Effect of periphyton biomass on hydraulic characteristics and nutrient cycling in streams

The effect of periphyton biomass on hydraulic characteristics and nutrient cycling was studied in laboratory streams with and without snail herbivores. Hydraulic characteristics, such as average water velocity, dispersion coefficients, and relative volume of transient storage zones (zones of stationary water), were quantified by performing short-term injections of a conservative tracer and fitting an advection-dispersion model to the conservative tracer concentration profile downstream from the injection site. Nutrient cycling was quantified by measuring two indices: (1) uptake rate of phosphorus from stream water normalized to gross primary production (GPP), a surrogate measure of total P demand, and (2) turnover rate of phosphorus in the periphyton matrix. These measures indicate the importance of internal cycling (within the periphyton matrix) in meeting the P demands of periphyton. Dense growths of filamentous diatoms and blue-green algae accumulated in the streams with no snails (high-biomass streams), whereas the periphyton communities in streams with snails consisted almost entirely of a thin layer of basal cells of Stigeoclonium sp. (low-biomass streams). Dispersion coefficients were significantly greater and transient storage zones were significantly larger in the high-biomass streams compared to the low-biomass streams. Rates of GPP-normalized P uptake from water and rates of P turnover in periphyton were significantly lower in high biomass than in low biomass periphyton communities, suggesting that a greater fraction of the P demand was met by recycling in the high biomass communities. Increases in streamwater P concentration significantly increased GPP-normalized P uptake in high biomass communities, suggesting diffusion limitation of nutrient transfer from stream water to algal cells in these communities. Our results demonstrate that accumulations of periphyton biomass can alter the hydraulic characteristics of streams, particularly by increasing transient storage zones, and can increase internal nutrient cycling. They suggest a close coupling of hydraulic characteristics and nutrient cycling processes in stream ecosystems.     

杉木观光木混交林群落N、P养分循环的研究

 通过对福建三明27年生杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)-观光木(Tsoongiodendron odorum)混交林（混交比例2：1）及杉木纯林群落N、P养分循环进行为期2年的研究。结果表明,混交林中杉木和观光木地上各组分的N、P含量大小均为叶>活枝（或皮）>枯枝>干,而根系的则随径级的减小而增大,且观光木各组分的N含量均高于杉木的;混交林群落的N、P总积累量达585.223 kg·hm－2和128.784 kg·hm－2,分别是纯林群落的1.5倍和1.3倍。混交林群落N、P养分年归     

Rapid loss of phosphorus from dying ryegrass roots: the chemical components involved

Summary Lolium perenne was grown in solution culture with either ample or deficient phosphate supply (high-P and low-P plants). The concentration in the roots of phosphorus as water-soluble compounds, phospholipid and insoluble residue was measured. A supplementary experiment showed that the concentration of each component in the roots of low-P plants was similar to that in plants grown in P-deficient soil. The time-course of the decline of each P component was determined in roots detached from the shoot and left hanging in solution. During the three weeks residue P concentration in the roots declined little. In contrast, both types of root lost about three-quarters of their lipid P in the first week. Low-P roots lost little of their water-soluble P. High-P roots contained much more water-soluble P and lost much of it during the first two weeks. By the end of three weeks their water-soluble P content was levelling out at a value similar to that in low-P roots, suggesting a non-labile pool. The rapid loss of lipid P from low-P roots comprised more than half of their total loss, and the possible ecological significance of this is discussed.     

