Altitudinal variation of ecosystem CO2 fluxes in an alpine grassland from 3600 to 4200 m

Aims Recent studies have recognized the alpine grasslands on the Qinghai–Tibetan plateau as a significant sink for atmospheric CO₂. The carbon-sink strength may differ among grassland ecosystems at various altitudes because of contrasting biotic and physical environments. This study aims (i) to clarify the altitudinal pattern of ecosystem CO₂ fluxes, including gross primary production (GPP), daytime ecosystem respiration (Re_daytime) and net ecosystem production (NEP), during the period with peak above-ground biomass; and (ii) to elucidate the effects of biotic and abiotic factors on the altitudinal variation of ecosystem CO₂ fluxes.     

Characterization of CO2 flux in three Kobresia meadows differing in dominant species

Aims Kobresia meadows, the dominant species of which differ in different habitats, cover a large area of alpine grassland on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and act as potential CO₂ sinks. Kobresia meadows with different dominant species may differ in carbon sink strength. We aimed to test the hypothesis and to clarify the differences in CO₂ sink strength among three major Kobresia meadows on the plateau and the mechanisms underlying these differences.Methods We measured the net ecosystem exchange flux (NEE), ecosystem respiration flux (ER), aboveground biomass (AGB) and environmental variables in three Kobresia meadows, dominated by K. pygmaea, K. humilis, or K. tibetica, respectively, in Haibei, Qinghai. NEE and ER were measured by a closed-chamber method. Environmental variables, including photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), air and soil temperature and air and soil moisture, were monitored during the above flux measurements.Important findings The measured peak AGB increased with soil water content and was 365, 402 and 434 g dry weight m^{-2<-sup> for K. pygmaea, K. humilis and K. tibetica meadow, respectively. From the maximum ecosystem photosynthetic rate in relation to PPFD measured during the growing season, we estimated gross ecosystem photosynthetic potential (GEP max) as 22.2, 29.9 and 37.8 μmol CO₂ m-2<-sup> s-1 for K. pygmaea, K. humilis and K. tibetica meadow, respectively. We estimated the respective gross primary production (GPP) values as 799, 1-063 and 1?158 g C m-2<-sup> year-1 and ER as 722, 914 and 1-011 g C m-2<-sup> year-1. Average net ecosystem production (NEP) was estimated to be 76.9, 149.4 and 147.6 g C m-2<-sup> year-1 in K. pygmaea, K. humilis and K. tibetica meadows, respectively. The results indicate that (i) the three meadows were CO₂ sinks during the study period and (ii) Kobresia meadows dominated by different species can differ considerably in carbon sink strength even under the same climatic conditions, which suggests the importance of characterizing spatial heterogeneity of carbon dynamics in the future.}     

青海高寒区域金露梅灌丛草甸灌木和草本植物固碳量的比较

以青海海北高寒区域金露梅（PotentillafruticosaLinn.）灌丛草甸为研究对象,分析了6月至9月金露梅灌丛草甸灌木和草本植物不同部位的生物碳量,并据此对灌木及草本植物的年净初级生产碳量进行了比较。结果显示：金露梅灌丛草甸灌木植物地上部和地下部不同层次的生物量和碳含量均有明显差异,根据生物量所占比例确定其地上部和地下部的平均碳含量分别为0.50和0.48。依据不同月份灌丛冠面最大长度、最小宽度和最大高度,采用方程“Wij=e〔aln（A·B·H）＋b〕”计算灌木地上当年新生生物碳量、地上多年累积生物碳量和地下多年累积生物碳量,相关性均极显著（P〈0.01）,表明利用该方程评估金露梅灌丛草甸灌木不同部位的生物碳量是可行的。不同月份金露梅灌丛草甸灌木地上当年新生生物碳量、地上多年累积生物碳量和地下多年累积生物碳量分别为9.36-21.15、78.07-90.12和74.37-101.22g·m-2,差异不明显;其地上部和地下部净初级生产碳量分别为33.20和26.85g·m-2,总计为60.05g·m-2。金露梅灌丛草甸草本植物地上部和地下部净初级生产碳量分别为111.41和445.41g·m-2,总计为556.82g·m-2。如果根据草本和灌木占地面积78%和22%进行加权计算,则金露梅灌丛草甸当年的总净初级生产碳量为447.53g·m-2,其中灌木的净初级生产碳量仅占2.95%,且金露梅灌丛草甸地下部与地上部净初级生产碳量的比值为3.75。研究结果显示：青海高寒区域金露梅灌丛草甸以草本固碳为主,且地下部净初级生产碳量明显高于其地上部。     

