物料本身性质和组成有关,也与土壤肥力水平和施氮与否有关。加入Ｃ／Ｎ比高的有机物料后,微生物对矿质氮的净固定持续时间长,而加入Ｃ／Ｎ比小的则固定时间短;高肥力土壤上的固定时间比低肥力土壤短。不同有机物料对土壤微生物体氮的影响不同。从加绿豆茎叶、小麦茎叶、未腐解马粪、腐熟马粪、腐熟猪粪到厩肥,土壤微生物体氮依次减小,提供的有效能源物质丰富（如绿豆茎叶）或Ｃ／Ｎ比较高（如小麦茎叶）时影响效果突出。土壤肥力不同,有机物料对微生物体的影响效果不同,在低肥力土壤的效果突出,约为高肥力土壤的４倍,因此,在评价有机物料对土壤微生物体氮的影响时,既考虑有有机物料的性质和组成,也考虑土壤力水平、矿质氮含量和培养时期。     

子午岭植被演替过程中土壤剖面有机质与持水性能变化

研究表明,自然植被正向演替对土壤剖面有机质积累有显著促进作用,表现为：由弃耕地、草地、灌木、乔灌群聚到乔木的植被演替过程中,0-25cm土层有机质含量逐步增加,且演替初期的增加速度较快,而后增加速度相对变缓。植被演替过程中土壤有机质含量变化的主要原因在于植物凋落物归还量的变化。在同一时间测定的土壤剖面水分含量以及0-5cm土层田间持水量、容重、总孔度等与土壤持水性能相关的指标都与有机质含量呈极显著或显著相关,表明随剖面有机质的积累,土壤持水性能得到改善。     

Effects of Plant Residue and Salinity on Fractions of Cadmium and Lead in Three Soils

Bioavailability and mobility of heavy metals (HMs) in soils are determined by their partitioning between solution and solid-phase and their further redistribution among solid-phase components. A study was undertaken to determine the effects of organic matter (OM) and salinity on cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) distribution among soil fractions. Three agricultural soils were treated with 20 mg Cd/kg as Cd (NO₃)₂·4H₂O, 150 mg Pb/kg as Pb (NO₃)₂, 20 g/kg alfalfa powder, and 50 mmol/kg of NaCl, and then incubated at 60% water holding capacity (60% WHC) and constant temperature (25°C) for 12 weeks. Various fractions of Cd and Pb were extracted from the soils after 2 and 12 w of incubation using a sequential extraction technique. Results showed that in the early stage of incubation (2 w), added Pb were found mainly in the specifically sorbed (SS) and amorphous Fe oxides (AFeO) fractions and added Cd found in SS and Mn oxides (MnO) fractions. Addition of 2% OM decreased the exchangeable (EXC) Pb fraction almost in all soils, whereas it had a different effect on the EXC Cd fraction depending on soil pH. Addition of NaCl increased the EXC Cd fraction in two soils, but it did not alter Pb fractions. At the end of the incubation period, Pb decreased in the EXC and MnO fractions except in the neutral soil and Cd decreased mainly in the SS fraction.     

Effects of Plant Species Diversity and Composition on Nitrogen Cycling and the Trace Gas Balance of Soils

Experiments addressing the role of plant species diversity for ecosystem functioning have recently proliferated. Most studies have focused on plant biomass responses. However, microbial processes involved in the production of N₂O and the oxidation of atmospheric CH₄ could potentially be affected via effects on N cycling, on soil diffusive properties (due to changes in water relations and root architecture) and by more direct interactions of plants with soil microbes. We studied ecosystem-level CH₄ and N₂O fluxes in experimental communities assembled from two pasture soils and from combinations of 1, 3, 6, 8 or 9 species typical for these pastures. The soils contrasted with respect to texture and fertility. N₂O emissions decreased with diversity and increased in the presence of legumes. Soils were sinks for CH₄ at all times; legume monocultures were a smaller sink for atmospheric CH₄ than non-legume monocultures, but no effect of species richness per se was detected. However, both the exchange of CH₄ and N₂O strongly depended on plant community composition, and on the interaction of composition with soil type, indicating that the functional role of species and their interactions differed between soils. N₂O fluxes were mainly driven by effects on soil nitrate and on nitrification while soil moisture had less of an effect. Soil microbial C and N and N mineralisation rates were not altered. The driver of the interactive soil type×plant community composition-effects was less clear. Because soil methanotrophs may take longer to respond to alterations of N cycling than the 1/2 year treatment in this study, we also tested species richness-effects in two separate 5-year field studies, but results were ambiguous, indicating complex interactions with soil disturbance. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that plant community composition can affect the soil trace gas balance, whereas plant species richness per se was less important; it also indicates a potential link between the botanical composition of plant communities and global warming.     

