Understorey plant community assemblage of Australian Eucalyptus woodlands under elevated CO2 is modulated by water and phosphorus availability

水分和磷调控的澳大利亚桉树林林下植物群落组合对二氧化碳浓度升高的响应 鉴于林下植物群落具有的关键性功能作用和全球范围内巨大的森林覆盖面积,研究林下群落对 CO₂浓度升高(eCO₂)的响应以及土壤资源在这些响应中的作用,对于了解CO₂浓度升高对森林生态系统造成的影响非常重要。本研究评估了在澳大利亚东部磷有限的桉树林林下群落中,两种限制性的资源(即水分和磷)在发芽、物候、覆盖率、群落组成和叶片性状等方面对eCO₂响应的作用。我们收集了含有当地土壤种子库的土壤,在温室条件下种植实验性的林下植物群落。研究结果表明,添加磷提高了植物的总体覆盖率,特别是在生长期的最初4 周以及水分含量高的条件下,而且该响应是由植物群落中的类禾本科植物所驱动。然而,随着实验的进行,不同处理方法之间的差异逐渐减小,所有处理在大约11周后均达到了80%左右的植物覆盖率。相反,植物覆盖率并未受到eCO₂ 的影响。多元分析结果反映出植物群落组成随时间的变化,盆栽从以裸土为主变为以高覆盖率的多样化群落为主。但是在实验过程中,磷的添加以及水分可利用性和CO₂之间的相互作用都对植物群落随时间的变化轨迹有所影响。CO₂浓度的升高也增加了群落水平的比叶面积,这表明植物群落对eCO₂的功能适应可能发生在成分响应开始之前。鉴于我们用种子库培育的林下群落对eCO₂ 的响应随着时间的推移而有 所变化,并且受到与磷和水分可利用性的相互作用的调节。我们的结果表明,在水分含量有限的系统中, 特别是在土壤养分可利用性低所导致的生产力响应受限的情况下,CO₂浓度的升高在塑造植物群落方面作用有限。     

Carbon dioxide exchange and biomass productivity of the herbaceous layer of a managed tropical humid savanna ecosystem in western Kenya

Aims Humid savannas, as a result of high precipitation amounts, are highly productive. They are also hotspots for land use change and potential sources of carbon dioxide (CO₂) due to the large soil carbon (C) stocks. Understanding how ecosystem CO₂ exchange is influenced by changes arising from agricultural land use is vital in future management of these ecosystems and in responding to the ongoing shifts in management and climate. The aim of this study was to identify how ecosystem CO₂ exchange and biomass productivity of the herbaceous layer of a humid savanna in Kenya respond to current management practices.Methods We used flux chambers to quantify CO₂ fluxes, while monthly harvests were undertaken to determine biomass development of the herbaceous layer of three sites that were (i) fenced to exclude livestock grazing, (ii) subjected to grazing by livestock and (iii) abandoned after being cultivated for maize production and also open to grazing by livestock.Important findings The peak aboveground biomass ranged between 380 and 1449g m ?2 and biomass production was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in the grazed and abandoned plots. The maximum gross primary production (GPP) and net ecosystem CO₂ exchange (NEE) ranged between 21.8±1.3 to 32.5±2.7 and ?9.6±0.7 to^-17.9±4.8 μmol m ?2 s^-1, respectively. Seasonal NEE fluctuations ranged between 10 and 21 μmol m ?2 s^-1, while spatial (among sites) differences ranged between 2 and 10 μmol m ?2 s^-1. Ecosystem respiration (R eco) fluctuated between 5 and 10 μmol m ?2 s^-1 during the growing season. R eco was, however, not significantly different among the sites. Unlike in other similar ecosystems where ecosystem respiration is determined by the ambient temperature, we did not find any relationship between R eco and temperature in this savanna. Instead, soil moisture accounted for 38–88% of the spatial and seasonal fluctuations in ecosystem CO₂ fluxes and aboveground biomass production. Management influenced the maximum GPP and NEE rates through modification of soil moisture, plant species composition and aboveground biomass. We concluded that soil moisture is the key determinant of ecosystem CO₂ exchange and productivity in this tropical savanna. Management, however, significantly modifies C fluxes and productivity through its influence on soil moisture, plant species composition and aboveground green biomass and should be taken into consideration in future similar studies.     

