Control of plant growth by nitrogen and phosphorus in mesotrophic fens

A fertilization experiment was carried out in 3 mesotrophic fens to investigate whether plant growth in these systems is controlled by the availability of N, P or K. The fens are located in an area with high N inputs from precipitation. They are annually mown in the summer to prevent succession to woodland. Above-ground plant biomass increased significantly upon N fertilization in the two mid-succession fens studied. In the late-succession fen that had been mown for at least 60 years, however, plant biomass increased significantly upon P fertilization. The mowing regime depletes the P pool in the soil, while it keeps N inputs and outputs in balance. A long-term shift occurs from limitation of plant production by N toward limitation by P. Hence, mowing is a suitable management tool to conserve the mesothrophic character of the fens.     

外源氮对沼泽湿地CH4和N2O通量的影响

三江平原沼泽湿地受到大气沉降、地表径流、农业排水等外源氮素的输入,对湿地生态系统CH4和N2O通量有重要影响。采用野外原位施肥试验模拟外源氮输入,设0,60,120,240kgN·hm^-24种试验处理,探讨外源氮对沼泽湿地CH4和N2O通量的影响。结果表明,外源氮促进了CH4和N2O排放。与对照处理比较,各施氮水平CH4平均排放通量分别增加了181％,254％和155％,N2O排放通量分别增加了21％,100％和533％。外源氮输入对CH4排放的季节变化形式影响不大,而N2O的季节变化形式随着氮输入表现出波动变化的趋势。不同施氮水平对CH4排放的促进作用与植物生长阶段和产CH4的微生物过程密切相关,N2O排放通量随氮输入量呈指数增加（R^2=0．97,P〈0．01）。外源氮通过影响湿地微生物过程来进一步影响CH4和N2O的排放。     

滨河湿地不同植被对农业非点源氮污染的控制效果

滨河湿地作为连接河流水体和陆地的一个功能过渡界面区,是河流生态系统与陆地生态系统进行物质、能量、信息交换的一个重要过渡带,也是保护河流水体的最后一道屏障,对水质净化和农业非点源污染控制起着非常重要的作用。以黄河湿地国家自然保护区孟津扣马段为研究对象,采取野外定位观测试验和稳定同位素示踪(人工富集15N源的同位素稀释法)相结合的方法,研究了滨河湿地土壤对农业非点源氮的持留作用、渗漏到地下水中的农业非点源氮和湿地不同植被对滞留在土壤中的农业非点源氮的吸收作用。结果显示:通过地表径流进入滨河湿地的农业非点源氮在3个实验样方的垂向和侧向都发生了渗漏。滨河湿地土壤对农业非点源氮的滞留作用主要发生在0—10cm,相当于一个过滤器的功能。3种受试植被土壤表层的滞留量为芦苇(0.045mg/g)藨草(0.036mg/g)水烛(0.032mg/g),分别占到土壤滞留氮的59.2%、56.3%和56.1%。滞留在土壤中的农业非点源氮污染存在一个相对较长的效应。滨河湿地特殊的氧化还原条件导致强烈的土壤微生物反硝化作用以及滨河湿地植被对氮素的吸收作用,使得0-10cm土层土壤外源氮变化速度最快,1个月后,滞留芦苇、水烛、藨草样方中15N下降了77.8%、68.8%和8.3%;3个月后,芦苇、藨草、水烛样方中的15N下降了93.3%、72.2%和37.5%。滨河湿地复杂的水文过程,使得滞留在土壤表层的农业非点源氮迁移转化更为复杂多变。监测数据显示,在实验设计的浓度和强度范围内农业非点源氮没有对地下水造成影响。不同植被和同一植物的不同生长时期对滞留在土壤中氮的吸收能力差别较大,吸收量依次为芦苇嫩芽(9.731mg/g)老芦苇(4.939mg/g)藨草(0.620mg/g)水烛(0.186mg/g)。通过对生物量计算得出滨河湿地芦苇、水烛和藨草对农业非点源氮的吸收能力分别为氮吸收量96.11、3.76、0.32kg/hm2。可见,滨河湿地作为连接河流与陆地的缓冲带,通过截留、过滤、植物吸收等过程能有效的削减农业非点源氮对临近地表水体污染,对农业非点源氮污染控制起着非常重要的作用。合理的滨河湿地保护与利用模式对河流水环境保护具有重要的意义。     

