Vegetation and climate controls on potential CO2, DOC and DON production in northern latitude soils

Climatic change may influence decomposition dynamics in arctic and boreal ecosystems, affecting both atmospheric CO₂ levels, and the flux of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) to aquatic systems. In this study, we investigated landscape‐scale controls on potential production of these compounds using a one‐year laboratory incubation at two temperatures (10° and 30 °C). We measured the release of CO₂, DOC and DON from tundra soils collected from a variety of vegetation types and climatic regimes: tussock tundra at four sites along a latitudinal gradient from the interior to the north slope of Alaska, and soils from additional vegetation types at two of those sites (upland spruce at Fairbanks, and wet sedge and shrub tundra at Toolik Lake in northern Alaska). Vegetation type strongly influenced carbon fluxes. The highest CO₂ and DOC release at the high incubation temperature occurred in the soils of shrub tundra communities. Tussock tundra soils exhibited the next highest DOC fluxes followed by spruce and wet sedge tundra soils, respectively. Of the fluxes, CO₂ showed the greatest sensitivity to incubation temperatures and vegetation type, followed by DOC. DON fluxes were less variable. Total CO₂ and total DOC release were positively correlated, with DOC fluxes approximately 10% of total CO₂ fluxes. The ratio of CO₂ production to DOC release varied significantly across vegetation types with Tussock soils producing an average of four times as much CO₂ per unit DOC released compared to Spruce soils from the Fairbanks site. Sites in this study released 80–370 mg CO₂‐C g soil C^?1 and 5–46 mg DOC g soil C^?1 at high temperatures. The magnitude of these fluxes indicates that arctic carbon pools contain a large proportion of labile carbon that could be easily decomposed given optimal conditions. The size of this labile pool ranged between 9 and 41% of soil carbon on a g soil C basis, with most variation related to vegetation type rather than climate.     

Fluxes and concentrations of dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen – a synthesis for temperate forests

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrogen (DON)represent an important part of the C and N cycles inforest ecosystems. Little is known about the controlson fluxes and concentrations of these compounds insoils under field conditions. Here we compiledpublished data on concentrations and fluxes of DOC andDON from 42 case studies in forest ecosystems of thetemperate zone in order to evaluate controls on alarger temporal and spatial scale. The focus was onannual fluxes and concentrations in throughfall,forest floor leachates and soil solutions. In allcompartments considered, concentrations and fluxesdiffered widely between the sites. Highestconcentrations of DOC and DON were generally observedin forest floor leachates and in A horizons. Highestfluxes occurred in forest floor leachates. The fluxesof DOC and DON in forest floor leachates increasedwith increasing annual precipitation and were alsopositively related to DOC and DON fluxes withthroughfall. Variation in throughfall fluxes couldexplain 46% and 65% of the variation in DOC and DONfluxes from the forest floor, respectively. No generaldifference in DOC and DON concentrations and fluxes inforest floor leachates was found when comparingconiferous and hardwood sites. Concentrations of DOCin forest floor leachates were positively correlatedto the pH of the forest floor. Furthermore, there wasno relationship between organic C and N stocks, soilC/N, litterfall or mineral N inputs and concentrationsand fluxes of DOC and DON in forest floor leachates.Including all compartments, fluxes of DOC and DON werehighly correlated. Ratios of DOC to DON calculatedfrom fluxes from the forest floor were independent ofthe amount of annual precipitation, pointing to asimilar response of DOC and DON to precipitationconditions. A decrease in the ratio of DOC to DON withsoil depth as observed on a plot-scale, was notconfirmed by data analysis on a large scale. Thecontrols observed on annual fluxes and concentrationsof DON and DOC at regional scale differed from thosereported for smaller time and space scales.     

