Soil carbon stocks and quality across intact and degraded alpine wetlands in Zoige,east Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The wetlands on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau are experiencing serious degradation, with more than 90,000 hectares of marshland converted to wet meadow or meadow after 40 years of drainage. However, little is known about the effects of wetland conversion on soil C stocks and the quality of soil organic carbon (SOC) (defined by the proportion of labile versus more resistant organic carbon compounds). SOC, microbial biomass carbon, light fraction organic carbon (LFOC), dissolved organic carbon, and the chemical composition of SOC in the soil surface layer (0–10 cm), were investigated along a wetland degradation gradient (marsh, wet meadow, and meadow). Wetland degradation caused a 16 % reduction in the carbon stocks from marsh (178.7 ± 15.2 kg C m^?2) to wet meadow (150.6 ± 21.5 kg C m^?2), and a 32 % reduction in C stocks of the 0–10 cm soil layer from marsh to meadow (122.2 ± 2.6 kg C m^?2). Wetland degradation also led to a significant reduction in SOC quality, represented by the lability of the carbon pool as determined by a density fractionation method (L _LFOC), and a significant increase in the stability of the carbon pool as reflected by the alkyl-C:O-alkyl-C ratio. ¹³C NMR spectroscopy showed that the labile form of C (O-alkyl-C) declined significantly after wetland degradation. These results assist in explaining the transformation of organic C in these plateau wetland soils and suggest that wetland degradation not only caused SOC loss, but also decreased the quality of the SOC of the surface soil.     

Radiation transfer and heat budget during the ice season in Lake Pääjärvi, Finland

Lake Pääjärvi, a boreal Finnish lake, was investigated in winter for weather conditions, structure and thickness of ice and snow, solar radiation, and under-ice current and temperature. Heat budget of Lake Pääjärvi in January–March was governed by terrestrial radiation losses of 20–35 W m^?2 recompensed by ice growth of 0.5–1.0 cm day^?1. In April, snow melted, albedo decreased from 0.8 to <0.1, and the mean ice melt rate was 1.5 cm day^?1. Internal melting and surface melting were about equal. The mean turbulent heat loss was small. The heat flux from the water to ice was about 5 W m^?2 in winter, increasing to 12 W m^?2 in the melting season. The light attenuation coefficient was 1.1 m^?1 for the congelation ice (black ice) in winter, compared with 1.5 m^?1 for the lake water, and it was up to 3 m^?1 for candled congelation ice in spring, and about 10 m^?1 for superimposed ice (white ice) and snow. Gas bubbles were the main factor that reduced the transparency of ice. The radiation penetrating the ice heated the water body causing convective currents and horizontal heat transfer. This increased the temperature of the water body to about 3°C before the ice break-up. After the snow had melted, the euphotic depth (the depth of 1% surface irradiance) was estimated as 2.0 m, only two-thirds that in summer.     

Fluxes of carbon, water and energy over Brazilian cerrado: an analysis using eddy covariance and stable isotopes

We present the energy and mass balance of cerrado sensu stricto (a Brazilian form of savanna), in which a mixture of shrubs, trees and grasses forms a vegetation with a leaf area index of 1·0 in the wet season and 0·4 in the dry season. In the wet season the available energy was equally dissipated between sensible heat and evaporation, but in the dry season at high irradiance the sensible heat greatly exceeded evaporation. Ecosystem surface conductance g_s in the wet season rose abruptly to 0·3 mol m^?2 s^?1 and fell gradually as the day progressed. Much of the total variation in g_s was associated with variation in the leaf-to-air vapour pressure deficit of water and the solar irradiance. In the dry season the maximal g_s values were only 0·1 mol m^?2 s^?1. Maximal net ecosystem fluxes of CO₂ in the wet and dry season were –10 and –15 μmol CO₂ m^?2 s^?1, respectively (sign convention: negative denotes fluxes from atmosphere to vegetation). The canopy was well coupled to the atmosphere, and there was rarely a significant build-up of respiratory CO₂ during the night. For observations in the wet season, the vegetation was a carbon dioxide sink, of maximal strength 0·15 mol m^?2 d^?1. However, it was a source of carbon dioxide for a brief period at the height of the dry season. Leaf carbon isotopic composition showed all the grasses except for one species to be C₄, and all the palms and woody plants to be C₃. The CO₂ coming from the soil had an isotopic composition that suggested 40% of it was of C₄ origin.     