Phosphorus and nitrogen in wetlands with and without egret colonies

Abstract Colonially nesting birds have been implicated in the destruction of their nest site vegetation, the most likely mechanism being through an overload or imbalance of soil nutrients. The numbers of egrets in coastal New South Wales colonies have increased rapidly in the second half of this century since cattle egrets (Ardeola ibis) were introduced. This species now nests colonially with three native species: great (Egretta alba), intermediate (Egretta intermedia) and little egrets (Egretta garzetta). Thus there is potential for more rapid degradation of the colony site. We measured the levels of phosphorus in surface sediments, and phosphorus and nitrogen in water at eight colony site wetlands, and compared each to four other wetlands in the same region where there were no egret colonies. We conclude that levels of both nutrients were elevated in colony wetlands. The implications of this result for death of colony site vegetation and the conservation of the three native egret species are briefly discussed.     

Carbon and nitrogen cycling in intertidal sediments near Doel,Scheldt Estuary

Carbon and nitrogen cycling in intertidal mud flat sediments in the Scheldt Estuary was studied using measurements of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide emission rates and pore-water profiles of CO₂, ammonium and nitrate. A comparison between chamber measured carbon dioxide fluxes and those based on CO₂ pore-water gradients using Fick's First law indicates that apparent diffusion coefficients are 2 to 28 times higher than bulk sediment diffusion coefficients based on molecular diffusion. Seasonal changes in gaseous carbon fluxes or CO₂ pore water concentrations cannot be used directly, or in a simple way, to determine seasonal rates of mineralization, because of marked seasonal changes in pore-water storage and exchange parameters.The annual amount of carbon delivered to the sediment is 42 mol m^–2, of which about 42% becomes buried, the remaining being emitted as methane (7%) or carbon dioxide (50%). Each year about 2.6 mol N m^–2 of particulate nitrogen reaches the sediment; 1.1 mol m^–2 is buried and 1.6 mol m^–2 is mineralized to ammonium. Only 0.42 mol m^–2 yr^–1 of the ammonium produced escapes from the sediments, the remaining being first nitrified (1.2 mol m^–2 yr^–1) and then denitrified (1.7 mol m^–2 yr^–1). Simple calculations indicate that intertidal sediments may account for about 14% and 30% of the total estuarine retention of nitrogen and carbon, respectively.     

The biogeochemistry of a north-temperate grassland with native ungulates: Nitrogen dynamics in Yellowstone National Park

Nutrient dynamics of large grassland ecosystems possessing abundant migratory grazers are poorly understood. We examined N cycling on the northern winter range of Yellowstone National Park, home for large herds of free-roaming elk (Cervus elaphus) and bison (Bison bison). Plant and soil N, net N mineralization, and the deposition of ungulate fecal-N were measured at five sites, a ridgetop, mid-slope bench, steep slope, valley-bottom bench, and riparian area, within a watershed from May, 1991 to April, 1992.Results indicated similarities between biogeochemical properties of Yellowstone grassland and other grassland ecosystems: (1) landscape position and soil water affected nutrient dynamics, (2) annual mineralization was positively related to soil N content, and (3) the proportion of soil N mineralized during the year was negatively related to soil C/N.Grazers were a particularly important component of the N budget of this grassland. Estimated rates of N flow from ungulates to the soil ranged from 8.1 to 45.6 kg/ha/yr at the sites (average = 27.0 kg/ha/yr), approximately 4.5 times the amount of N in senescent plants. Rates of nitrogen mineralization for Yellowstone northern range grassland were higher than those measured in other temperate grassland ecosystems, possibly due to grazers promoting N cycling in Yellowstone.     