The effect of permafrost on stream biogeochemistry: A case study of two streams in the Alaskan (U.S.A.) taiga

Understanding interactions between permanently frozen soils and stream chemistry is important in predicting the effects of management, natural disturbance and changing permafrost distribution on stream ecosystems and nutrient budgets in subarctic watersheds. Chemical measurements of groundwater, soil water and stream water were made in two watersheds in the taiga of interior Alaska. One watershed (HiP) had extensive permafrost and the other (LoP) had limited permafrost. Soil water collected within the rooting zone (0.3--0.5 m) in both watersheds was high in dissolved organic carbon (DOC), dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) but low in dissolved minerals (dominantly Ca, Mg and Na) and conductivity. The reverse was true for groundwater from springs and wells. Permafrost in the HiP basin prevented deep percolation of water and generated stormflows rich in DOC. The presence of permafrost in HiP resulted in higher fluxes of DOC, DON and DIN into stream water from upland soils.     

Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling in Soils from Acidic and Nonacidic Tundra with Different Glacial Histories in Northern Alaska

Moist acidic and nonacidic tundra are two of the most common vegetation types of the tundra in the northern foothills of the Brooks Range, Alaska, and they differ considerably in vegetation, soil nutrient availability, and soil pH. Both occur on mesic, gentle slopes, but acidic tundra is more common on older glacial surfaces whereas nonacidic tundra is more common on younger surfaces. Although much prior research has focused on moist acidic tundra, nonacidic tundra is still relatively unstudied. We compared rates of soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling and their response to warming and changes in moisture in moist acidic tundra on Itkillik I glacial drift (50,000–120,000 years old, pH = 3–4) and moist nonacidic tundra on Itkillik II glacial drift (11,500–60,000 year old, pH = 6–7). We hypothesized that rates of soil C and N cycling would be faster at the nonacidic site because it has a more favorable pH for microbial activity and higher-quality organic matter inputs arising from its greater herbaceous plant production relative to the acidic site. However, in contrast to our hypothesis, in situ soil respiration, as well as respiration, dissolved organic C production, and net N mineralization in laboratory incubations, was greater for soils from the acidic site. Nevertheless, the sites responded similarly to manipulations of temperature and moisture, exhibiting exponential increases in respiration with warming between 4°C and 15°C but surprisingly little sensitivity to changes in moisture between 300% and 700%. Slower soil organic matter decomposition at the nonacidic site likely results from the stabilization of soil organic matter by high concentrations of calcium. Received 27 August 2001; accepted 3 April 2002.     

Controls on the release of dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen from a deciduous forest floor investigated by manipulations of aboveground litter inputs and water flux

Although dissolved organic matter (DOM) released from the forest floor plays a crucial role in transporting carbon and major nutrients through the soil profile, its formation and responses to changing litter inputs are only partially understood. To gain insights into the controlling mechanisms of DOM release from the forest floor, we investigated responses of the concentrations and fluxes of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrogen (DON) in forest floor leachates to manipulations of throughfall (TF) flow and aboveground litter inputs (litter removal, litter addition, and glucose addition) at a hardwood stand in Bavaria, Germany. Over the two-year study period, litter manipulations resulted in significant changes in C and N stocks of the uppermost organic horizon (Oi). DOC and DON losses via forest floor leaching represented 8 and 11% of annual litterfall C and N inputs at the control, respectively. The exclusion of aboveground litter inputs caused a slight decrease in DOC release from the Oi horizon but no change in the overall leaching losses of DOC and DON in forest floor leachates. In contrast, the addition of litter or glucose increased the release of DOC and DON either from the Oi or from the lower horizons (Oe + Oa). Net releases of DOC from the Oe + Oa horizons over the entire manipulation period were not related to changes in microbial activity (measured as rates of basal and substrate-induced respiration) but to the original forest floor depths prior to manipulation, pointing to the flux control by the size of source pools rather than a straightforward relationship between microbial activity and DOM production. In response to doubled TF fluxes, net increases in DOM fluxes occurred in the lower forest floor, indicating the presence of substantial pools of potentially soluble organic matter in the Oe + Oa horizons. In contrast to the general assumption of DOM as a leaching product from recent litter, our results suggest that DOM in forest floor leachates is derived from both newly added litter and older organic horizons through complex interactions between microbial production and consumption and hydrologic transport.     