Carbon and nitrogen cycling during old-field succession: Constraints on plant and microbial biomass

Soil C and N dynamics were studied in a sequence of old fields of increasing age to determine how these biogeochemical cycles change during secondary succession. In addition, three different late-successional forests were studied to represent possible "steady state" conditions. Surface soil samples collected from the fields and forests were analyzed for total C, H₂O-soluble C, total N, potential net N mineralization, potential net nitrification, and microbial biomass. Above-and belowground plant biomass was estimated within each of the old field sites.Temporal changes in soil organic C, total N and total plant biomass were best described by a gamma function [y =at ^b e ^ctd +f] whereas a simple exponential model [y =a(l – e^–bt ) + c] provided the best fit to changes in H₂O-soluble C, C:N ratio, microbial C, and microbial N. Potential N mineralization and nitrification linearly increased with field age; however, rates were variable among the fields. Microbial biomass was highly correlated to soil C and N pools and well correlated to the standing crop of plant biomass. In turn, plant biomass was highly correlated to pools and rates of N cycling.Patterns of C and N cycling within the old field sites were different from those in a northern hardwood forest and a xeric oak forest; however, nutrient dynamics within an oak savanna were similar to those found in a 60-yr old field. Results suggest that patterns in C and N cycling within the old-field chronosequence were predictable and highly correlated to the accrual of plant and microbial biomass.     

上海新江湾地区废弃地低干扰植物群落优势树种的光合生理生态特征

以上海市杨浦区原废弃地(新江湾地区)半自然群落的主要优势树种为对象,测定不同生活型植株在夏季不同生境下叶片的光合特性,从光合生理生态角度分析低干扰条件下上海城市废弃地的植物群落次生演替过程的特点,并结合环境因子分析并预测植物群落结构的动态变化。结果表明:(1)冠层树种光合作用日变化曲线呈双峰型,林窗树种呈单峰型,而林下树种呈不规则变化,体现出亚热带地区植物在夏季典型气候下的"光合午休"现象,而生境特点同时也影响植物光利用对策。(2)冠层成年树以落叶树种刺槐和朴树的日均净光合速率最高,且具有较高的光饱和点;在林下生境中,以强耐阴灌木植物胡颓子的日均净光合速率最高,其次为常绿树种香樟和女贞的幼树和幼苗,而林下落叶树种日均净光合速率均较低。(3)影响冠层树种的净光合速率因子中,生态因子是第一主成分,而对于林窗树种,第一主成分则是生理因子。(4)由于阳性落叶树种具有更高效的光合效率,能迅速占领上层空间,新江湾区域人为低干扰植物群落的演替早期均以扩散能力较强的先锋性树种为主;乔木群落形成后,林下更新苗则以光适应范围较宽的香樟、女贞为主,同时,上层落叶树种大规模自然衰退使得香樟和女贞逐步替代落叶树种。     

Crop rotation and residue management effects on carbon sequestration,nitrogen cycling and productivity of irrigated rice systems