Effects of elevated CO2 on nutrient cycling in a sweetgum plantation

The effects of elevated CO₂ on nutrient cycling and selected belowground processes in the closed-canopy sweetgum plantation were assessed as part of a free-air CO₂ enrichment (FACE) experiment at Oak Ridge, Tennessee. We hypothesized that nitrogen (N) constraints to growth response to elevated CO₂ would be mitigated primarily by reduced tissue concentrations (resulting in increased biomass production per unit uptake) rather than increased uptake. Conversely, we hypothesized that the constraints of other nutrients to growth response to elevated CO₂ would be mitigated primarily by increased uptake because of adequate soil supplies. The first hypothesis was not supported: although elevated CO₂ caused reduced foliar N concentrations, it also resulted in increased uptake and requirement of N, primarily because of greater root turnover. The additional N uptake with elevated CO₂ constituted between 10 and 40% of the estimated soil mineralizeable N pool. The second hypothesis was largely supported: elevated CO₂ had no significant effects on tissue concentrations of P, K, Ca, or Mg and caused significantly increased uptake and requirement of K, Ca, and Mg. Soil exchangeable pools of these nutrients are large and should pose no constraint to continued growth responses. Elevated CO₂ also caused increased microbial biomass, reduced N leaching and increased P leaching from O horizons (measured by resin lysimeters), reduced soil solution NH ₄ ⁺ , SO ₄ ^2– , and Ca²⁺ concentrations, and increased soil solution pH. There were no statistically significant treatment effects on soil nutrient availability as measured by resin capsules, resin stakes, or in situ incubations. Despite significantly lower litterfall N concentrations in the elevated CO₂ treatment, there were no significant treatment effects on translocation or forest floor biomass or nutrient contents. There were also no significant treatment effects on the rate of decomposition of fine roots. In general, the effects of elevated CO₂ on nutrient cycling in this study were not large; future constraints on growth responses imposed by N limitations will depend on changes in N demand, atmospheric N deposition, and soil mineralization rates.     

Contributions of dust to phosphorus cycling in tropical forests of the Luquillo Mountains,Puerto Rico

The input of phosphorus (P) through mineral aerosol dust deposition may be an important component of nutrient dynamics in tropical forest ecosystems. A new dust deposition calculation is used to construct a broad analysis of the importance of dust-derived P to the P budget of a montane wet tropical forest in the Luquillo Mountains of Puerto Rico. The dust deposition calculation used here takes advantage of an internal geochemical signal (Sr isotope mass balance) to provide a spatially integrated longer-term average dust deposition flux. Dust inputs of P (0.23 ± 0.08 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) are compared with watershed-average inputs of P to the soil through the conversion of underlying saprolite into soil (between 0.07 and 0.19 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹), and with watershed-average losses of soil P through leaching (between 0.02 and 0.14 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) and erosion (between 0.04 and 1.38 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹). The similar magnitude of dust-derived P inputs to that of other fluxes indicates that dust is an important component of the soil and biomass P budget in this ecosystem. Dust-derived inputs of P alone are capable of completely replacing the total soil and biomass P pool on a timescale of between 2.8 ka and 7.0 ka, less than both the average soil residence time (~15 ka) and the average landslide recurrence interval (~10 ka).     

羊草草原植物-土壤之间主要营养元素动态的研究

羊草草原土壤中N、P、K含量的季节变化规律是生长季初期较高,6—8月生长旺季较低,生长季末再度升高。营养元素在植物体内的分配是地下部分大于地上部分。地下部分N的贮量为地上部分的3.6倍,K为2.9倍,P为2.8倍。地上部分3种元素含量的季节变化曲线呈单峰型,从生长初期开始上升,最大值出现在8月,生长末期逐渐下降。地下部分的季节变化规律,大体上在整个生长季内呈上升趋势,随着根系的生长,营养元素的积累量不断增加。对植物—土壤之间营养元素动态分析结果表明,随着时间的推移,N、P、K在各状态中的比例趋于恒定。在稳定状态下,3种元素在土壤中的比例逐渐减少,与初始量相比N、P、K的含量分别减少21.23%、5.14%和2.99%。在其它状态中,3种元素的含量均有提高,特别在枯枝落叶和死根中增加的幅度较大。     

Uncertainty in Nutrient Spiraling: Sensitivity of Spiraling Indices to Small Errors in Measured Nutrient Concentration