The impact of regional landscape context on local maladaptive trait divergence: a field test using freshwater copepod acid tolerance

Theoretical work has shown that spatial landscape context can contribute to reducing local adaptation in populations depending on the spatial pattern of environmental heterogeneity, the spatial scale of distances between habitats on landscapes, and the level of habitat connectivity. However, only a handful of empirical studies have addressed the impact of regional landscape context on local trait divergence in natural populations. We tested if local adaptation in abiotic tolerance is diminished in landscapes with strong spatial heterogeneity and habitat proximity. We used a freshwater copepod (Leptodiaptomus minutus) that is known to show local adaptive divergence in acid tolerance as a study system to understand the effects of regional landscape-level spatial heterogeneity in lake/pond pH on local trait divergence. We compared local divergence in copepod acid tolerance from three types of landscapes: (i) a homogeneous pH landscape of exclusively circumneutral lakes (pH ≥ 6.0); (ii) a heterogeneous pH landscape with a mixture of acidic and circumneutral lakes; and (iii) a heterogeneous pH landscape in which relatively infrequent circumneutral ponds are embedded in a predominantly acidic landscape. We found that local adaptation to circumneutral lake/pond pH was most reduced in the pH-heterogeneous landscape dominated by acidic habitats, likely because of gene flow from surrounding nearby acidic ponds. Our study empirically confirms theoretical predictions that spatial landscape context is important for explaining regional differences in population environmental tolerances. These effects may become important for understanding regional differences in population fitness trade-offs when presented in combination with multiple stressors.     

亚热带典型林分对表层和深层土壤可溶性有机碳、氮的影响

林分类型是影响土壤可溶性有机碳、氮库大小的重要因素,但目前对其研究主要集中在表层土壤(0～10 cm).本研究以亚热带地区天然林、毛竹林、格式栲人工林和杉木人工林为对象,用3种不同的浸提方式(冷水、热水和KCl溶液)提取表层(0～10 cm)和深层(40～60 cm)土壤中可溶性有机碳(DOC)和有机氮(DON),研究林分类型对表层和深层土壤可溶性有机碳、氮库的影响.结果表明: 林分类型对表层土壤DOC及其占土壤总有机碳(TOC)的比重有显著影响,深层土壤受林分类型的影响不显著;不同林分土壤DON含量仅在表层土壤存在显著差异,在深层土壤差异不显著.林分间土壤微生物生物量碳的差异仅在表层土壤达到显著水平.DON占土壤总氮(TN)的比重在各林分表层和深层土壤间差异均不显著.3种浸提方法得到的DOC和DON库大小顺序为热水>KCl>冷水,不同浸提方法得到的DOC库及DON库的相关性均达到显著水平,表明冷水、热水和KCl溶液浸提得到的有机碳、氮库含有相似组分.冷水和热水浸提方法得到的表层土壤DOC和DON含量及DOC占TOC比重在天然林和毛竹林均显著大于格式栲和杉木人工林,表明天然林和毛竹林土壤可溶性有机碳、氮含量高于格式栲和杉木人工林,更有利于土壤肥力的恢复.     

Litter decomposition in moist acidic and non-acidic tundra with different glacial histories