Sensible heat transfer and thermal windows in Dasyprocta leporina (Mammalia,Rodentia)

This study aimed to evaluate the diurnal variation of the sensible heat transfer in red-rumped agoutis (Dasyprocta leporina) bred in captivity in a semi-arid environment. In addition, we seek to identify thermal windows by infrared thermography during the daytime period (07:00, 09:00, 11:00, 14:00, and 16:00). The body surface temperature was higher in the pinna (36.84 ± 0.11 °C), followed by the hind limbs (36.55 ± 0.11 °C). These body regions were primarily responsible for heat loss by radiation (which was 10.13 ± 1.17 W m^?2 and 11.19 ± 1.17 W m^?2, respectively), and acted like biological thermal windows. Heat transfer by convection was more intense in the body trunk and hind limbs at all times of the day. Thus, sensible heat transfer is important for maintaining homeothermy in red-rumped agouti in hot environments. In conclusion, these rodents use specialized body regions (pinna and hind limbs) for heat transfer.     

Comparison of the mass and energy exchange of a pasture and a mature transitional tropical forest of the southern Amazon Basin during a seasonal transition

This research utilized tower‐based eddy covariance to quantify the trends in net ecosystem mass (CO₂ and H₂O vapor) and energy exchange of important land‐cover types of NW Mato Grosso during the March–December 2002 seasonal transition. Measurements were made in a mature transitional (ecotonal) tropical forest near Sinop, Mato Grosso, and a cattle pasture near Cotriguaçú, Mato Grosso, located 500 km WNW of Sinop. Pasture net ecosystem CO₂ exchange (NEE) was considerably more variable than the forest NEE over the seasonal transition, and the pasture had significantly higher rates of maximum gross primary production in every season except the dry–wet season transition (September–October). The pasture also had significantly higher rates of whole‐ecosystem dark respiration than the forest during the wetter times of the year. Average (±95% CI) rates of total daily NEE during the March–December 2002 measurement period were 26±15 mmol m^?2 day^?1 for the forest (positive values indicate net CO₂ loss by the ecosystem) and ?38±26 mmol m^?2 day^?1 for the pasture. While both ecosystems partitioned more net radiation (R_n) into latent heat flux (L_e), the forest had significantly higher rates of L_e and lower rates of sensible heat flux (H) than the pasture; a trend that became more extreme during the onset of the dry season. Large differences in pasture and forest mass and energy exchange occurred even though seasonal variations in micrometeorology (air temperature, humidity, and radiation) were relatively similar for both ecosystems. While the short measurement period and lack of spatial replication limit the ability to generalize these results to pasture and forest regions of the Amazon Basin, these results suggest important differences in the magnitude and seasonal variation of NEE and energy partitioning for pasture and transitional tropical forest.     

Seasonal variation in energy fluxes and carbon dioxide exchange for a broad-leaved semi-arid savanna (Mopane woodland) in Southern Africa