Soil respiration associated with plant succession at the meadow steppes in Songnen Plain,Northeast China

Aims Soil CO₂ emission from steppes is affected by soil properties and vegetation in different successional stages. Primary and secondary succession of plants frequently occurred at the meadow steppe in Songnen Plain, Northeast China, which indicates the large uncertainty associated with CO₂ emission in this environment. This study aims to investigate the temporal variations of soil respiration (Rs) and the effect of plant succession on cumulative soil CO₂ emission during the growing season.Methods Using a LI-6400 soil CO₂ flux system, Rs of five vegetation types which represented different stages of plant succession in meadow steppes of Songnen Plain, China, was investigated during the growing seasons of 2011 and 2012.Important findings Soil temperature (Ts) was the dominant controlling factor of Rs, which could explain ~64% of the change in CO₂ fluxes. The Q 10 values of Rs were ranged from 2.0 to 6.7, showing a decreasing trend with the plant successional stages. The cumulative CO₂ emission increased with the degree of vegetation succession and it averaged to 316±6g C m ?2 (ranges: 74.8±6.7 to 516.5±11.4g C m ?2) during the growing season. The magnitude of soil CO₂ emission during the growing season was positively correlated with aboveground plant biomass, soil organic carbon content and mean soil water content, while negatively linked to mean Ts, pH, electrical conductivity and exchangeable sodium percentages. The results implied that soil CO₂ emission increased with the development of plant communities toward more advanced stages. Our findings provided valuable information for understanding the variations of CO₂ emission in the process of vegetation succession.     

Effects of elevated carbon dioxide concentration and soil temperature on the growth and biomass responses of mountain maple (Acer spicatum) seedlings to light availability

Aims Some shade-tolerant understory tree species such as mountain maple (Acer spicatum L.) exhibit light-foraging growth habits. Changes in environmental conditions, such as the rise of carbon dioxide concentration ([CO₂]) in the atmosphere and soil warming, may affect the performance of these species under different light environments. We investigated how elevated [CO₂] and soil warming influence the growth and biomass responses of mountain maple seedlings to light availability.Methods The treatments were two levels of light (100% and 30% of the ambient light in the greenhouse), two [CO₂] (392 μmol mol^-1 (ambient) and 784 μmol mol^-1 (elevated)) and two soil temperatures (T soil) (17 and 22°C). After one growing season, we measured seedling height, root collar diameter, leaf biomass, stem biomass and root biomass.Important findings We found that under the ambient [CO₂], the high-light level increased seedlings height by 70% and 56% at the low T soil and high T soil, respectively. Under the elevated [CO₂], however, the high-light level increased seedling height by 52% and 13% at the low T soil and high T soil, respectively. The responses of biomasses to light generally followed the response patterns of height growth under both [CO₂] and T soil and the magnitude of biomass response to light was the lowest under the elevated [CO₂] and warmer T soil. The results suggest that the elevated [CO₂] and warmer T soil under the projected future climate may have negative impact on the colonization of open sites and forest canopy gaps by mountain maple.     

丛枝菌根真菌对大气CO2浓度升高和增温响应研究进展

全球变化深刻影响着陆地生态系统生物多样性及生态功能。丛枝菌根(AM)真菌可与绝大多数陆生植物根系形成互惠共生体,在协助宿主养分吸收、促进植物生长、维持植物多样性等方面发挥着重要作用。本文主要分析了大气CO₂浓度升高(eCO₂)和增温对森林和草地生态系统AM真菌群落组成及其功能的影响。eCO₂主要通过影响宿主植物、土壤碳(C)输入等方式间接影响AM真菌,可增加AM真菌的多度和活性,影响AM真菌的多样性与群落组成。增温可直接或间接地(通过宿主植物和土壤途径)影响AM真菌,显著改变森林土壤AM真菌的群落组成,但对草地土壤AM真菌群落组成的影响尚无定论。我们提出了当前研究中存在的主要问题及未来应重点关注的内容。本文旨在明晰AM真菌对eCO₂和增温的响应和适应,增进对AM真菌介导的土壤生态功能的认识,为利用AM真菌缓解全球变化、增强土壤功能的韧性和全球变化的生态系统适应性提供依据。     