Aboveground competition influences density‐dependent effects of cordgrass on sediment biogeochemistry

Interspecific interactions between plants influence plant phenotype, distribution, abundance, and community structure. Each of these can, in turn, impact sediment biogeochemistry. Although the population and community level impacts of these interactions have been extensively studied, less is known about their effect on sediment biogeochemistry. This is surprising given that many plants are categorized as foundation species that exert strong control on community structure. In southern California salt marshes, we used clipping experiments to manipulate aboveground neighbor presence to study interactions between two dominant plants, Pacific cordgrass (Spartina foliosa) and perennial pickleweed (Sarcocornia pacifica). We also measured how changes in cordgrass stem density influenced sediment biogeochemistry. Pickleweed suppressed cordgrass stem density but had no effect on aboveground biomass. For every cordgrass stem lost per square meter, porewater ammonium increased 0.3–1.0 µM. Thus, aboveground competition with pickleweed weakened the effects of cordgrass on sediment biogeochemistry. Predictions about plant–soil feedbacks, especially under future climate scenarios, will be improved when plant–plant interactions are considered, particularly those containing dominant and foundation species.     

白洋淀富营养化湖泊湿地厌氧氨氧化菌的分布及对氮循环的影响

随着生物反应器和海洋生态系统中厌氧氨氧化反应的发现,自然生态系统的氮循环过程被重新认识,但是目前厌氧氨氧化过程是否也存在于富营养化湖泊湿地并发挥着重要作用,还未见报道。结合15N同位素示踪与分子生物学技术研究了白洋淀湖泊湿地沉积物中厌氧氨氧化菌的分布、菌群结构特性、生物多样性及其活性。结果表明,在藻类影响导致的高氨氮沉积物中,厌氧氨氧化菌具有广泛存在性。通过构建16S rRNA克隆文库发现,沉积物中厌氧氨氧化菌的生物多样性相对较低,在2%差异度的条件下,30个克隆序列只分为5个操作分类单元(OTUs),代表序列与Genebank数据库中已探明的厌氧氨氧化菌Candidatus Brocadia fulgida和Candidatus Brocadia anammoxidans同源性最高,分别可达97%和96%。同位素示踪结果表明,白洋淀湖泊湿地沉积物中厌氧氨氧化活性为0.19—7.78 nmol N g-1h-1,空间差异较大,产生的氮气占此沉积物总氮气生成量的0.64%—20.65%,体现了湿地的异质性。通过得出的厌氧氨氧化反应速率推算每年由厌氧氨氧化反应损失的氮量为1.8—78gN m-2a-1,对白洋淀氮循环起到非常重要的作用。富营养化湖泊湿地沉积物中厌氧氨氧化反应的发现为研究厌氧氨氧化对氮循环的重要影响提供了新证据。     

高寒草甸生态系统氮素循环

应用分室模型,研究了高寒草甸（矮嵩草草甸）生态系统中氮素的分布与循环。结果表明：系统中,土壤库氮素总储量为 １０６３ｔ／ｈｍ ２,主要以有机态存在,土壤氮素全量养分丰富,而有效养分贫乏,仅能满足较低水平生产的供求关系;植物氮素主要储存于植物活根中,根系氮素储量为 １９０１１±４９６２ｋｇ／ｈｍ ２·ａ,活根内氮素占 ７９２６％ 。通过对该系统氮素收支平衡计算结果表明,氮素输出为 １５９３５ｋｇ／ｈｍ ２·ａ,大于系统的输入 ８４７３ｋｇ／ｈｍ ２·ａ,系统中氮素亏缺,成为限制草场生产力提高的限制因子。     

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.     

The ammonium nitrogen oxidation process in horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands

The ammonium nitrogen oxidation process (ANOP) is the first and most important step for nitrogen removal in constructed wetlands (CWs). The process was investigated by observing the products generated from the ANOP in on-site aerobic systems with selective inhibition of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) through appropriate regulation of the pH, temperature and dissolved oxygen concentrations. The effects of season, plant type and density on ANOP were also studied to determine the optimal conditions for the ANOP. Nitrite accumulation was found in the aerobic experiments and greater ammonia-oxidizing bacteria than NOB numbers, showing that partial nitrification to nitrite was occurring in the studied CWs. The nitrogen removal rate was positively linearly correlated with the nitrite accumulation rate, and so the more NH₃-N removed by ANOP, the greater the resulting nitrogen removal. Season and plant density had a significant effect on the ANOP. However, there were no significant differences between the units planted with common reed and cattail.     