The effects of soil aeration, N fertilizer, and crop residue management on crop performance, soil N supply, organic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) content were evaluated in two annual double-crop systems for a 2-year period (1994–1995). In the maize-rice (M-R) rotation, maize (Zea mays, L.) was grown in aerated soil in the dry season (DS) followed by rice (Oriza sativa, L.) grown in flooded soil in the wet season (WS). In the continuous rice system (R-R), rice was grown in flooded soil in both the DS and WS. Subplot treatments within cropping-system main plots were N fertilizer rates, including a control without applied N. In the second year, sub-subplot treatments with early or late crop residue incorporation were initiated after the 1995 DS maize or rice crop. Soil N supply and plant N uptake of 1995 WS rice were sensitive to the timing of residue incorporation. Early residue corporation improved the congruence between soil N supply and crop demand although the size of this effect was influenced by the amount and quality of incorporated residue. Grain yields were 13-20% greater with early compared to late residue incorporation in R-R treatments without applied N or with moderate rates of applied N. Although substitution of maize for rice in the DS greatly reduced the amount of time soils remained submerged, the direct effects of crop rotation on plant growth and N uptake in the WS rice crops were small. However, replacement of DS rice by maize caused a reduction in soil C and N sequestration due to a 33–41% increase in the estimated amount of mineralized C and less N input from biological N fixation during the DS maize crop. As a result, there was 11–12% more C sequestration and 5–12% more N accumulation in soils continuously cropped with rice than in the M-R rotation with the greater amounts sequestered in N-fertilized treatments. These results document the capacity of continuous, irrigated rice systems to sequester C and N during relatively short time periods. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effects of Soil Carbon Amendment on Nitrogen Availability and Plant Growth in an Experimental Tallgrass Prairie Restoration

Restoration of tallgrass prairie on former agricultural land is often impeded by failure to establish a diverse native species assemblage and by difficulties with nonprairie, exotic species. High levels of available soil nitrogen (N) on such sites may favor fast‐growing exotics at the expense of more slowly growing prairie species characteristic of low‐N soils. We tested whether reducing N availability through soil carbon (C) amendments could be a useful tool in facilitating successful tallgrass prairie restoration. We added 6 kg/m² hardwood sawdust to experimental plots on an abandoned agricultural field in the Sandusky Plains of central Ohio, United States, increasing soil C by 67% in the upper 15 cm. This C amendment caused a 94% reduction in annual net N mineralization and a 27% increase in soil moisture but had no effect on total N or pH. Overall, plant mass after one growing season was reduced by 64% on amended compared with unamended soil, but this effect was less for prairie forbs (?34%) than for prairie grasses (?67%) or exotics (?62%). After the second growing season, only exotics responded significantly to the soil C amendment, with a 40% reduction in mass. The N concentration of green‐leaf tissue and of senescent leaf litter was also reduced by the soil C treatment in most cases. We conclude that soil C amendment imparts several immediate benefits for tallgrass prairie restoration––notably reduced N availability, slower plant growth, and lower competition from exotic species.     

土壤水分和氮添加对华北平原高产农田有机碳矿化的影响

通过105 d的恒温(25℃)控湿室内培养方法,探讨了华北平原高产粮田土壤有机碳矿化特征以及水分和有机、无机氮输入对其影响。试验设4个肥料添加水平和4个水分梯度,分别为对照(S0)、仅添加无机氮(尿素)(S1)、无机氮和有机氮(鸡粪)配施(S2)以及仅添加有机氮(S3)和25%(田间持水量;M0)、50%(M1)、75%(M2)和100%(M3)共16个处理,每处理3次重复。结果表明,各处理有机碳矿化速率均在培养后1 d达第1高峰,之后直线下降,培养7 d时下降幅度达57.2%—75.0%,培养20—30 d时出现第2高峰。有机碳累积矿化量有208.8—1161 mg/kg,主要集中在前30 d,可占整个培养期的59.1%—69.9%,105 d的净矿化率为0.07%—2.01%。根据双指数方程模拟结果,研究了土壤潜在矿化碳库(C1+C2),其中活性碳库(C1)和惰性碳库(C2)分别为53.0—135.1 mg/kg和156.9—1069 mg/kg,潜在矿化率为1.75%—9.66%。土壤含水量显著影响有机碳矿化,且与潜在矿化碳库呈二次函数关系(P0.05)。田间持水量25%—100%范围内,随着土壤含水量的升高,有机碳矿化速率呈增加趋势,但增幅降低,其中M2(田间持水量75%)的有机碳净矿化率最高。有机碳矿化量与土壤微生物碳和矿质氮含量呈线性正相关(P0.05),保持氮水平(200 kg N/hm2)相同,有机氮(鸡粪)和无机氮(尿素)均显著促进土壤有机碳矿化,但两者间差异不显著(P0.05),且有机氮和无机氮对有机碳矿化的影响均与土壤含水量有显著交互作用(P0.05)。     