连栽杉木林林下植被生物量动态格局

用空间一致时间连续的定位研究方法,在湖南会同杉木林生态系统国家野外科学观测研究站试验基地的第2集水区,对连栽杉木林林下植被生物量进行了12 a的监测,研究了林下植被种类的变化、生物量动态特征、生物量的组成与分布变化格局。结果表明:连栽杉木林在14a生长发育过程中,林下植物种类呈现波动性的减少趋势,其中木本植物物种数下降率为40.0%,草本植物物种数下降率为47.1%。林下植被生物量由杉木林3年生29.48 t/hm²下降至14年生的2.53 t/hm²,其中木本植物生物量由7.07 t/hm²,下降至1.25 t/hm²,下降了82.3%;草本植物由22.41 t/hm²,下降至1.28 t/hm²,下降了94.3%。在此期间,木本与草本植物生物量的高低均出现波动现象。3年生杉木林下木本植物以乔木树种生物量6068.97 kg/hm²最高,占总生物量85.88%,藤本植物生物量736.97 kg/hm²为次,占10.44%,灌木植物生物量259.87 kg/hm²最低,仅占3.68%。14年生杉木林下木本植物以灌木植物生物量881.87 kg/hm²为首,占总生物量70.73%,藤本植物生物量247.07 kg/hm²为次,占19.82%,乔木树种生物量117.87 kg/hm²最少,只占9.45%。3年生杉木林下草本植物以蕨类植物生物量8391.44 kg/hm²最高,占总生物量的37.44%,过路黄生物量36.77 kg/hm²最低,仅占0.16%。杉木14年生时,以芒生物量573.00 kg/hm²最大,占总生物量44.78%,金毛耳草生物量2.93 kg/hm²最小,仅占0.23%。研究结果,可为研究杉木林养分循环、碳平衡、维护和提高林地地力及可持续经营管理提供科学依据。     

Response to CO2 enrichment of understory vegetation in the shade of forests

Responses of forest ecosystems to increased atmospheric CO₂ concentration have been studied in few free‐air CO₂ enrichment (FACE) experiments during last two decades. Most studies focused principally on the overstory trees with little attention given to understory vegetation. Despite its small contribution to total productivity of an ecosystem, understory vegetation plays an important role in predicting successional dynamics and future plant community composition. Thus, the response of understory vegetation in Pinus taeda plantation at the Duke Forest FACE site after 15–17 years of exposure to elevated CO₂, 6–13 of which with nitrogen (N) amendment, was examined. Aboveground biomass and density of the understory decreased across all treatments with increasing overstory leaf area index (LAI). However, the CO₂ and N treatments had no effect on aboveground biomass, tree density, community composition, and the fraction of shade‐tolerant species. The increases of overstory LAI (~28%) under elevated CO₂ resulted in a reduction of light available to the understory (~18%) sufficient to nullify the expected growth‐enhancing effect of elevated CO₂ on understory vegetation.     