Abstract Proper assessment of ecological data must consider uncertainty. However, reported estimation of uncertainty in calculated values of nutrient spiraling indices is rare. Interpretations based on single values of spiraling indices, may therefore be unwittingly flawed. We investigated the sources of analytical uncertainty in the nutrient concentrations used to calculate two spiraling indices, uptake length (S _w ) and uptake velocity (V _f ), and used Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) to estimate the resultant uncertainty in index values. We also examined the effect of the level of nutrient enrichment on the magnitude of index uncertainty. Outcomes under high and low nutrient uptake capacity were compared by performing nutrient addition experiments in two streams with contrasting ambient nutrient concentrations. We found that small differences (or uncertainties) in the average plateau nutrient concentration resulted in large uncertainties in spiraling indices. The uncertainty resulted from a combination of small differences in nutrient concentrations between upstream and downstream stations (particularly for the low uptake case), the low nutrient concentration added into the stream, and the sample matrix and storage. The stream with low nutrient uptake capacity had larger relative uncertainties in S _w than when the nutrient uptake capacity was high. The presence of such errors demands that S _w and V _f values should be reported with uncertainty, rather than the normal practice of a single calculated value. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

环境因子对细基江蓠繁枝变种氮、磷吸收速率的影响

实验室条件下,研究了光强、酸碱度、温度、盐度对细基江蓠繁枝变种N、P吸收速率的影响.细基江蓠繁枝变种对N的吸收速率在光强为800～2400μmolphoton     

A comparative study on nutrient cycling in wet heathland ecosystems

Summary The concept of the relative nutrient requirement (L _n) that was introduced in the first paper of this series is used to analyse the effects of the dominant plant population on nutrient cycling and nutrient mineralization in wet heathland ecosystems. A distinction is made between the effect that the dominant plant species has on (1) the distribution of nutrients over the plant biomass and the soil compartment of the ecosystem and (2) the recirculation rate of nutrients. The first effect of the dominant plant species can be calculated on the basis of the /k ratio (which is the ratio of the relative mortality to the decomposition constant). The second effect can be analysed using the relative nutrient requirement (L _n). The mass loss and the changes in the amounts of N and P in decomposing above-ground and below-ground litter produced by Erica tetralix and Molinia caerulea were measured over three years. The rates of mass loss from both above-ground and below-ground litter of Molinia were higher than those from Erica litter. After an initial leaching phase, litter showed either a net release or a net immobilization of nitrogen or phosphorus that depended on the initial concentrations of these nutrients. At the same sites, mineralization of nitrogen and phosphorus were measured for two years both in communities dominated by Molinia and in communities dominated by Erica. There were no clear differences in the nitrogen mineralization, but in one of the two years, phosphate mineralization in the Molinia-community was significantly higher. On the basis of the theory that was developed, mineralization rates and ratios between amounts of nutrients in plant biomass and in the soil were calculated on the basis of parameters that were independently measured. There was a reasonable agreement between predicted and measured values in the Erica-communities. In the Molinia-communities there were large differences between calculated and measured values, which was explained by the observation that the soil organic matter in these ecosystems still predominantly consisted of Erica-remains.     

Variation in nutrient limitation and seagrass nutrient content in Bahamian tidal creek ecosystems

The traditional model of nutrient availability in coastal estuarine ecosystems is based on predictable inputs of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) via riverine and oceanic sources, respectively. But coastlines with low nutrient input from these sources may not fit into this simple framework. Here we use observational (seagrass nutrient content) and experimental (nutrient enrichment assays) data for assessing nutrient availability and limitation for primary producers along a spatial transect extending from the mouth (nearest to the ocean) to the terminal portion (boundary with the terrestrial ecosystem) of three coastal mangrove-lined tidal creeks in The Bahamas. Compiling seagrass nutrient content from all sites showed a negative relationship between seagrass nutrient limitation (either N or P) and distance from mouth, but this pattern differed across sites with respect to which nutrient was more limiting. Our experimental results demonstrated patterns of decreased response by microalgae to dual nutrient enrichment in one site with distance from the creek mouth, and increased response to single nutrient enrichment in another, with the third showing no trend along this gradient. Our findings show that Bahamian mangrove wetlands are extremely nutrient-limited ecosystems, and that the most limiting nutrient varied among sites. In general, these ecosystems deviate from the typical paradigm of spatial nutrient limitation patterns in estuaries. We suggest that various site-specific biological and physical factors may be more important than large-scale hydrologic factors in driving trends of nutrient availability in coastal ecosystems under strong nutrient constraints, such as in The Bahamas. Our findings suggest that even minor changes in nutrient loading rates can have significant implications for primary production in subtropical oligotrophic systems.     