青藏高原高寒草甸初级生产力及其主要影响因素

青藏高原有各类天然草地14×108hm2,其中高寒草甸和高寒灌丛约占青藏高原天然草地面积的50%,占全国草地总面积的16.2%。嵩草草甸是高寒草甸的主体,包括矮嵩草草甸、金露梅灌丛草甸、藏嵩草草甸、小嵩草草甸和高山嵩草草甸等,这5类高寒草甸平均地上生物量分别为354.2、422.4、445.1、227.3和368.5g/m2,地下生物量分别为3389.6、3548.3、11922.7、4439.3、5604.8g/m2,地下与地上生物量的比例分别为10.55、10.15、27.82、14.82和15.21,远大于IPCC(2006)报告中地下/地上生物量比例的默认值(2.8±95%)。地下生物量对气候变化和放牧的反应比地上生物量更敏感,干旱和重度放牧均降低了地下/地上生物量的比例。在极度退化状态下地下/地上生物量的比例2。对于轻度和中度退化的高寒草甸应以围封禁牧为主要恢复措施,但如果结合补播和施肥,则恢复速率会加快;对于重度和极度退化的高寒草甸,由于草地植物群落中优良牧草的比例极低,仅靠自然恢复很难进行恢复或需要的年限很长,所以必须采用人工重建的措施,并结合毒杂草防除和施肥等措施进行恢复,通过建立人工或半人工草地的措施予以重建。     

Carbon density and its spatial distribution in the Potentilla fruticosa dominated alpine shrub in Qinghai,China

Aims Shrub recovery is recognized as an important cause of the increase of carbon stocks in China, and yet there are great uncertainties in the carbon sink capacities of shrubs. Our objectives were to estimate carbon density and its spatial distribution in alpine shrubs.
Methods Eight sites in Potentilla fruticosa dominated shrublands across Qinghai, China were investigated. Plant biomass and carbon content in leaves, branches and stems, and roots were measured to analyze the biomass allocation and carbon density.
Important findings Mean carbon densities in biological carbon, litter, soil and whole ecosystem of P. fruticosa shrublands were 5088.54, 542.1, 35903.76 and 41534.4 kg·hm^-2, respectively. Carbon density in the shrub layer was more than 68% of the biological carbon density of the whole ecosystem and was mainly distributed in roots (49.5%-56.1%). Carbon density of the herbaceous layer was 22.5% of the biological carbon density of the whole ecosystem and was also mainly distributed in roots (59.6%-75.1%). The biological carbon density of P. fruticosa shrublands (5.08 t·hm^-2) was lower than the average carbon density of shrub communities in China (10. 88 t·hm^-2). Soil carbon density contributed the largest proportion (85.8%) of total carbon density in P. fruticosa shrublands.     

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.     