Comparative response of seedlings of selected native dry tropical and alien invasive species to CO2 enrichment

Aims Global climate change and ongoing plant invasion are the two prominent ecological issues threatening biodiversity world wide. Among invasive species, Lantana camara and Hyptis suaveolens are the two most important invaders in the dry deciduous forest in India. We monitored the growth of these two invasive species and seedlings of four native dry deciduous species (Acacia catechu, Bauhinia variegata, Dalbergia latifolia and Tectona grandis) under ambient (375–395 μ mol mol^-1) and elevated CO₂ (700–750 μ mol mol^-1) to study the differential growth response of invasive and native seedlings.Methods Seedlings of all the species were exposed to ambient and elevated CO₂. After 60 days of exposure, seedlings were harvested and all the growth-related parameters like plant height; biomass of root, stem and leaves; total seedling biomass; R/S ratio; allocation parameters; net assimilation rate (NAR) and relative growth rate (RGR) were determined.Important findings Biomass, RGR and NAR of all the species increased under elevated CO₂ but the increase was higher in invasive species and they formed larger seedlings than natives. Therefore under the CO₂ -enriched future atmosphere, competitive hierarchies could change and may interfere with the species composition of the invaded area.     

Dynamics of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae during old field succession

Summary The species composition of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungal communities changed during secondary succession of abandoned fields based on a field to forest chronosequence. Twenty-five VAM fungal species were identified. Seven species were clearly early successional and five species were clearly late successional. The total number of VAM fungal species did not increase with successional time, but diversity as measured by the Shannon-Wiener index tended to increase, primarily because the community became more even as a single species, Glomus aggregatum, became less dominant in the older sites. Diversity of the VAM fungal community was positively correlated with soil C and N. The density of VAM fungi, as measured by infectivity and total spore count, first increased with time since abandonment and then decreased in the late successional forest sites. Within 12 abandoned fields, VAM fungal density increased with increasing soil pH, H₂O soluble soil C, and root biomass, but was inversely related to extractable soil P and percent cover of non-host plant species. The lower abundance of VAM fungi in the forest sites compared with the field sites agrees with the findings of other workers and corresponds with a shift in the dominant vegetation from herbaceous VAM hosts to woody ectomycorrhizal hosts.     

林分结构对湖南栎类天然次生林林下植被生物量的影响

对湖南栎类天然次生林不同林分类型的林下植被生物量特征及其影响因素进行研究。结果表明: 将50块样地划分为甜槠-鹿角杜鹃混交林、亮叶水青冈-箭竹混交林、石栎-虎刺+山茶混交林、甜储+枹栎-鹿角杜鹃混交林、青冈栎-油茶+杜鹃混交林5种林分类型。5种林分的林下植被生物量均较低,不超过2.3 t·hm^-2。5种林分类型的林下灌木生物量没有显著差异,甜槠-鹿角杜鹃混交林草本层生物量显著低于其他4种林分类型。影响不同林分林下植被生物量的因素不同。在甜槠-鹿角杜鹃混交林,草本层生物量与郁闭度、角尺度呈显著负相关,林下植被总体生物量与开敞度呈显著正相关;在亮叶水青冈-箭竹混交林,灌木层生物量与林分的角尺度、郁闭度呈显著负相关,草本层生物量与林下植被总体生物量与混交度呈显著正相关;在石栎-虎刺+山茶混交林,草本层生物量与林分的聚集指数呈显著正相关;在甜储+枹栎-鹿角杜鹃混交林,灌木层生物量与林分的混交度呈显著负相关,草本层生物量与林分的株数密度呈显著正相关;而在青冈栎-油茶+杜鹃混交林,林分结构与林下生物量没有显著相关关系。对林下植被生物量进行调整,应该以调整林分水平分布格局为主,综合考虑林分遮盖程度与树种结构。     