Plant species composition is a potentially important source of variation in soil processes, including decomposition rates. We compared litter decomposition in two common and compositionally distinct tundra vegetation types in the northern foothills of the Brooks Range, Alaska: moist acidic tundra (soil pH 3–4), which occurs primarily on older landscapes, and moist non-acidic tundra (soil pH 6–7), which occurs primarily on landscapes with a more recent history of glaciation and has higher graminoid and forb abundance and lower woody shrub abundance than acidic tundra. To separate the influence of plant community composition from that of the soil environment, we decomposed the same nine substrates at a moist acidic and a moist non-acidic site located less than 2 km apart. Substrates included leaf litter of the dominant species in each growth form (graminoid, deciduous shrub, evergreen shrub, forb, moss) as well as woody stems of the deciduous shrub Betula nana. Then, we estimated above-ground community-level decomposition by weighting the decay rate of each species in the community by its proportional contribution to overall above-ground net primary production (ANPP). In contrast to our expectations, community-level decomposition rates estimated using the site-average decay rate for each substrate were similar between the two sites, likely because growth forms differed little in their leaf litter decay. By contrast, when site-specific decay rates were used to estimate community-level decomposition, it was nearly twice as fast at the older, moist acidic tundra site because most substrates decayed faster at that site, indicating a more favorable environment for decomposition in acidic tundra. Site differences in soil moisture and temperature could not explain site differences in decomposition. However, higher soil N availability at the moist acidic tundra may have contributed to faster decomposition since, in a separate experiment, fertilization with N stimulated decomposition of a common substrate at both sites. In addition, lower pH in acidic tundra may promote greater abundance of soil fungi, perhaps explaining faster decomposition rates at that site. In summary, the large differences in plant species composition between moist acidic and non-acidic tundra are likely to not contribute to site differences in decomposition. Nevertheless, decomposition is much more rapid in moist acidic tundra. Thus, landscape age and associated differences in soil pH and nutrient availability are important sources of variation in decomposition rate in upland Alaskan tundra.     

Factors controlling concentration, export, and decomposition of dissolved organic nutrients in the Everglades of Florida

Water draining from the Everglades marshes of southern Florida containshigh concentrations of dissolved organic C (DOC), N (DON), and in somelocations, P (DOP). These dissolved organic nutrients carry over 90% of the Nand organic C, and about 25% of the P exported downstream in the Everglades.Ourobjectives were to describe the most important aspects of the origin and fateofdissolved organic matter (DOM) in the Everglades, and to describe the processescontrolling its concentration and export. Concentrations of dissolved organicnutrients are influenced by local plant production, decomposition, and sorptionequilibrium with peat. The drained peat soils of the Everglades AgriculturalArea and the more productive marshes of the northern Everglades produce some ofthe highest concentrations of DOC and DON in the Everglades watershed. Inportions of the marshes of the northern Everglades, P enrichment was correlatedwith higher local DOC and DON concentrations and greater production of solubleplant matter. Microbial degradation of Everglades DOM was very slow; less than10% of the DOC was lost after 6 months of incubation in the laboratory andsupplements of inorganic nutrients failed to speed the decomposition. Exposureto solar radiation increased the subsequent decay rate of the remaining DOC(25%in 6 mo.). Solar radiation alone mineralized 20.5% of the DOC, 7%of the DON, and degraded about 50% of the humic substances over 21 days insterile porewater samples and thus degraded DOM faster than microbialdegradation. The humic substances appeared to inhibit biodegradation of theother fractions of the DOC since hydrophilic organic acids decomposed fasterwhen isolated from the humic substances.The fate of DOC and DON is closely linked as indicated by a generally narrowrange of C/N ratios. In contrast, high concentrations of DOP were associatedwith P enrichment (at least in pore water). The DOC was composed of about 50%humic substances, 33% hydrophilic acids, and 15% hydrophilic neutralsubstances,typical of DOC from other environments, despite the fact that it originatesfroma neutral to slightly alkaline peatland. Despite high exports of DON (3.9g m^–2 y^–1 from one area), themarshes of the northern Everglades are a sink for DON on a landscape scale. Theagricultural fields of the Everglades Agricultural Area, however, exported netquantities of DON. High concentrations of DOC desorbed from the agriculturalsoils when water with no DOC was added. Sorption experiments indicated thathighconcentrations of dissolved organic matter flowing into the marshes from theEverglades Agricultural Area could suppress the further desorption ofadditionalsoluble organic matter through physicochemical mechanisms. While biologicalfactors, plant production and microbial decomposition are important inproducingpotentially soluble organic nutrients, physicochemical sorption equilibria,hydrology, and degradation by solar radiation are also likely to control theexport of this material on the landscape scale.     