We studied the seasonal variation in carbon dioxide, water vapour and energy fluxes in a broad‐leafed semi‐arid savanna in Southern Africa using the eddy covariance technique. The open woodland studied consisted of an overstorey dominated by Colophospermum mopane with a sparse understorey of grasses and herbs. Measurements presented here cover a 19‐month period from the end of the rainy season in March 1999 to the end of the dry season September 2000. During the wet season, sensible and latent heat fluxes showed a linear dependence on incoming solar radiation (I) with a Bowen ratio (β) typically just below unity. Although β was typically around 1 at low incoming solar radiation (150 W m^?2) during the dry season, it increased dramatically with I, typically being as high as 4 or 5 around solar noon. Thus, under these water‐limited conditions, almost all available energy was dissipated as sensible, rather than latent heat. Marked spikes of CO₂ release occurred at the onset of the rainfall season after isolated rainfall events and respiration dominated the balance well into the rainfall season. During this time, the ecosystem was a constant source of CO₂ with an average flux of 3–5 μmol m^?2 s^?1 to the atmosphere during both day and night. But later in the wet season, for example, in March 2000 under optimal soil moisture conditions, with maximum leaf canopy development (leaf area index 0.9–1.3), the peak ecosystem CO₂ influx was as much as 10 μmol m^?2 s^?1. The net ecosystem maximum photosynthesis at this time was estimated at 14 μmol m^?2 s^?1, with the woodland ecosystem a significant sink for CO₂. During the dry season, just before leaf fall in August, maximum day‐ and night‐time net ecosystem fluxes were typically ?3 μmol m^?2 s^?1 and 1–2 μmol m^?2 s^?1, respectively, with the ecosystem still being a marginal sink. Over the course of 12 months (March 1999–March 2000), the woodland was more or less carbon neutral, with a net uptake estimated at only about 1 mol C m^?2 yr^?1. The annual net photosynthesis (gross primary production) was estimated at 32.2 mol m^?2 yr^?1.     

Penman-Monteith approaches for estimating crop evapotranspiration in screenhouses—a case study with table-grape

In arid and semi-arid regions many crops are grown under screens or in screenhouses to protect them from excessive radiation, strong winds, hailstorms and insects, and to reduce crop water requirements. Screens modify the crop microclimate, which means that it is necessary to accurately estimate crop water use under screens in order to improve the irrigation management and thereby increase water-use efficiency. The goal of the present study was to develop a set of calibrated relationships between inside and outside climatic variables, which would enable growers to predict crop water use under screens, based on standard external meteorological measurements and evapotranspiration (ET) models. Experiments were carried out in the Jordan Valley region of eastern Israel in a table-grape vineyard that was covered with a transparent screen providing 10 % shading. An eddy covariance system was deployed in the middle of the vineyard and meteorological variables were measured inside and outside the screenhouse. Two ET models were evaluated: a classical Penman-Monteith model (PM) and a Penman-Monteith model modified for screenhouse conditions by the inclusion of an additional boundary-layer resistance (PMsc). Energy-balance closure analysis, presented as a linear relation between half-hourly values of available and consumed energy (1,344 data points), yielded the regression Y?=?1.05X–9.93 (W m^?2), in which Y = sum of latent and sensible heat fluxes, and X = net radiation minus soil heat flux, with R ²?=?0.81. To compensate for overestimation of the eddy fluxes, ET was corrected by forcing the energy balance closure. Average daily ET under the screen was 5.4?±?0.54 mm day^?1, in general agreement with the model estimates and the applied irrigation. The results showed that measured ET under the screen was, on average, 34 % lower than that estimated outside, indicating significant potential water saving through screening irrigated vineyards. The PM model was somewhat more accurate than the PMsc for estimating ET under the screen. A model sensitivity analysis illustrates how changes in certain climatic conditions or screen properties would affect evapotranspiration.     

Comprehensive assessments of root biomass and production in a Kobresia humilis meadow on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Alpine meadow covers ca. 700,000 km² with an extreme altitude range from 3200 m to 5200 m. It is the most widely distributed vegetation on the vast Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Previous studies suggest that meadow ecosystems play the most important role in both uptake and storage of carbon in the plateau. The ecosystem has been considered currently as an active “CO₂ sink”, in which roots may contribute a very important part, because of the large root biomass, for storage and translocation of carbon to soil. To bridge the gap between the potential importance and few experimental data, root systems, root biomass, turnover rate, and net primary production were investigated in a Kobresia humilis meadow on the plateau during the growing season from May to September in 2008 and 2009. We hypothesized that BNPP/NPP of the alpine meadow would be more than 50%, and that small diameter roots sampled in ingrowth cores have a shorter lifespan than the lager diameter roots, moreover we expected that roots in surface soils would turn over more quickly than those in deeper soil layers. The mean root mass in the 0–20 cm soil layer, investigated by the sequential coring method, was 1995?±?479 g?m^?2 and 1595?±?254 g?m^?2 in growing season of 2008 and 2009, respectively. And the mean fine root biomass in ingrowth cores of the same soil layer was 119?±?37 g?m^?2 and 196?±?45 g?m^?2 in the 2 years. Annual total NPP was 12387 kg?ha^?1?year^?1, in which 53% was allocated to roots. In addition, fine roots accounted for 33% of belowground NPP and 18% of the total NPP, respectively. Root turnover rate was 0.52 year^?1 for bulk roots and 0.74 year^?1 for fine roots. Furthermore, roots turnover was faster in surface than in deeper soil layers. The results confirmed the important role of roots in carbon storage and turnover in the alpine meadow ecosystem. It also suggested the necessity of separating fine roots from the whole root system for a better understanding of root turnover rate and its response to environmental factors.     