浙江天童常绿阔叶林不同演替阶段木本植物的水力结构特征

水力结构是植物应对环境形成的与水分运输相关的形态策略.探索不同演替阶段和群落不同高度层植物的水力结构特征, 有助于理解植物的水分运输和利用策略.该研究以浙江天童常绿阔叶林演替前中后期群落的上层木(占据林冠层的树种)和下层木(灌木层物种)为对象, 测定了演替共有种(至少存在于两个演替阶段的物种)和更替种(仅存在于某一演替阶段的物种)的枝边材比导率,叶比导率和胡伯尔值, 以及边材疏导面积,末端枝总叶面积和枝条水势, 分析植物水力结构在群落上层木和下层木间以及在演替阶段间的差异, 及其与枝叶性状的相关关系.结果显示: (1)上层木植物边材比导率和叶比导率显著高于下层木植物(p < 0.05); (2)上层木和下层木的边材比导率与叶比导率在演替阶段间均无显著差异(p > 0.05); 上层木的胡伯尔值在演替阶段间无显著差异, 下层木的胡伯尔值随演替显著下降(p < 0.05); (3)上层木共有种仅边材比导率随演替进行显著降低(p < 0.05), 更替种的3个水力结构参数在演替阶段间无显著差异; 下层木共有种水力结构参数在演替阶段间无明显差异, 更替种仅胡伯尔值随演替减小(p < 0.05); (4)植物边材比导率与枝疏导面积和末端枝所支撑的总叶面积显著正相关(p < 0.01), 胡伯尔值与枝条水势及末端枝总叶面积显著负相关(p < 0.01).以上结果表明: 天童常绿阔叶林演替各阶段上层木比下层木具有更大的输水能力和效率; 随着演替进行, 上层木与下层木的共有种和更替种边材比导率的相反变化表明上层木水力结构的变化可能由微生境变化引起, 而下层木水力结构特征的变化可能由物种更替造成.     

Fire rather than nitrogen addition affects understory plant communities in the short term in a coniferous‐broadleaf mixed forest

Increasing fire risk and atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition have the potential to alter plant community structure and composition, with consequent impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. This study was conducted to examine short‐term responses of understory plant community to burning and N addition in a coniferous‐broadleaved mixed forest of the subtropical‐temperate transition zone in Central China. The experiment used a pair‐nested design, with four treatments (control, burning, N addition, and burning plus N addition) and five replicates. Species richness, cover, and density of woody and herbaceous plants were monitored for 3 years after a low‐severity fire in the spring of 2014. Burning, but not N addition, significantly stimulated the cover (+15.2%, absolute change) and density (+62.8%) of woody species as well as herb richness (+1.2 species/m², absolute change), cover (+25.5%, absolute change), and density (+602.4%) across the seven sampling dates from June 2014 to October 2016. Light availability, soil temperature, and prefire community composition could be primarily responsible for the understory community recovery after the low‐severity fire. The observations suggest that light availability and soil temperature are more important than nutrients in structuring understory plant community in the mixed forest of the subtropical‐temperate transition zone in Central China. Legacy woody and herb species dominated the understory vegetation over the 3 years after fire, indicating strong resistance and resilience of forest understory plant community and biodiversity to abrupt environmental perturbation.     

Hydraulic architecture of evergreen broad-leaved woody plants at different successional stages in Tiantong National Forest Park,Zhejiang Province,China

Aims Hydraulic architecture is a morphological strategy in plants to transport water in coping with environmental conditions. Change of hydraulic architecture for plants occupying different canopy layers within community and for the same plant at different successional stages reflect existence and adaptation in plant's water transportation strategies. The objective of this study was to examine how hydraulic architecture varies with canopy layers within a community and with forest succession.Methods The study site is located in Tiantong National Forest Park, Zhejiang Province, China. Hydraulic architectural traits studied include sapwood-specific hydraulic conductivity, leaf-specific hydraulic conductivity, Huber value, sapwood channel area of twigs, total leaf area per terminal twig, and water potential of twigs. We measured those traits for species that occur in multiple successional stages (we called it "overlapping species") and for species that occur only in one successional stage (we called it "turnover species") along a successional series of evergreen broadleaved forests. For a given species, we sampled both overstory and understory trees. Hydraulic architectural traits between overstory and understory trees in the same community and at successional stages were compared. Pearson correlation was used to exam the relationship between hydraulic architectural traits and the twig/leaf traits.Important findings Sapwood-specific hydraulic conductivities and leaf-specific hydraulic conductivities were significantly higher in overstory trees than those in understory trees, but did not significantly differ from successional stages. Huber value decreased significantly for understory trees, but did not change for overstory trees through forest successional stages. For overstory trees, a trend of decreasing sapwood-specific hydraulic conductivity was observed for overlapping species but not for turnover species with successional stages. In contrast, for understory trees, a trend of decreasing Huber values was observed for turner species but not for overlapping species with successional stages. Across tree species, sapwood-specific hydraulic conductivity was positively correlated with sapwood channel area and total leaf area per terminal twig size. Huber value was negatively correlated to water potential of twigs and total leaf area per terminal twig size. These results suggest that water transportation capacity and efficiency are higher in overstory trees than in understory trees across successional stages in evergreen broadleaved forests in Tiantong region. The contrasting trends of sapwood-specific hydraulic conductivity between overlapping species and turnover species indicate that shift of microenvironment conditions might lead to changes of hydraulic architecture in overstory trees, whereas species replacement might result in changes of hydraulic architecture in understory trees.     