Relationships Among pH,Minerals, and Carbon in Soils from Tundra to Boreal Forest Across Alaska

Tundra and boreal forests in northern high latitudes contain significant amounts of carbon (C) in the soil, indicating the importance of clarifying controls on soil C dynamics in the region and their feedback effects on climate systems. In northern Alaska, variations in soil C processes are closely associated with variations in soil acidity within ecosystems; however, the reason for this association remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that it results from weathering and subsequent changes in soil geochemical characteristics, including minerals and adsorptive organic C. We sampled soils from 12 sites in Alaska along a 600-km transect from the Arctic Ocean to interior Alaska, spanning the biomes of tundra, tundra–boreal forest ecotone, and boreal forest. Mineral soil analyses revealed that soils with low pH have fewer base cations, more aluminum/iron minerals, and lower base saturation, indicating that weathering is a major function of these geochemical characteristics in the broad area over northern Alaska. Adsorbed organic C in soil presented strong correlations with Al and Fe minerals, soil pH, and soil total C and represented approximately 30–55% of total soil C, suggesting that soil C accumulation in the Alaskan ecosystems is strongly controlled by weathering-related changes in geochemical characteristics. An adsorption test supported these observations and illustrated a greater capacity for acidic soil to adsorb organic C. These findings demonstrate that variations in weathering-associated characteristics have a strong influence on the regional variation in C dynamics and biogeochemical consequences in the Alaskan ecosystems.     

Nutrient and mineralogical control on dissolved organic C, N and P fluxes and stoichiometry in Hawaiian soils

We measured DOM fluxes from the O horizon of Hawaiiansoils that varied in nutrient availability and mineralcontent to examine what regulates the flux ofdissolved organic carbon (DOC), nitrogen (DON) andphosphorus (DOP) from the surface layer of tropicalsoils. We examined DOM fluxes in a laboratory study from N, P and N+Pfertilized and unfertilized sites on soils that rangedin age from 300 to 4 million years old. The fluxesof DOC and DON were generally related to the % Cand % N content of the soils across the sites. Ingeneral, CO₂ and DOC fluxes were not correlatedsuggesting that physical desorption, dissolution andsorption reactions primarily control DOM release fromthese surface horizons. The one exception to thispattern was at the oldest site where there was asignificant relationship between DOC and CO₂flux. The oldest site also contained the lowestmineral and allophane content of the three sites andthe DOC-respiration correlation indicates arelationship between microbial activity and DOC fluxat this site. N Fertilization increased DON fluxes by50% and decreased DOC:DON ratios in the youngest,most N poor site. In the older, more N rich sites, Nfertilization neither increased DON fluxes nordecreased DOM C:N ratios. Similarly, short termchanges in N availability in laboratory-based soil Nand P fertilization experiments did not affect the DOMC:N ratios of leachate. DOM C:N ratios were similar tosoil organic matter C:N ratios, and changes in DOM C:Nratios with fertilization appeared to have beenmediated through long term effects on SOM C:N ratiosrather than through changes in microbial demand for Cand N. There was no relationship between DON andinorganic N flux during these incubations suggestingthat the organic and inorganic components of N fluxfrom soils are regulated by different factors and thatDON fluxes are not coupled to immediate microbialdemand for N. In contrast to the behavior of DON, thenet flux of dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) and DOMC:P ratios responded to both long-term P fertilizationand natural variation in reactive P availability. There was lower DOP flux and higher DOM C:P ratiosfrom soils characterized by low P availability andhigh DOP flux and narrow DOM C:P ratios in sites withhigh P availability. DOP fluxes were also closelycorrelated with dissolved inorganic P fluxes. PFertilization increased DOP fluxes by 73% in theyoungest site, 31% in the P rich intermediate agesite and 444% in the old, P poor site indicating thatDOP fluxes closely track P availability in soils.     

Microbial growth on polluted leaf and litter leachates: Effects on leachate pH and sulphate concentration

Summary Leaves and litter ofAcer pseudoplatanus L. (sycamore) were collected from woodland downwind of a coking works and from a site close to the industrial city of Sheffield and leached with water or simulated acid rain (pH 4.0). The effects of microbial growth on litter leachate, pH and sulphate concentration were determined by (a) allowing the indigenous litter flora to develop or (b) inoculating the fungusAureobasidium pullulans into sterilized leachates amended with synthetic aphid honeydew as carbon source. In both experiments microbial growth generally increased the pH and sulphate concentration of the leachates, independent of the origin of the litter or the leaching agent. The growth ofA. pullulans however, generally decreased the pH and sulphate content of sycamore leaf leachates. We conclude that the microbial mineralization of organic sulphur in deciduous litter leachate can act as a source of sulphate which could enhance cation leaching in atmospheric-pulluted soils.     