Temperature and biomass influences on interannual changes in CO2 exchange in an alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Three years of eddy covariance measurements were used to characterize the seasonal and interannual variability of the CO₂ fluxes above an alpine meadow (3250 m a.s.l.) on the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau, China. This alpine meadow was a weak sink for atmospheric CO₂, with a net ecosystem production (NEP) of 78.5, 91.7, and 192.5 g C m^?2 yr^?1 in 2002, 2003, and 2004, respectively. The prominent, high NEP in 2004 resulted from the combination of high gross primary production (GPP) and low ecosystem respiration (R_e) during the growing season. The period of net absorption of CO₂ in 2004, 179 days, was 10 days longer than that in 2002 and 5 days longer than that in 2003. Moreover, the date on which the mean air temperature first exceeded 5.0°C was 10 days earlier in 2004 (DOY110) than in 2002 or 2003. This date agrees well with that on which the green aboveground biomass (Green AGB) started to increase. The relationship between light‐use efficiency and Green AGB was similar among the three years. In 2002, however, earlier senescence possibly caused low autumn GPP, and thus the annual NEP, to be lower. The low summertime R_e in 2004 was apparently caused by lower soil temperatures and the relatively lower temperature dependence of R_e in comparison with the other years. These results suggest that (1) the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau plays a potentially significant role in global carbon sequestration, because alpine meadow covers about one‐third of this vast plateau, and (2) the annual NEP in the alpine meadow was comprehensively controlled by the temperature environment, including its effect on biomass growth.     

Temperature and moisture sensitivities of CO2 efflux from lowland and alpine meadow soils

Aims This study was conducted to (i) determine if soil CO₂ efflux is more sensitive to temperature changes in alpine areas than in lowland grasslands, (ii) examine the effects of temperature and moisture on soil respiration, and (iii) evaluate the potential for change in soil carbon storage in response to global warming in different grasslands in East Asia.Methods We collected soil samples from two different temperate grasslands, an alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau, China, and a lowland grassland in Tsukuba, Japan. The CO₂ emission rate was then measured for these soil samples after they were incubated at 25°C and 60% of the water holding capacity for 7 days.Important findings (i)?The soil respiration rate was more sensitive to temperature change in the alpine soil than in the lowland soil. The average Q 10 was 7.6 for the alpine meadow soil but only 5.9 for the lowland soil. The increased sensitivity appears to be due, at least in part, to the soil organic carbon content and/or soil carbon to nitrogen ratio, especially in the surface layer. (ii) The relationship between the CO₂ emission rate and the soil moisture content revealed that the alpine meadow had a more clear response than the lowland soil. (iii) This study suggests that changes in soil moisture and soil temperature may have larger impacts on soil CO₂ efflux in the alpine meadow than in the lowland grassland evaluated here.     

Carbon and nitrogen dynamics in a Pinus densiflora forest with low and high stand densities

Aims Understanding carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics and their dependence on the stand density of an even-aged, mature forest provides knowledge that is important for forest management. This study investigated the differences in ecosystem total C and N storage and flux between a low-density stand (LD) and a high-density stand (HD) and examined the effects of stand density on aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP), total belowground C allocation (TBCA) and net ecosystem production (NEP) in a naturally regenerated, 65- to 75-year-old Pinus densiflora S. et Z. forest.Methods LD (450 trees ha^-1) and HD (842 trees ha^-1) were established in an even-aged, mature P. densiflora forest in September 2006. The forest had been naturally regenerated following harvesting, and the stand density was naturally maintained without any artificial management such as thinning. The diameter at breast height (DBH ≥ 5.0cm) of all live stems within the stands was measured yearly from 2007 to 2011. To compare C and N storage and fluxes in LD and HD, C and N pools in aboveground and belowground biomass, the forest floor, coarse woody debris (CWD) and soil; soil CO₂ efflux (R S); autotrophic respiration (R A); litter production; and soil N availability were measured. Further, ANPP, TBCA and NEP were estimated from plot-based measurement data.Important findings Ecosystem C (Mg C ha^-1) and N (Mg N ha^-1) storage was, respectively, 173.0±7.3 (mean ± SE) and 4.69±0.30 for LD and 162±11.8 and 4.08±0.18 for HD. There were no significant differences in C and N storage in the ecosystem components, except for soils, between the two stands. In contrast, there were significant differences in aboveground ANPP and TBCA between the two stands (P < 0.05). Litterfall, biomass increment and R S were major C flux components with values of, respectively, 3.89, 3.74 and 9.07 Mg C ha^-1 year^-1 in LD and 3.15, 2.94 and 7.06 Mg C ha^-1 year^-1 in HD. Biometric-based NEP (Mg C ha^-1 year^-1) was 4.18 in LD and 5.50 in HD. Although the even-aged, mature P. densiflora forest had similar C and N allocation patterns, it showed different C and N dynamics depending on stand density. The results of the current study will be useful for elucidating the effects of stand density on C and N storage and fluxes, which are important issues in managing natural mature forest ecosystems.     