Density may alter diversity–productivity relationships in experimental plant communities

Contemporary biodiversity experiments, in which plant species richness is manipulated and aboveground productivity of the system measured, generally demonstrate that lowering plant species richness reduces productivity. However, we propose that community density may in part compensate for this reduction of productivity at low diversity. We conducted a factorial experiment in which plant functional group richness was held constant at three, while plant species richness increased from three to six to 12 species and community density from 440 to 1050 to 2525 seedlings m⁻². Response variables included density, evenness and above- and belowground biomass at harvest. The density gradient converged slightly during the course of the experiment due to about 10% mortality at the highest sowing density. Evenness measured in terms of aboveground biomass at harvest significantly declined with density, but the effect was weak. Overall, aboveground, belowground and total biomass increased significantly with species richness and community density. However, a significant interaction between species richness and community density occurred for both total and aboveground biomass, indicating that the diversity–productivity relationship was flatter at higher than at lower density. Thus, high species richness enabled low-density communities to reach productivity levels otherwise seen only at high density. The relative contributions of the three functional groups C₃, C₄ and nitrogen-fixers to aboveground biomass were less influenced by community density at high than at low species richness. We interpret the interaction effects between community density and species richness on community biomass by expanding findings about constant yield and size variation from monocultures to plant mixtures.     

Simulated N and S deposition affected soil chemistry and understory plant communities in a boreal forest in western Canada

Aims We conducted a simulated nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) deposition experiment from 2006 to 2012 to answer the following questions: (i) does chronic N and S deposition decrease cation concentrations in the soil and foliage of understory plant species, and (ii) does chronic N and S deposition decrease plant diversity and alter species composition of the understory plant community in a boreal forest in western Canada where intensifying industrial activities are increasing N and S deposition. Methods Our field site was a mixedwood boreal forest stand located ~100 km southeast of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. The experiment involved a 2 × 2 factorial design, with two levels each of N (0 and 30 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1; applied as NH₄NO₃) and S addition (0 and 30 kg S ha^-1 yr^-1; applied as Na₂SO₄). Four blocks were established in July 2006, each with four plots of 20 × 20 m randomly assigned to the treatments. Soil and understory vegetation were sampled and cover (%) of individual species of herb (height ≤ 0.5 m) and shrub (height 0.5–1 m) layers was determined in August 2012. Important findings Seven years after the treatments began, N addition increased dissolved organic carbon and N in the mineral soil (P < 0.05), whereas S addition decreased exchangeable cations (P < 0.05) in the forest floor. In the shrub layer, species evenness, and overall diversity were decreased by N addition (P < 0.05) due to increases in abundance of nitrophilous species and S addition (P < 0.01) due to decreased cation concentrations in soils. Total shrub cover decreased with S addition (P < 0.10). Nitrogen and S addition affected neither species richness nor evenness in the herb layer. However, permutational multivariate analysis of variance and non-metric multidimensional scaling analyses (based on plant cover) indicated that the effect of N and S addition on understory plant species composition in the both shrub and herb layers was species-specific. Addition of N decreased foliar phosphorus and potassium concentrations in some species, suggesting potential risk of N-meditated nutrient imbalance in those species. Our results indicate that long-term elevated levels of N and S deposition can negatively impact plant nutrition and decrease the diversity of the understory plant community in boreal forests in northern Alberta, Canada. However, considering that the current N and S deposition rates in northern Alberta are much lower than the rates used in this study, N and S deposition should not negatively affect plant diversity in the near future.     