Controls on the dynamics of dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen in a Central European deciduous forest

Despite growing attention concerning therole of dissolved organic matter (DOM) inelement cycling of forest ecosystems, thecontrols of concentrations and fluxes of bothdissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrogen(DON) under field conditions in forest soilsremain only poorly understood. The goal ofthis project is to measure the concentrations and fluxes of DON, NH₄ ⁺, NO₃ ^–and DOC in bulkprecipitation, throughfall, forest floorleachates and soil solutions of a deciduousstand in the Steigerwald region (northernBavaria, Germany). The DOC and DONconcentrations and fluxes were highest inleachates originating from the Oa layer of theforest floor (73 mg C L^–1, 2.3 mg NL^–1 and about 200–350 kg C, 8–10 kg Nha^–1 yr^–1). They were observed to behighly variable over time and decreased in themineral topsoil (17 mg C L^–1, 0.6 mg NL^–1 and about 50–90 kg C, 2.0 to 2.4 kg Nha^–1 yr^–1). The annual variability ofDOC and DON concentrations and subsequentialDOC/DON ratios was substantial in allsolutions. The DOC and DON concentrations inthroughfall were positively correlated withtemperature. The DOC and DON concentrationsdid not show seasonality in the forest floorand mineral soil. Concentrations were notrelated to litterfall dynamics but didcorrespond in part to the input of DOC and DONfrom throughfall. The throughfall contributionto the overall element fluxes was higher forDON than for DOC. Concentrations and fluxes ofDON were significantly correlated to DOC inthroughfall and the Oi layer. However, thecorrelation was weak in Oa leachates. Inaddition, seasonal and annual variation ofDOC/DON ratios indicated different mechanismsand release rates from the forest floor forboth components. The concentrations of DOC andDON in forest floor leachates were in mostcases dependent neither on the pH value orionic strength of the solution, nor on thewater flux or temperature changes. As aconsequence, the DOC and DON fluxes from theforest floor into the mineral soil werelargely dependent on the water flux if annualand biweekly time scales are considered.     

Soil microbial responses to elevated phosphorus and pH in acidic temperate deciduous forests

Although northern temperate forests are generally not considered phosphorus (P) limited, ecosystem P limitation may occur on highly weathered or strongly acidic soils where bioavailable inorganic P is low. In such environments, soil organisms may compensate by increasing the utilization of organic P via the production of extracellular enzymes to prevent limitation. In this study, we experimentally increased available P and/or pH in several acidic eastern deciduous forests underlain by glaciated and unglaciated soils in eastern Ohio, USA. We hypothesized that where inorganic P is low; soil microbes are able to access organic P by increasing production of phosphatase enzymes, thereby overcoming biogeochemical P limitations. We measured surface soil for: available P pools, N mineralization and nitrification rates, total C and N, enzymes responsible for C, N, and P hydrolysis, and microbial community composition (PLFA). Increasing surface soil pH a whole unit had little effect on microbial community composition, but increased N cycling rates in unglaciated soils. Phosphorus additions suppressed phosphatase activities over 60% in the unglaciated soils but were unchanged in the glaciated soils. All treatments had minimal influence on microbial biomass, but available pools of P strongly correlated with microbial composition. Microbes may be dependent on sources of organic P in some forest ecosystems and from a microbial perspective soil pH might be less important overall than P availability. Although our sampling was conducted less than 1 year after treatment initiation, microbial community composition was strongly influenced by available P pools and these effects may be greater than short-term increases in soil pH.     