Modelling Seasonal and Inter-annual Variations in Carbon and Water Fluxes in an Arid-Zone <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acacia</Emphasis> Savanna Woodland, 1981–2012

Changes in climatic characteristics such as seasonal and inter-annual variability may affect ecosystem structure and function, hence alter carbon and water budgets of ecosystems. Studies of modelling combined with field experiments can provide essential information to investigate interactions between carbon and water cycles and climate. Here we present a first attempt to investigate the long-term climate controls on seasonal patterns and inter-annual variations in water and carbon exchanges in an arid-zone savanna-woodland ecosystem using a detailed mechanistic soil–plant–atmosphere model (SPA), driven by leaf area index (LAI) simulated by an ecohydrological model (WAVES) and observed climate data during 1981–2012. The SPA was tested against almost 3 years of eddy covariance flux measurements in terms of gross primary productivity (GPP) and evapotranspiration (ET). The model was able to explain 80 and 71% of the variability of observed daily GPP and ET, respectively. Long-term simulations showed that carbon accumulation rates and ET ranged from 20.6 g C m^?2 mon^?1 in the late dry season to 45.8 g C m^?2 mon^?1 in the late wet season, respectively, primarily driven by seasonal variations in LAI and soil moisture. Large climate variations resulted in large seasonal variation in ecosystem water-use efficiency (eWUE). Simulated annual GPP varied between 146.4 and 604.7 g C m^?2 y^?1. Variations in annual ET coincided with that of GPP, ranging from 110.2 to 625.8 mm y^?1. Annual variations in GPP and ET were driven by the annual variations in precipitation and vapour pressure deficit (VPD) but not temperature. The linear coupling of simulated annual GPP and ET resulted in eWUE having relatively small year-to-year variation.     

High rates of net ecosystem carbon assimilation by Brachiara pasture in the Brazilian Cerrado

To investigate the consequences of land use on carbon and energy exchanges between the ecosystem and atmosphere, we measured CO₂ and water vapour fluxes over an introduced Brachiara brizantha pasture located in the Cerrado region of Central Brazil. Measurements using eddy covariance technique were carried out in field campaigns during the wet and dry seasons. Midday CO₂ net ecosystem exchange rates during the wet season were ?40 μmol m^?2 s^?1, which is more than twice the rate found in the dry season (?15 μmol m^?2 s^?1). This was observed despite similar magnitudes of irradiance, air and soil temperatures. During the wet season, inferred rates of canopy photosynthesis did not show any tendency to saturate at high solar radiation levels, with rates of around 50 μmol m^?2 s^?1 being observed at the maximum incoming photon flux densities of 2200 μmol m^?2 s^?1. This contrasted strongly to the dry period when light saturation occurred with 1500 μmol m^?2 s^?1 and with maximum canopy photosynthetic rates of only 20 μmol m^?2 s^?1. Both canopy photosynthetic rates and night‐time ecosystem CO₂ efflux rates were much greater than has been observed for cerrado native vegetation in both the wet and dry seasons. Indeed, observed CO₂ exchange rates were also much greater than has previously been reported for C₄ pastures in the tropics. The high rates in the wet season may have been attributable, at least in part, to the pasture not being grazed. Higher than expected net rates of carbon acquisition during the dry season may also have been attributable to some early rain events. Nevertheless, the present study demonstrates that well‐managed, productive tropical pastures can attain ecosystem gas exchange rates equivalent to fertilized C₄ crops growing in the temperate zone.     