大气CO2浓度升高对水稻秸秆化学组成的影响

水稻秸秆是生物能源生产的潜在材料,大气二氧化碳(CO2)浓度升高改变水稻秸秆的量和质,从而改变其生物能源的生产潜力.本试验水稻秸秆来自中国自由大气CO2富集平台(FACE),选取FACE平台(试验组CO2浓度控制在570μmol·mol^-1左右,比对照组高200μmol·mol-1)3种水稻品种‘武运粳27’、‘Y两优900’和‘日本晴N16’,通过对秸秆化学组成进行分析,探讨CO2浓度升高对水稻秸秆质量的影响.结果表明:大气CO2浓度升高显著提高了水稻秸秆C含量和C/N;增加了秸秆中非结构碳水化合物含量;CO2浓度升高使武运粳27、Y两优900和N16秸秆中释放的总糖分别增加8.8%、6.7%和9.9%;CO2浓度升高显著提高N16秸秆生物量,但对其他两种水稻秸秆生物量没有显著影响;N16的总糖产量在CO2浓度升高下增加最显著,达到19.2%.表明CO2浓度升高可以改善水稻秸秆质和量,从而提高生物燃料利用潜能.     

The role of shrub (Potentilla fruticosa) on ecosystem CO2 fluxes in an alpine shrub meadow

Aims Recent studies have shown that alpine meadows on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau act as significant CO₂ sinks. On the plateau, alpine shrub meadow is one of typical grassland ecosystems. The major alpine shrub on the plateau is Potentilla fruticosa L. (Rosaceae), which is distributed widely from 3 200 to 4 000 m. Shrub species play an important role on carbon sequestration in grassland ecosystems. In addition, alpine shrubs are sensitive to climate change such as global warming. Considering global warming, the biomass and productivity of P. fruticosa will increase on Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Thus, understanding the carbon dynamics in alpine shrub meadow and the role of shrubs around the upper distribution limit at present is essential to predict the change in carbon sequestration on the plateau. However, the role of shrubs on the carbon dynamics in alpine shrub meadow remains unclear. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the magnitude of CO₂ exchange of P. fruticosa shrub patches around the upper distribution limit and to elucidate the role of P. fruticosa on ecosystem CO₂ fluxes in an alpine meadow.Methods We used the static acrylic chamber technique to measure and estimate the net ecosystem productivity (NEP), ecosystem respiration (R e), and gross primary productivity (GPP) of P. fruticosa shrub patches at three elevations around the species' upper distribution limit. Ecosystem CO₂ fluxes and environmental factors were measured from 17 to 20 July 2008 at 3 400, 3 600, and 3 800 m a.s.l. We examined the maximum GPP at infinite light (GPP max) and maximum R e (R emax) during the experimental time at each elevation in relation to aboveground biomass and environmental factors, including air and soil temperature, and soil water content.Important findings Patches of P. fruticosa around the species' upper distribution limit absorbed CO₂, at least during the daytime. Maximum NEP at infinite light (NEP max) and GPP max of shrub patches in the alpine meadow varied among the three elevations, with the highest values at 3 400 m and the lowest at 3 800 m. GPP max was positively correlated with the green biomass of P. fruticosa more strongly than with total green biomass, suggesting that P. fruticosa is the major contributor to CO₂ uptake in the alpine shrub meadow. Air temperature influenced the potential GPP at the shrub-patch scale. R emax was correlated with aboveground biomass and R emax normalized by aboveground biomass was influenced by soil water content. Potentilla fruticosa height (biomass) and frequency increased clearly as elevation decreased, which promotes the large-scale spatial variation of carbon uptake and the strength of the carbon sink at lower elevations.     