植物生长季退化草毡寒冻雏形土CO2释放特征

对中国科学院海北高寒草甸生态系统定位站地区退化草毡寒冻雏形土CO₂释放的全天候连续观测结果表明,退化草毡寒冻雏形土CO₂的释放有明显的日变化和季节动态,日最大释放速率出现于12:00～14:00,最小释放速率出现于6:00～8:00;植物生长季的最大振幅为462.49mg·m^-2·h^-1(8月18日),最小振幅为114.97mg·m^-2·h^-1(5月9日),CO₂释放速率白天大于夜晚.不同物候期CO₂释放速率亦不同,草盛期>枯黄期>返青期.最大日均值为480.76mg·m^-2·h^-1(8月18日),最小日均值为140.77mg·m^-2·h^-1(5月9日).释放速率与气温、地表温度及土壤5cm地温均呈显著或极显著相关关系,表明温度是决定CO₂释放速率季节变化的首要因素.     

The interactive effects of nitrogen addition and increased precipitation on gross ecosystem productivity in an alpine meadow

氮水添加对高寒草甸生态系统生产力的影响 降水变化和大气氮沉降增加对草原生态系统碳交换具有重要的影响,进而影响草地生产力、群落组成和生态系统功能。然而,氮水添加对高寒草甸生态系统碳交换的影响目前尚不清楚。因此,本研究在青藏高原高寒草甸布设氮水添加试验,设置4种不同处理：对照、 加氮、加水和同时添加氮水,对生态系统碳交换过程进行了连续4年的原位观测。研究结果发现,氮添加可以增加总生态系统生产力(GEP)、植物地上生物量、群落盖度和群落加权平均高度(CWMh),而水分添加没有显著影响。生态系统碳交换对氮水添加的响应在干湿年存在显著差异。水分添加仅在干旱年对净生态系统碳交换(NEE)具有显著影响,原因是GEP的增加量大于生态系统呼吸(ER)。相反,氮添加仅在湿润年显著提高了生态系统碳交换,其中GEP的增加归因于NEE的增加量大于ER。结构方程结果表明,氮添加主要通过增加优势种的盖度从而提高NEE。本研究强调了降水和优势物种在调节高寒草甸生态系统响应环境变化中的重要作用。     

高寒草甸不同植被土壤微生物数量及微生物生物量的特征

用稀释平板法和氯仿熏蒸法研究了藏嵩草草甸、小嵩草草甸、矮嵩草草甸、禾草草甸、杂类草草甸及金露梅灌丛土壤的微生物数量、生物量及有机质的变化特征.结果表明:0～40 cm土层细菌和放线菌数量、微生物生物量碳和土壤有机质含量均以藏嵩草草甸最高,其微生物生物量及土壤有机质显著高于其它5种植被;真菌数量以金露梅灌丛最高;由表层到深层,随着土壤深度的增加以上各项指标均呈下降趋势.通径分析表明:土壤各生物环境因子之间存在着不同程度的相关性;土壤微生物数量、生物量及土壤有机质含量均与土壤水分含量存在显著的相关关系,说明土壤水分是调节高寒草甸生态系统土壤微生物代谢及物质转化的关键因子.     

沙化和退化状态对甘南草地生态系统固碳的影响

陆地生态系统作为全球第二大碳库,其碳收支应对气候变化一直是研究的热点领域.多数研究主要探讨温/湿度、CO2浓度等对陆地生态系统碳循环的影响,而针对草地的沙化、退化对植被整个固碳过程所产生影响的研究相对不足.本研究以30 m×30 m空间分辨率的遥感数据做支撑,参考国家标准GB/T 24255-2009解译草地沙化和退化...     