羊草草原植物－土壤之间主要营养元素动态的研究

羊草草原土壤中Ｎ、Ｐ、Ｋ含量的季节变化规律是生长季初期较高,６－８月生长旺季较低,生长季末再度升高。营养元素在植物体内的分配是地下部分大于地上部分。地下部分Ｎ的贮量为地上部分的３．６倍,Ｋ为２．９倍,Ｐ为２．８倍。地上部分３种元素含量的季节变化曲线呈单峰型,从生长初期开始上升,最大值出现在８月,生长末期逐渐下降。地下部分的季节变化规律,大体上在整个生长季内呈上升趋势,随着根系的生长,营养元素的积累量不断增加。对植物－土壤之间营养元素动态分析结果表明,随着时间的推移,Ｎ、Ｐ、Ｋ在备状态中的比例趋于恒定。在稳定状态下,３种元素在土壤中的比例逐渐减少,与初始量相比Ｎ、Ｐ、Ｋ的含量分别减少２１．２３％、５．１４％和２．９９％。在其它状态中,３种元素的含量均有提高,特别在枯枝落叶和死根中增加的幅度较大。     

Nutrient return with leaf litter fall in Fagus sylvatica forests across a soil fertility gradient

Leaf litter fall is an important nutrient flux in temperature deciduous forests which supplies a large part of the rapidly mineralisable nutrient fraction to the soil. This study investigates nutrient return with leaf litter fall in 36 old-growth forest stands of Fagus sylvatica across a broad gradient of soil fertility covering 9 mesozoic and kaenozoic parent material types (three limestones, two sandstones, two clay stones, one sand and one loess substrate). Study objectives were to analyse (i) the dependency of leaf litter nutrient concentrations on soil fertility, and (ii) the relationship between soil fertility and nutrient return with leaf litter at the stand level. Beech stands on the nine parent material types produced similar annual leaf litter masses irrespective of soil fertility or acidity. Leaf litter from the nine parent materials showed only minor variation with respect to N and K concentrations (factors of 1.5 and 1.4), moderate variation for Ca, Mg and P concentrations (factors of 2.2 to 2.9), and high variation for Al and Mn concentrations (factors of 6.7 and 10.5). Consequently, annual nutrient return with litter fall (leaf litter mass x litter nutrient concentration) was more similar among the parent materials for N (165–273 mmol m⁻² yr1) ⁻¹ and K (16–30 mm m⁻² yr⁻¹) than for Ca, P, Mg, Mn and Al. A possible explanation is increased N deposition in recent time. According to a correlation analysis, return rates of N, P, K and Mg (but not Ca) were independent of the pool size of the respective nutrient in the soil. N return rate was neither influenced by the soil pools of Nt, plant- available P (Pa) or exchangeable Ca, K and Mg, nor by soil acidity or the exchangeable Al pool. P return, in contrast, showed a negative relation to soil fertility. We hypothesize that nutrient fluxes with leaf litter fall do not necessarily reduce the fitness of tree populations as has been postulated from a tree-centred view. Rather, we suggest that nutrient fluxes with litter fall can increase, instead of decrease, plant fitness by improving nutrient availability in the densely rooted topsoil which reduces the roots’ carbon and nutrient costs of nutrient acquisition.     