Development of a protocol for recognizing sulfidic sediments (potential acid sulfate soils) in freshwater wetlands

Summary   The presence of sulfidic sediments (potential acid sulfate soils) is an emerging problem in the management of inland wetlands. Using data from 81 wetlands in the Murray-Darling Basin, a simple protocol was developed to assess whether a wetland will contain sulfidic sediments at levels that could cause ecological damage. Risk factors include whether or not the wetland receives municipal waste or irrigation return water, elevated salinity in the overlying water (>1750 µS/cm) or sediment (400 µS/cm in a 1:5 soil : water extract) and high levels of sulfate in the water column (>10 mg/L). Neutral or basic sediment pH indicates that, even if the sediment does contain sulfidic sediments, there is a reduced likelihood of acidification if the sediments are oxidized.     

Nitrogen and phosphorus content of some temperate and tropical freshwater fishes

The nitrogen and phosphorus content of two temperate fishes, Rutilus rutilus and Perca fluviatilis , and six tropical fishes, Oreochromis niloticus , Cichla monoculus , Serrassalmus rhombeus , Plagioscion squamosissimus , Prochilodus brevis and Hoplias malabaricus , were investigated to test the hypothesis that variation in body P content and N:P ratio is related to body size. Regressions of %P and N:P ratios against fish size (length and mass) confirmed the hypothesis for P. fluviatilis and P. squamosissimus , suggesting that body size is an important factor driving body P content and N:P ratios in some fishes. Moreover, significant increases in %N and N:P ratio with body size was found for H. malabaricus , a common piscivorous fish of the Neotropics. Interspecific variation in %P and N:P ranged two-fold and significant differences ( P < 0·05) were found among the tested species. The mean ± s . d . elemental content across all fishes ( n = 170) was 10·35 ± 1·29% for N and 3·05 ± 0·82% for P, while the N:P ratio was 8·00 ± 2·14. Data on fish body nutrient content and ratio will improve parameterization of bioenergetics and mass balance models and help clarify the role of fishes in nutrient cycles in both temperate and tropical freshwaters.     

Global patterns of nitrogen limitation: confronting two global biogeochemical models with observations

Projections of future changes in land carbon (C) storage using biogeochemical models depend on accurately modeling the interactions between the C and nitrogen (N) cycles. Here, we present a framework for analyzing N limitation in global biogeochemical models to explore how C‐N interactions of current models compare to field observations, identify the processes causing model divergence, and identify future observation and experiment needs. We used a set of N‐fertilization simulations from two global biogeochemical models (CLM‐CN and O‐CN) that use different approaches to modeling C‐N interactions. On the global scale, net primary productivity (NPP) in the CLM‐CN model was substantially more responsive to N fertilization than in the O‐CN model. The most striking difference between the two models occurred for humid tropical forests, where the CLM‐CN simulated a 62% increase in NPP at high N addition levels (30 g N m^?2 yr^?1), while the O‐CN predicted a 2% decrease in NPP due to N fertilization increasing plant respiration more than photosynthesis. Across 35 temperate and boreal forest sites with field N‐fertilization experiments, we show that the CLM‐CN simulated a 46% increase in aboveground NPP in response to N, which exceeded the observed increase of 25%. In contrast, the O‐CN only simulated a 6% increase in aboveground NPP at the N‐fertilization sites. Despite the small response of NPP to N fertilization, the O‐CN model accurately simulated ecosystem retention of N and the fate of added N to vegetation when compared to empirical ¹⁵N tracer application studies. In contrast, the CLM‐CN predicted lower total ecosystem N retention and partitioned more losses to volatilization than estimated from observed N budgets of small catchments. These results point to the need for model improvements in both models in order to enhance the accuracy with which global C‐N cycle feedbacks are simulated.     