Biotic effects dominate the inter-annual variability in ecosystem carbon exchange in a Tibetan alpine meadow

青藏高寒草甸生态系统碳交换年际变异主要受生物效应影响 位于西藏的高寒草甸生态系统具有敏感脆弱的特点,在全球气候变化背景下,其碳汇功能的变化受到了广泛的关注。因此,本研究旨在明确高寒草甸碳通量的年际变异特征,并进一步量化各驱动因素对碳通量变异的贡献。本研究基于7年(2012–2018)的碳通量与气象因子和生物因子数据,采用一组查表法(look-up tables,LUTs)对高寒草甸碳通量的年际变异来源进行了拆分和量化,并进一步利用线性扰动分析法量化了各个关键因子对碳通量变异的贡献。2012–2018年,高寒草甸生态系统净生产力(net ecosystem productivity, NEP)、总初级生产力(gross primary productivity, GPP)和生态系统呼吸(ecosystem respiration, Re)多年平均值分别为3.31 ± 26.90、210.18 ± 48.35和206.88 ± 28.45 g C m⁻² y⁻¹,表现出了较大的年际变异。本研究通过区分和量化气象因子和生物因子对碳通量年际变异的贡献,发现了生物因子对年际变异的主控作用。此外,发现了气象因子和生物因子之间的负反馈作用。在气象因子中,只有土壤水分对年际变异的贡献相对较大,并在气象因子和生物因子的相互作用中发挥着调节作用。这些结果表明,在气候变化背景下,若要准确估算碳通量,需考虑生物因子的作用。     

松嫩平原西部草甸草原5种典型植物群落土壤呼吸的时空动态

土壤呼吸是陆地生态系统碳循环的重要组分, 由于受到生物因子与非生物因子的共同作用, 土壤碳排放量在时间和空间尺度上都具有一定的变异性。为弄清松嫩平原西部草甸草原植物群落土壤呼吸作用的时空动态变化及其影响因子, 以典型植被碱蓬(Suaeda glauca)、虎尾草(Chloris virgata)、碱茅(Puccinellia distans)、芦苇(Phragmites australis)、羊草(Leymus chinensis)群落为研究对象, 采用LI-6400土壤呼吸测定系统对该生态系统2011-2012年植物生长季内土壤呼吸作用进行了监测。结果表明: 土壤温度可以解释土壤呼吸作用变异的53%-82%, 是影响该生态系统土壤碳排放时间变异的主要因素。土壤水分并未对土壤呼吸作用时间变异产生明显的影响。不同植物群落的土壤呼吸的温度敏感性(Q₁₀)有所差异, Q₁₀为2.0-6.7。生长季内, 5种植物群落的土壤累积碳排放量的平均值为316.6 g C·m^-2。生长季内土壤碳累积排放量与植被地上生物量、土壤有机碳含量、平均土壤温度显著正相关, 与平均土壤含水量、pH值、土壤电导率及交换性钠百分比呈负相关关系。土壤的微气候、植被的地上生物量及土壤性质的差异是土壤碳排放空间变异的主要影响因素。     

Biomass estimation models and allocation patterns of 14 shrub species in Mountain Luya,Shanxi, China