Long-Term Effects of Reclamation Treatments on Plant Succession in Iceland

The long‐term effects (20–45 years) of reclamation treatments on plant succession are examined at two localities in Iceland that were fertilized and seeded from 1954 to 1979 with perennial grasses or annual grasses, or left untreated. The areas that underwent reclamation treatments had significantly higher total plant cover (7–100%) than the untreated control plots (<5%), and floristic composition was usually significantly different between treated and untreated plots. Dwarf‐shrubs (Calluna vulgaris and Empetrum nigrum), bryophytes, biological soil crust, grasses, and shrubs characterized the vegetation in the treated plots, but low‐growing herbs that have negligible effects on the environment, such as Cardaminopsis petraea and Minuartia rubella, and grasses characterized the control plots. The seeded grass species had declined (<10%, the perennials) or disappeared (the annuals) but acted as nurse species that facilitated the colonization of native plants. It seems that by seeding, some factors that limit plant colonization were overcome. Soil nutrients, vegetation cover, litter, and biological soil crust were greater in the treated areas than the control plots. This may have enhanced colonization through an increase in soil stability and fertility, increased availability of safe microsites, increased moisture, and the capture of wind‐blown seeds. This study demonstrates the importance of looking at the long‐term effects of reclamation treatments to understand their impact on vegetation succession.     

Effects of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) on plant and soil nitrogen and soil organic matter in mixtures with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)

To increase our insight into the above- and belowground N flows in grass and grass-clover swards relations between crop and soil parameters were studied in a cutting trial with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) monocultures and ryegrass–white clover (Trifolium repens) mixtures. The effects of clover cultivar on herbage yield, the amount of clover-derived nitrogen, apparent N transfer to companion grass, dynamics of N and organic matter in the soil were estimated.The grass monocultures had very low DM yields (<2.1 t ha^-1) and a low N concentration in the harvested herbage. During 1992–1995 the annual herbage DM yield in the mixtures ranged from 7.0 to 14.3 t ha^-1, the white clover DM yield from 2.4 to 11.2 t ha^-1 and the mean annual clover content in the herbage DM harvested from 34 to 78%. Mixtures with the large-leaved clover cv. Alice yielded significantly more herbage and clover DM and had a higher clover content than mixtures with small/medium-leaved cvs. Gwenda and Retor. Grass cultivar did not consistently affect yield, botanical composition or soil characteristics.The apparent N₂ fixation was very high, ranging from 150 to 545 kg N ha^-1 in the different mixtures. For each tonne of clover DM in the harvested herbage 49 to 63 kg N was harvested, while the apparent N transfer from clover to grass varied between 55 and 113 kg N ha^-1 year^-1.The net N mineralization rate was lower under monocultures than under mixtures. The C mineralization and the amounts of C and N in active soil organic matter fractions were similar for monocultures and mixtures, but the C:N ratio of the active soil organic matter fractions were higher under grass than under mixtures. This explains the lower N mineralization under grass.     