Dissolved organic carbon affects soil microbial activity and nitrogen dynamics in a Mexican tropical deciduous forest

Seasonal variation of dissolved organic C (DOC) and its effects on microbial activity and N dynamics were studied during two consecutive years in soils with different organic C concentrations (hilltop and hillslope) in a tropical deciduous forest of Mexico. We found that DOC concentrations were higher at the hilltop than at the hillslope soils, and in both soils generally decreased from the dry to the rainy season during the two study years. Microbial biomass and potential C mineralization rates, as well as dissolved organic N (DON) and NH₄⁺ concentrations and net N immobilization were higher in soils with higher DOC than in soils with lower DOC. In contrast, net N immobilization and NH₄⁺ concentration were depleted in the soil with lowest DOC, whereas NO₃⁻ concentrations and net nitrification increased. Negative correlations between net nitrification and DOC concentration suggested that NH₄⁺ was transformed to NO₃⁻ by nitrifiers when the C availability was depleted. Taken together, our results suggest that available C appears to control soil microbial activity and N dynamics, and that microbial N immobilization is facilitated by active heterotrophic microorganisms stimulated by high C availability. Soil autotrophic nitrification is magnified by decreases in C availability for heterotrophic microbial activity. This study provides an experimental data set that supports the conceptual model to show and highlight that microbial dynamics and N transformations could be functionally coupled with DOC availability in the tropical deciduous forest soils. Responsible Editor: Chris Neill     

川西高山林线土壤活性碳、氮对短期增温的响应

随着温室效应的加剧,受低温限制的高山林线生态系统对全球气候变暖较为敏感,可能直接影响到植物的生长和土壤碳氮过程.本研究假设气候变暖会改变高山生态系统土壤活性碳氮含量,在四川省理县米亚罗高山生态系统定位站,采用开顶式模拟增温装置(OTC)模拟增温对土壤活性碳、氮的短期影响.分别于2017年4、7和10月,采集OTC以及对照样地(CK)内土壤有机层和矿质土壤层的原状土壤,测定土壤可溶性有机碳(DOC)、土壤微生物生物量碳(MBC)、土壤可溶性有机氮(DON)和土壤微生物生物量氮(MBN)含量.结果表明: 模拟增温使年均气温升高0.88 ℃,土壤有机层和矿质土壤层的年均温度分别提高0.48和0.23 ℃.模拟增温没有显著改变土壤有机质和含水量,但显著提高了矿质土壤层的pH值,同时显著降低了非生长季矿质土壤层的DOC、DON含量;季节变化对两个层次的DOC、DON和MBN含量有极显著影响,而MBC没有明显的季节动态;增温和季节交互作用对矿质土壤层的DOC和DON有显著影响.土壤有机层的MBC、MBN含量显著高于矿质土壤层.土壤活性碳、氮与土壤有机质和含水量呈极显著正相关,MBC、MBN与土壤pH呈极显著正相关,MBN与土壤温度呈显著负相关.     

Nutrient availability and pH jointly constrain microbial extracellular enzyme activities in nutrient-poor tundra soils

Background and aims

Tundra soils, which usually contain low concentrations of soil nutrients and have a low pH, store a large proportion of the global soil carbon (C) pool. The importance of soil nitrogen (N) availability for microbial activity in the tundra has received a great deal of attention; however, although soil pH is known to exert a considerable impact on microbial activities across ecosystems, the importance of soil pH in the tundra has not been experimentally investigated.

Methods

We tested a hypothesis that low nutrient availability and pH may limit microbial biomass and microbial capacity for organic matter degradation in acidic tundra heaths by analyzing potential extracellular enzyme activities and microbial biomass after 6 years of factorial treatments of fertilization and liming.

Results

Increasing nutrients enhanced the potential activity of β-glucosidase (synthesized for cellulose degradation). Increasing soil pH, in contrast, reduced the potential activity of β-glucosidase. The soil phospholipid fatty acid concentrations (PLFAs; indicative of the amount of microbial biomass) increased in response to fertilization but were not influenced by liming.

Conclusions

Our results show that soil nutrient availability and pH together control extracellular enzyme activities but with largely differing or even opposing effects. When nutrient limitation was alleviated by fertilization, microbial biomass and enzymatic capacity for cellulose decomposition increased, which likely facilitates greater decomposition of soil organic matter. Increased soil pH, in contrast, reduced enzymatic capacity for cellulose decomposition, which could be related with the bioavailability of organic substrates.     