西双版纳热带季节雨林生态系统氮的生物地球化学循环研究

 用小流域集水区和物质平衡方法,于1999年对西双版纳热带季节雨林生态系统的氮素循环进行了初步研究。西双版纳季节雨林生态系统的氮库总储量为6 481.2 kg·hm-2,其中活体生物量、凋落物层和土壤（0～30 cm）中的氮储量分别为970.9、37.7、5 481.2 kg·hm-2。土壤中的氮占生态系统氮总储量的84.4%,活体生物量占15.0%,凋落物层仅占0.6%。结果表明季节雨林的氮主要分布在土壤中,而在生物量中只占很少部分。大气降水、林内穿透水、树干流及地表径流的氮含量分别为0.565、0.828、0.983和1.042 mg·dm-3,氮通量则分别为8.89、10.97、3.57、5.95 kg·hm-2·a-1。大气降水输入氮8.89 kg·hm-2·a-1,径流输出氮5.95 kg·hm-2·a-1, 收支平衡（输入—输出）为2.94 kg·hm-2·a-1。氮的生物循环：吸收为149.86 kg·hm-2·a-1,存留为69.30 kg·hm-2·a-1,归还为80.56 kg·hm-2·a-1,循环系数为0.54。结果表明未受干扰的季节雨林生态系统处于氮积累的状态,有利于该生态系统的稳定与持续发展。     

Early growth responses of mangroves to different rates of nitrogen and phosphorus supply

Experiments were conducted in an outdoor facility to quantify growth responses of six mangrove species to rates of dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus supply mimicking the range of N and P mineralization rates in natural soils. Growth of all six species on nitrogen was nonlinear. Stem extension rates of Rhizophora apiculata and Xylocarpus granatum were enhanced to the highest rate of N supply (50 mmol m^− 2 d^− 1); Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Avicennia marina, and Xylocarpus moluccensis stem growth leveled off by 10 mmol m^− 2 d^− 1. Stem growth of Ceriops tagal peaked at 24-26 mmol N m^− 2 d^− 1. Except for A. marina and C. tagal, rates of biomass increase declined at the highest supply rate, indicating NH₄⁺ toxicity. At different rates of P supply, stem extension rates and rates of biomass increase of R. apiculata and C. tagal best-fit Gaussian curves and B. gymnorrhiza stem growth and biomass increase best-fit sigmoidal and Gaussian curves, respectively; X. moluccensis stem and biomass growth increased linearly, but stem and biomass growth rates of A. marina did not vary in relation to P supply. Stem growth of X. granatum was Gaussian but rates of biomass increase best-fit a quadratic equation. Changes in leaf and root N and P content mirrored the growth responses. As rates of N and P mineralization in natural mangrove soils overlap with the lowest rates of N and P supplied in these experiments, the growth responses imply that mangroves are intrinsically nutrient-limited at mineralization rates often encountered in nature. Such species specificity may have significant implications for recruitment success and the establishment of species gradients within mangrove forests.     

Influence of base flow stream bank seepage on riparian zone nitrogen biogeochemistry

We examined the effect of sustained stream bank seepage during base flow conditions on the pore water nitrogen biogeochemistry of two riparian zones in lowland agricultural areas in southern Ontario, Canada. Nitrate, ammonium and dissolved oxygen concentrations in riparian subsurface water over a two-year period showed well-organized spatial patterns along stream bank seepage flow paths that extended seasonally up to 25 m inland. High levels of dissolved oxygen and NO₃⁻ in stream inflow were depleted rapidly at the stream bank interface suggesting the occurrence of aerobic microbial respiration followed by denitrification. A zone of NH₄⁺ accumulation persisted in more anaerobic sediments inland from the bank margin, although the magnitude and intensity of the pattern varied seasonally. A bromide tracer and NO₃⁻ co-injection at the stream bank interface indicated that bank seepage occurred along preferential flow paths in a poorly sorted gravel layer in the two riparian zones. Depletion of NO₃⁻ in relation to co-injected bromide confirmed that the bank margin was a hot spot of biogeochemical activity within the riparian zone. Conceptual models of humid temperate riparian zones have focused on nitrogen biogeochemistry in relation to hillslope to stream hydrologic flow paths. However, our results suggest that sustained stream bank inflow during low flow conditions can exert a dominant control on riparian nitrogen cycling in lowland landscapes where level riparian zones bounded by perennial streams receive limited subsurface inflows from adjacent slopes.