Spatio-temporal patterns of grassland evapotranspiration and water use efficiency in arid areas

Understanding spatio-temporal patterns of grassland evapotranspiration (ET) and water use efficiency (WUE) in arid areas is important for livestock production and ecological conservation. Xinjiang, China, was used as an example in the Biome-BGC model to explore spatio-temporal patterns of grassland ET and WUE from 1979 to 2012 in arid areas. The ET ranked from high to low as follows: among seasons, summer (142.4 mm), spring (49.7 mm), autumn (45.9 mm) and winter (7.7 mm); among regions, the Tianshan Mountains (357.9 mm), northern Xinjiang (221.3 mm) and southern Xinjiang (183.2 mm); among grassland types, mid-mountain meadow (387.7 mm), swamp meadow (358.3 mm), typical grassland (343.9 mm), desert grassland (236.2 mm), alpine meadow (229.7 mm), and saline meadow (154.7 mm). The WUE ranked from high to low as follows: among seasons, summer (0.60 g C kg H₂O^?1), autumn (0.48 g C kg H₂O^?1) and spring (0.43 g C kg H₂O^?1); among regions, northern Xinjiang (0.73 g C kg H₂O^?1), the Tianshan Mountains (0.69 g C kg H₂O^?1) and southern Xinjiang (0.26 g C kg H₂O^?1); among grassland types, mid-mountain meadow (0.86 g C kg H₂O^?1), typical grassland (0.84 g C kg H₂O^?1), swamp meadow (0.77 g C kg H₂O^?1), saline meadow (0.52 g C kg H₂O^?1), alpine grassland (0.37 g C kg H₂O^?1) and desert grassland (0.34 g C kg H₂O^?1). In Xinjiang grasslands, the spatio-temporal ET patterns were more strongly influenced by precipitation than by temperature, whereas most high WUE values occurred when precipitation and temperature were relatively conducive to grass growth.     

Simulating seasonal and inter-annual variations in energy and carbon exchanges and forest dynamics using a process-based atmosphere�Cvegetation dynamics model

The present paper shows simulated results of seasonal and inter-annual variations in energy and carbon exchanges and forest dynamics in a sub-boreal deciduous forest using a fully coupled atmosphere?Cvegetation interaction model [multilayered integrated numerical model of surface physics-growing plants interaction (MINoSGI)]. With careful adjustment of site-specific eco-physiological parameters, MINoSGI reproduced successfully stand biomass?Ctree density relationship based on the forest inventory data for 7 years (1999?C2005) and seasonal and inter-annual variations in energy and CO₂ fluxes measured by means of eddy covariance technique for 3 years (2003?C2005) in the sub-boreal forest, northern Japan. In addition, MINoSGI estimated annual evapotranspiration (E _vt) at 328.6 ± 25.8 mm year^?1, net primary production (NPP) at 372.1 ± 31.5 gC m^?2 year^?1 and net ecosystem exchange (NEE) at ?224.2 ± 32.2 gC m^?2 year^?1. We found the estimate of annual NEE in our site lies among the estimates at other forest stands with the almost same climatic conditions in northern Japan, although the tree species and stand age of these forests are different from those of our site. Overall, MINoSGI was found useful to present simultaneous simulations of forest dynamics, surface energy, and carbon exchanges of a forest stand in the future from micro-meteorological and ecophysiological points of view.     