Inverse analysis of coupled carbon-nitrogen cycles against multiple datasets at ambient and elevated CO2

Aims Carbon (C) sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems is strongly regulated by nitrogen (N) processes. However, key parameters that determine the degree of N regulation on terrestrial C sequestration have not been well quantified.Methods Here, we used a Bayesian probabilistic inversion approach to estimate 14 target parameters related to ecosystem C and N interactions from 19 datasets obtained from Duke Forests under ambient and elevated carbon dioxide (CO₂).Important findings Our results indicated that 8 of the 14 target parameters, such as C:N ratios in most ecosystem compartments, plant N uptake and external N input, were well constrained by available datasets whereas the others, such as N allocation coefficients, N loss and the initial value of mineral N pool were poorly constrained. Our analysis showed that elevated CO₂ led to the increases in C:N ratios in foliage, fine roots and litter. Moreover, elevated CO₂ stimulated plant N uptake and increased ecosystem N capital in Duke Forests by 25.2 and 8.5%, respectively. In addition, elevated CO₂ resulted in the decrease of C exit rates (i.e. increases in C residence times) in foliage, woody biomass, structural litter and passive soil organic matter, but the increase of C exit rate in fine roots. Our results demonstrated that CO₂ enrichment substantially altered key parameters in determining terrestrial C and N interactions, which have profound implications for model improvement and predictions of future C sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems in response to global change.     

CO2浓度升高和氮沉降对南亚热带主要乡土树种及群落生物量的影响

选取荷木、海南红豆、肖蒲桃、红鳞蒲桃和红锥5种南亚热带乡土树种构建混交群落,通过5年人为提高CO₂浓度和氮输入试验,研究碳-氮交互作用对南亚热带主要乡土树种及群落的生物量积累与分配的影响.结果表明：CO₂浓度升高及氮沉降对植物生物量的积累和分配的影响因树种不同而有显著差异.CO₂浓度升高和氮沉降对豆科植物生物量积累相对提高了49.3%和71.0%,且促进了阳生植物生物量的积累;氮沉降能显著提高偏阴生植物生物量积累,但在CO₂浓度升高条件下,其生物量积累低于对照.CO₂浓度升高抑制了阳生植物地下生物量的分配,但促进偏阴生植物地下生物量的分配.CO₂浓度升高、氮沉降以及碳-氮交互作用对南亚热带植物群落生物量积累均具有促进作用;CO₂浓度升高促进群落地下生物量积累,氮沉降显著提高其地上部分生物量分配.在全球变化背景下,南亚热带林业固碳树种适宜选用海南红豆和红锥.     

How reproductive allocation and flowering probability of individuals in plant populations are affected by position in stand size hierarchy,plant size and CO2 regime

Aims We investigate the effect of position within a size-structured population on the reproductive allocation (RA) and flowering probability of individual plants of Sinapis arvensis. We also assess the effects of plant size and changing level of CO₂ on both responses.Methods Sinapis arvensis L., (field mustard), an annual agricultural weed, was grown in monoculture at six densities under ambient and elevated CO₂ in a study with 84 stands. Individual aboveground biomass and reproductive biomass were measured. Varying density produced a wide range of mean plant sizes across stands and size hierarchies within stands. Many (~40%) individuals had zero reproductive biomass. Employing a novel modelling approach, we analysed the joint effects of position in stand size hierarchy, plant size and CO₂ on RA and flowering probability of individuals.Important findings We found a strong effect of position within the size hierarchy of individuals in a population: for an individual of a given size, greater size relative to neighbours substantially increased RA and flowering probability at a single harvest time. There was no other effect of plant size on RA. We found a positive effect of elevated CO₂ on RA regardless of position within the size hierarchy. These observed patterns could impact doubly on the reproductive biomass (R) of small individuals. First, because RA is not affected by size, smaller plants will have smaller R than larger plants; and second, for smaller plants lower down in a population size hierarchy, their RA and hence R will be further reduced. These results suggest that size relative to neighbours may be independent of and more important than direct abiotic effects in determining RA. Further studies are required to evaluate how these observed patterns generalize to other populations in non-experimental conditions.