转Bt水稻对土壤可溶性有机碳氮及微生物学性质的影响

研究了3种转Bt水稻［克螟稻（KMD）、华恢1号（HH1）和Bt汕优63（BtSY63）］及对应亲本在2年大田条件下对土壤可溶性有机碳（DOC）和可溶性有机氮（DON）及微生物学性质的影响.结果表明：测定指标均随采样时间发生显著变化.与对应亲本相比,转Bt水稻对土壤DOC、DON和微生物生物量氮（MBN）的影响不显著,而对土壤微生物生物量碳（MBC）、基础呼吸（BR）和微生物代谢熵（qCO₂）的影响在大田种植第1年某些时段达到显著水平（P<0.05）,但这种影响没有持续到第2年;3种亲本水稻土壤DOC、DON及微生物学性质差异均不显著,但相应转Bt水稻土壤MBC、BR、qCO₂差异显著,BtSY63土壤MBC和BR显著高于KMD及HH1,而qCO₂显著低于KMD及HH1.转Bt水稻2年的大田种植对土壤DOC和DON及微生物学性质的影响较小,但3种转Bt水稻之间微生物学性质的差异比亲本之间的差异大,表明长期监测可能有助于发现转Bt水稻对土壤生态系统结构和功能的影响.     

短期CO2浓度升高和干旱胁迫对白羊草土壤碳氮和微生物根际效应的影响

采用人工气候室和盆栽控水试验研究黄土丘陵区典型草本植物白羊草在倍增CO₂浓度(800 μmol·mol^-1)下和充分供水(75%～80%的田间持水量)、轻度干旱胁迫(55%～60%的田间持水量)和重度干旱胁迫(35%～40%的田间持水量)下根际和非根际土壤碳氮含量和微生物群落结构及其根际效应.结果表明: CO₂浓度升高和干旱胁迫对白羊草根际和非根际土壤有机碳、全氮和水溶性有机碳(DOC)含量及其根际效应均无显著影响.轻度干旱胁迫下CO₂浓度升高显著促进了根际土壤水溶性有机氮(DON)的消耗,导致DOC/DON升高,提高了DON的负根际效应和DOC/DON的正根际效应.干旱胁迫和CO₂浓度升高对土壤总磷脂脂肪酸(总PLFA)和细菌PLFA的根际效应无显著影响.CO₂浓度升高条件下干旱胁迫显著提高了根际土壤G⁺/G^- PLFA,降低了非根际土壤G⁺/G^- PLFA,导致其根际效应显著提高,表明根际微生物群落由自养微生物群落向异养微生物群落的转变.     

短期CO2浓度升高和干旱胁迫对白羊草土壤碳氮和微生物根际效应的影响

采用人工气候室和盆栽控水试验研究黄土丘陵区典型草本植物白羊草在倍增CO₂浓度(800 μmol·mol^-1)下和充分供水(75%～80%的田间持水量)、轻度干旱胁迫(55%～60%的田间持水量)和重度干旱胁迫(35%～40%的田间持水量)下根际和非根际土壤碳氮含量和微生物群落结构及其根际效应.结果表明: CO₂浓度升高和干旱胁迫对白羊草根际和非根际土壤有机碳、全氮和水溶性有机碳(DOC)含量及其根际效应均无显著影响.轻度干旱胁迫下CO₂浓度升高显著促进了根际土壤水溶性有机氮(DON)的消耗,导致DOC/DON升高,提高了DON的负根际效应和DOC/DON的正根际效应.干旱胁迫和CO₂浓度升高对土壤总磷脂脂肪酸(总PLFA)和细菌PLFA的根际效应无显著影响.CO₂浓度升高条件下干旱胁迫显著提高了根际土壤G⁺/G^- PLFA,降低了非根际土壤G⁺/G^- PLFA,导致其根际效应显著提高,表明根际微生物群落由自养微生物群落向异养微生物群落的转变.