Nitrous oxide emissions from two alpine meadows in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission was measured in a Kobresia humilis meadow and a Potentilla fruticosa meadow in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau from June 2003 to July 2006. Five treatments were setup in the two alpine meadows. Two bare soil treatments were setup in the K. humilis meadow (BSK) and in the P. fruticosa meadow (BSP) by removing the above- and belowground plant biomass. Three plant community treatments were setup with one in the K. humilis meadow (herbaceous community in the K. humilis meadow-HCK) and two in the P. fruticosa meadow (herbaceous community in the P. fruticosa meadow-HCP, and shrub community in the P. fruticosa meadow-SCP). Nitrous oxide emission from BSP was estimated to be 38.1?±?3.6 μg m^?2 h^?1, significantly higher than from BSK (30.2?±?2.8 μg m^?2 h^?1) during the whole experiment period. Rates from the two herbaceous blocks (HCK and HCP) were close to 39.5 μg m^?2 h^?1 during the whole experimental period whereas shrub community (SCP) showed significant high emission rates of N₂O. Annual rate of N₂O emission was estimated to be 356.7?±?8.3 and 295.0?±?11.6 mg m^?2 year^?1 from the alpine P. fruticosa meadow and from the alpine K. humilis meadow, respectively. These results suggest that alpine meadows in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau are an important source of N₂O, contributing an average of 0.3 Tg N₂O year^?1. We concluded that N₂O emission will decrease, due to a predicted vegetation shift from shrubs to grasses imposed by overgrazing.     

Trace gas flux and the influence of short-term soil water and temperature dynamics in Australian sheep grazed pastures of differing productivity

Temperate pastures are often managed with P fertilizers and N₂-fixing legumes to maintain and increase pasture productivity which may lead to greater nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions and reduced methane (CH₄) uptake. However, the diel and inter-daily variation in N₂O and CH₄ flux in pastures is poorly understood, especially in relation to key environmental drivers. We investigated the effect of pasture productivity, rainfall, and changing soil moisture and temperature upon short-term soil N₂O and CH₄ flux dynamics during spring in sheep grazed pasture systems in southeastern Australia. N₂O and CH₄ flux was measured continuously in a High P (23 kg P ha^?1 yr^?1) and No P pasture treatment and in a sheep camp area in a Low P (4 kg P ha^?1 yr^?1) pasture for a four week period in spring 2005 using an automated trace gas system. Although pasture productivity was three-fold greater in the High P than No P treatment, mean CH₄ uptake was similar (?6.3?±?SE 0.3 to ?8.6?±?0.4 μg C m^?2 hr^?1) as were mean N₂O emissions (6.5 to 7.9?±?0.8 μg N m^?2 hr^?1), although N₂O flux in the No P pasture did not respond to changing soil water conditions. N₂O emissions were greatest in the Low P sheep camp (12.4 μg?±?1.1 N m^?2 hr^?1) where there were also net CH₄ emissions of 5.2?±?0.5 μg C m^?2 hr^?1. There were significant, but weak, relationships between soil water and N₂O emissions, but not between soil water and CH₄ flux. The diel temperature cycle strongly influenced CH₄ and N₂O emissions, but this was often masked by the confounding covariate effects of changing soil water content. There were no consistently significant differences in soil mineral N or gross N transformation rates, however, measurements of substrate induced respiration (SIR) indicated that soil microbial processes in the highly productive pasture are more N limited than P limited after >20 years of P fertilizer addition. Increased productivity, through P fertilizer and legume management, did not significantly increase N₂O emissions, or reduce CH₄ uptake, during this 4 week measurement period, but the lack of an N₂O response to rainfall in the No P pasture suggests this may be evident over a longer measurement period. This study also suggests that small compacted and nutrient enriched areas of grazed pastures may contribute greatly to the overall N₂O and CH₄ trace gas balance.     