Identifying Native Vegetation for Reducing Exotic Species during the Restoration of Desert Ecosystems

There is currently much interest in restoration ecology in identifying native vegetation that can decrease the invasibility by exotic species of environments undergoing restoration. However, uncertainty remains about restoration's ability to limit exotic species, particularly in deserts where facilitative interactions between plants are prevalent. Using candidate native species for restoration in the Mojave Desert of the southwestern U.S.A., we experimentally assembled a range of plant communities from early successional forbs to late‐successional shrubs and assessed which vegetation types reduced the establishment of the priority invasive annuals Bromus rubens (red brome) and Schismus spp. (Mediterranean grass) in control and N‐enriched soils. Compared to early successional grass and shrub and late‐successional shrub communities, an early forb community best resisted invasion, reducing exotic species biomass by 88% (N added) and 97% (no N added) relative to controls (no native plants). In native species monocultures, Sphaeralcea ambigua (desert globemallow), an early successional forb, was the least invasible, reducing exotic biomass by 91%. However, the least‐invaded vegetation types did not reduce soil N or P relative to other vegetation types nor was native plant cover linked to invasibility, suggesting that other traits influenced native‐exotic species interactions. This study provides experimental field evidence that native vegetation types exist that may reduce exotic grass establishment in the Mojave Desert, and that these candidates for restoration are not necessarily late‐successional communities. More generally, results indicate the importance of careful native species selection when exotic species invasions must be constrained for restoration to be successful.     

Effects of plant species diversity, atmospheric [CO2], and N addition on gross rates of inorganic N release from soil organic matter

A significant challenge in predicting terrestrial ecosystem response to global changes comes from the relatively poor understanding of the processes that control pools and fluxes of plant nutrients in soil. In addition, individual global changes are often studied in isolation, despite the potential for interactive effects among them on ecosystem processes. We studied the response of gross N mineralization and microbial respiration after 6 years of application of three global change factors in a grassland field experiment in central Minnesota (the BioCON experiment). BioCON is a factorial manipulation of plant species diversity (1, 4, 9 and 16 prairie species), atmospheric [CO₂] (ambient and elevated: 560 μmol mol^?1), and N inputs (ambient and ambient +4 g N m^?2 yr^?1). We hypothesized that gross N mineralization would increase with increasing levels of all factors because of stimulated plant productivity and thus greater organic inputs to soils. However, we also hypothesized that N addition would enhance, while elevated [CO₂] and greater diversity would temper, gross N mineralization responses because of increased and reduced plant tissue N concentrations, respectively. In partial support of our hypothesis, gross N mineralization increased with greater diversity and N addition, but not with elevated [CO₂]. The ratio of gross N mineralization to microbial respiration (i.e. the ‘yield’ of inorganic N mineralized per unit C respired) declined with greater diversity and [CO₂] suggesting increasing limitation of microbial processes by N relative to C in these treatments. Based on these results, we conclude that the plant supply of organic matter primarily controls gross N mineralization and microbial respiration, but that the concentration of N in organic matter input secondarily influences these processes. Thus, in systems where N limits plant productivity these global change factors could cause different long‐term ecosystem trajectories because of divergent effects on soil N and C cycling.     

Comparison of Designed Channel Restoration and Riparian Buffer Restoration Effects on Riparian Soils

Stream restoration is often employed in efforts to stabilize eroding channel banks. Banks are stabilized through a designed channel approach, which involves grading and armoring of stream banks using heavy machinery, or alternatively through planting of seedlings and saplings to establish forested riparian buffers. We hypothesized that designed channel restoration would have detrimental impacts on riparian soils but that soils would recover over time, and we hypothesized that riparian buffer restoration would not impact riparian soils. We tested these hypotheses by comparing soil attributes (bulk density, soil organic matter, and root biomass) at reaches that had undergone designed channel and riparian buffer restoration in different years (project ages ranged from 2 to 16 years) to paired urban (unrestored) control reaches. Soil properties in sub‐surface soil layers (10–20 and 20–30 cm depth) at both recent (<10 years old) and older (>10 years old) designed channel reaches differed significantly from paired urban control soils; bulk density was higher and root biomass lower in manipulated reaches compared to urban control reaches. At many designed channel reaches, bulk density exceeded values known to restrict root growth. These results indicate that compaction and disturbance of riparian soils may be a significant unintended consequence of designed channel restoration and can persist for at least a decade. In contrast, we found no significant differences in soil properties between riparian buffer restoration reaches and urban control reaches. Thus, the results indicate that riparian buffer restoration is a more ecologically favorable method than designed channel restoration for bank stabilization.