Sediment biogeochemistry in an East African mangrove forest (Gazi Bay, Kenya)

The biogeochemistry of mangrove sediments was investigated in several mangrove forest communities in Gazi Bay, a coastal lagoon in Kenya, Africa. Carbon dioxide fluxes, sediment median grain sizes, sedimentary organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus contents and pore-water characteristics (ammonium, nitrate, sulfate and chloride) could be related to forest type. Mangrove sediments have pH values that range from 3.5 to 8.3 due to the limited buffer capacity of these sediments and intense acidifying processes such as aerobic degradation of organic matter, oxidation of reduced components, ammonium uptake by roots and root respiration. The mangrove sediments are nitrogen-rich compared to mangrove litter, as a result of microbial nitrogen retention, uptake and fixation, and import of nitrogen-rich material. It appears that mangrove sediments in Gazi Bay act as a nutrient and carbon sink rather than as a source for adjacent seagrass and reef ecosystems.     

Alterations in nitrogen assimilation and partitioning in nitrogen stressed plants

Although nutrient stress is known to alter partitioning between shoots and roots, the physiological basis for the phenomenon is unresolved. Experiments were conducted to examine assimilation of ¹⁵NO₃ by N-stressed plants and to determine whether apparent changes in assimilation in the root contributed to alterations in whole-plant partitioning of reduced-N. Tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. NC 2326) were exposed to a low concentration of NO₃^? in solution (80 μM) for 9 days to effect a N-stress response. Exposure of plants to 1000 μM¹⁵NO₃^? for 12 h on selected days revealed that roots of N-stressed plants developed an increased capacity to absorb NO₃^?, and accumulation of reduced-¹⁵N in the root increased to an even greater extent. When plants were exposed to 80 or 1000 μM¹⁵NO₃^? in steady-state, ¹⁵NO₃^? uptake over a 12 h period was noticeably restricted at the lower concentration, but a larger proportion of the absorbed ¹⁵N still accumulated as reduced-¹⁵N in the root. The alteration in reduced-¹⁵N partitioning was maintained in N-stressed plants during the subsequent 3-day “chase” period when formation of insoluble reduced-¹⁵N in the root was quantitatively related to the disappearance of ¹⁵NO₃^? and soluble reduced-¹⁵N. The results indicate that increased assimilation of absorbed NO₃^?, in the root may contribute significantly to the altered reduced-N partitioning which occurs in N-stressed plants.     

Distribution and speciation of phosphorus along a salinity gradient in intertidal marsh sediments

We examined forms of solid phosphorus fractions in intertidal marsh sediments along a salinity (0–22%.) gradient in a river-dominated estuary and in a marine-dominated salt marsh with insignificant freshwater input. Freshwater marsh sediments had the highest ratio of organic N:P of between 28:1 and 47:1 mol:mol, compared to 211 to 311 molmol in the saltmarshes, which is consistent with a trend toward P-limitation of primary production in freshwater and N-limitation in salt marshes. However, total P concentration, 24.7±11.1mol P g dw^–1 (±1 SD) averaged over the upper meter of sediment, was greatest in the freshwater marsh where bioavailablity of P is apparently limited. In the freshwater marsh the greatest fraction of total P (24–51%.) was associated with humic acids, while the importance of humic-P decreased with increasing salinity to 1–23%. in the salt marshes. Inorganic P contributed considerably less to total sediment P in the freshwater marsh (15–40%.) than in the salt marshes (33–85%.). In reduced sediments at all sites, phosphate bound to aluminum oxides and clays was an important inorganic P pool irrespective of salinity. Inorganic P associated with ferric iron [Fe(III)] phases was most abundant in surface sediments of freshwater and brackish marshes, while Ca-bound P dominated inorganic P pools in the salt marshes. Thus, our results showed that particle-bound P in marsh sediments exhibited changes in chemical association along the salinity gradient of an estuarine system, which is a likely consequence of changes in ionic strength and the availability of iron and calcium.