Latent heat loss and sweat gland histology of male goats in an equatorial semi-arid environment

The objective of this work was to quantify the heat loss by cutaneous evaporation of goats in an equatorial semi-arid environment. The latent heat loss from the body surfaces of these ten undefined breed goats was measured using a ventilated capsule in sun and shade and in the three body regions (neck, flank and hindquarters). Skin samples from these three regions were histologically analyzed to relate the quantity of sweat glands, the area of sweat glands and the epithelium thickness of each of these regions to the heat loss by cutaneous evaporation of the examined goats. The epithelium thickness that was measured varied significantly for body regions with different quantities and areas of sweat glands (P?<?0.01). Among the body regions that were examined, the samples from the neck demonstrated the highest epithelium thickness (16.23?±?0.13 μm). However, the samples of sweat glands from the flank had the biggest area (43330.51?±?778.71 μm²) and quantity per square centimeter (390?±?9 cm^?2). After the animals were exposed to sun, the flanks lost the greatest amount of heat by cutaneous evaporation (73.03?±?1.75 W?m^?2) and possessed the highest surface temperatures (39.47?±?0.18 °C). The histological characteristics may have influenced the heat loss by cutaneous evaporation that was observed in the flank region after the animals were exposed to sun.     

Wetlands as energy-dissipating systems

Since wetlands are ecosystems that have an ample supply of water, they play an important role in the energy budgets of their respective landscapes due to their capacity to shift energy fluxes in favor of latent heat. Rates of evapotranspiration in wetlands are commonly as high as 6–15 mm day⁻¹, testifying to the large amount of energy that is dissipated through this process. Emergent or semi-emergent wetland macrophytes substantially influence the solar energy distribution due to their high capacity for transpiration. Wetland ecosystems in eutrophic habitats show a high primary production of biomass because of the highly efficient use of solar energy in photosynthesis. In wetlands associated with the slow decomposition of dead organic matter, such as oligotrophic marshes or fens and bogs, the accumulation of biomass is also high, in spite of the rather low primary production of biomass. Most of the energy exchange in water-saturated wetlands is, however, linked with heat balance, whereby the largest proportion of the incoming energy is dissipated during the process of evapotranspiration. An example is shown of energy fluxes during the course of a day in the wetland ecosystem of Mokré Louky (Wet Meadows) near Třeboň. The negative consequences of the loss of wetlands for the local and regional climate are discussed.     

Relationship of plant diversity with litter and soil available nitrogen in an alpine meadow under a 9-year grazing exclusion

Grazing exclusion is widely used globally to restore degraded grasslands. Plant diversity has important impacts on grassland ecosystem functions, including grassland productivity and carbon storage. In this study, we selected a Kobresia meadow on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau to investigate how grazing exclusion affects plant diversity. Inorganic nitrogen (NH₄ ⁺ and NO₃ ^?) was also measured because its availability impacts plant growth. We found that plant diversity in the meadow was significantly lower under grazing exclusion (fenced meadow) for 9 years compared with moderate grazing. Accumulated litter was significantly higher under grazing exclusion (386.41 g m^?2) compared with grazing (58.77 g m^?2). Soil inorganic nitrogen at 0–5 cm depth was significantly higher under grazing exclusion (13.60 × 10^?2 g kg^?1) than under grazing (9.40 × 10^?2 g kg^?1). The composition of the four functional groups (grasses, sedges, legumes, and forbs) might alter in response to significant changes in the amount of litter and soil available nitrogen content under grazing exclusion compared with grazing. However, the enhanced soil available nitrogen content showed weak feedbacks on plant diversity. In conclusion, light limitation induced by increased amounts of litter may be the main factor causing decreased plant diversity in grazing-excluded meadows compared with moderately grazed meadows.     

Sexual reproduction and seed dispersal pattern of annual and perennial Zostera marina in a heterogeneous habitat

The sexual reproduction of annual and perennial Zostera marina was investigated in Moon Lake, Shandong, China. Based on the disturbance and stress regimes, the Z. marina beds were classified into five types: intertidal annual (IA) and perennial (IP) eelgrass patches, subtidal patch area (PA), meadow margin (MM) and meadow center (MC). Seed dispersal was investigated using artificial seagrass units in the five areas and another two areas [adjacent bare area and Zostera japonica meadow (Zj)]. Total and flowering shoot density and aboveground biomass of flowering shoots per unit area were higher in PA and MM, and lower in IA and IP, whereas the total biomass per unit area in MC showed the highest value. Reproductive effort (RE) in IA showed negative response to intertidal stress, while in perennial IP, PA and MM it showed significantly positive response to anthropogenic or natural disturbances. The density-based RE in perennial IP, PA and MM was 1.1-, 5.1- and 5.1-fold higher than that in MC, while in annual IA it was 0.46-fold lower. Additionally, the biomass-based RE in IP, PA and MM was 1.8-, 3.5- and 3.8-fold higher than that in MC, while the RE in IA was 0.84-fold lower. The estimated seed production per unit area was much greater in PA (60,793 ± 9,843 seeds m^?2) and MM (43,414 ± 8,718 seeds m^?2) than in IA (416 ± 83 seeds m^?2), IP (3,820 ± 1,470 seeds m^?2) and MC (9,779 ± 631 seeds m^?2), while the seed density ranged from 24 ± 6 to 584 ± 56 seeds m^?2. Results suggested that in response to disturbances and stress, Z. marina in subtidal areas increased their RE and seed production and thus seeds were available to be dispersed into areas where seed production was limited.     

Nitrous oxide and methane exchange in two small temperate forest catchments—effects of hydrological gradients and implications for global warming potentials of forest soils

The magnitude of greenhouse gas (GHG) flux rates may be important in wet and intermediate wet forest soils, but published estimates are scarce. We studied the surface exchange of methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) from soil along toposequences in two temperate deciduous forest catchments: Strødam and Vestskoven. The soil water regime ranged from fully saturated to aerated within the catchments. At Strødam the largest mean flux rates of N₂O (15 μg N₂O-N m^?2 h^?1) were measured at volumetric soil water contents (SWC) between 40 and 60% and associated with low soil pH compared to smaller mean flux rates of 0-5 μg N₂O-N m^?2 h^?1 for drier (SWC < 40%) and wet conditions (SWC > 80%). At Vestskoven the same response of N₂O to soil water content was observed. Average CH₄ flux rates were highly variable along the toposequences (?17 to 536 μg CH₄-C m^?2 h^?1) but emissions were only observed above soil water content of 45%. Scaled flux rates of both GHGs to catchment level resulted in emission of 322 and 211 kg CO₂-equivalents ha^?1 year^?1 for Strødam and Vestskoven, respectively, with N₂O contributing the most at both sites. Although the wet and intermediate wet forest soils occupied less than half the catchment area at both sites, the global warming potential (GWP) derived from N₂O and CH₄ was more than doubled when accounting for these wet areas in the catchments. The results stress the importance of wet soils in assessments of forest soil global warming potentials, as even small proportions of wet soils contributes substantially to the emissions of N₂O and CH₄.     

Stomatal and environmental control of transpiration in a lowland tropical forest tree

Stomatal control of crown transpiration was studied in Anacardium excelsum, a large-leaved, emergent canopy species common in the moist forests of Central and northern South America. A construction crane equipped with a gondola was used to gain access to the uppermost level in the crown of a 35-m-tall individual. Stomatal conductance at the single leaf scale, and transpiration and total vapour phase conductance (stomatal and boundary layer) at the branch scale were measured simultaneously using the independent techniques of porometry and stem heat balance, respectively. This permitted the sensitivity of transpiration to a marginal change in stomatal conductance to be evaluated using a dimensionless coupling coefficient (1-ω) ranging from zero to 1, with 1 representing maximal stomatal control of transpiration. Average stomatal conductance varied from 0.09 mol m^?2 s^?1 during the dry season to 0.3 mol m^?2 s^?1 during the wet season. Since boundary layer conductance was relatively low (0.4 mol m^?2 s^?1), 1-ω ranged from 0.46 during the dry season to only 0.25 during the wet season. A pronounced stomatal response to humidity was observed, which strongly limited transpiration as evaporative demand increased. The stomatal response to humidity was apparent only when the leaf surface was used as the reference point for measurement of external vapour pressure. Average transpiration was predicted to be nearly the same during the dry and wet seasons despite a 1 kPa difference in the prevailing leaf-to-air vapour pressure difference. The patterns of stomatal behaviour and transpiration observed were consistent with recent proposals that stomatal responses to humidity are based on sensing the transpiration rate itself.