Aims Shrub species have evolved specific strategies to regulate biomass allocation among various organs or between above- and belowground biomass and shrub biomass model is an important approach to estimate biomass allocation among different shrub species. This study was designed to establish the optimal estimation models for each organ (leaf, stem, and root), aboveground and total biomass of 14 common shrub species in Mountain Luya, Shanxi Province, China. Furthermore, we explored biomass allocation characteristics of these shrub species by using the index of leaf biomass fraction (leaf to total biomass), stem biomass fraction (stem to total biomass), root biomass fraction (root to total biomass), and root to shoot mass ratio (R/S) (belowground to aboveground biomass).
Methods We used plant height, basal diameter, canopy diameter and their combination as variables to establish the optimal biomass estimation models for each shrub species. In addition, we used the ratios of leaf, stem, root to total biomass, and belowground to aboveground biomass to explore the difference of biomass allocation patterns of 14 shrub species.
Important findings Most of biomass estimation models could be well expressed by the exponential and linear functions. Biomass for shorter shrub species with more stems could be better estimated by canopy area; biomass for taller shrub species with less stems could be better estimated by the sum of the square of total base diameter multiply stem height; and biomass for the rest shrub species could be better estimated by canopy volume. The averaged value for these shrub species was 0.61, 0.17, 0.48, and 0.35 for R/S, leaf biomass fraction, stem biomass fraction, and root biomass fraction, respectively. Except for leaf biomass fraction, R/S, stem biomass fraction, and root biomass fraction for shrubs with thorn was significantly greater than that for shrubs without thorn.     

植物残体对青藏高原高寒草甸土壤、微生物和胞外酶C∶N∶P化学计量特征的影响

植物残体是引起土壤、微生物和胞外酶C∶N∶P改变的关键因素,但是其作用机理尚不明确。本研究以青藏高原东缘高寒草甸为对象,通过测定土壤、微生物生物量和胞外酶活性等指标,探究移除地上植物或根系及植物残体添加对土壤、微生物和胞外酶C∶N∶P的影响。结果表明: 与无人为扰动草甸相比,移除地上植物显著降低了土壤C∶N(变幅为-23.7%,下同)、C∶P(-14.7%)、微生物生物生物量C∶P、N∶P,显著提高了微生物生物量C∶N、胞外酶C∶N∶P。与移除地上植物相比,移除地上植物和根系显著降低了土壤C∶N(-11.6%)、C∶P(-24.0%)、N∶P(-23.3%)和微生物生物量C∶N,显著提高了微生物生物量N∶P和胞外酶N∶P;移除地上植物后添加植物残体显著提高了微生物生物量C∶N、C∶P和胞外酶C∶N,显著降低了胞外酶N∶P。与移除地上植物和根系相比,移除地上植物和根系后添加植物残体显著降低了土壤C∶N(-16.4%)、微生物生物量C∶P、N∶P和胞外酶N∶P,显著提高了胞外酶C∶N。综上可知,去除植物显著影响土壤、微生物和胞外酶的C∶N∶P,微生物生物量和胞外酶C∶N∶P对植物残体的响应更为敏感。有无根系是添加植物残体时土壤、微生物和胞外酶的生态化学计量稳定性强弱的关键所在。添加植物残体的措施适用于植物根系尚且完好的草甸,有利于高寒草甸土壤碳固存,对没有根系的草甸土壤可能不适用,会增加土壤CO₂排放。     

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.     

Estimation of biomass allocation and carbon density in alpine dwarf shrubs in Garzê Zangzu Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province,China

Aims Shrub recovery is identified as a major cause of an increase in carbon stocks in terrestrial ecosystems in China, and yet there is a great uncertainty in the contribution of shrubs to the carbon sink. Our objectives were to determine the biomass allocation pattern and carbon density in alpine shrubs.
Methods We conducted investigations in 14 shrub communities in eastern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, at 3 500 m above sea level. Plant samples were collected from each plot and measured for biomass in leaves, branches and stems, and roots in laboratory; the data were used to analyze the biomass allocation and carbon density.
Important findings The mean biomass was (5.38 ± 3.30) Mg?hm^–2 in the shrub layer. There were significant differences in biomass between different shrub types, with the mean of (7.28 ± 4.96) Mg?hm^–2 for the broadleaved deciduous shrubs and (4.32 ± 1.36) Mg?hm^–2 for the leathery-leaved shrubs. The indicators of individual feature and community structure were significantly correlated with biomass per unit land area. However, these relationships were developed based on multiple community structure factors; any single factor alone was insufficient to explain the patterns of biomass variations. The patterns of biomass allocation differed significantly between different shrub types. In this study, there was more allocation of photosynthetic products to roots. The mean total community biomass was (6.41 ± 3.86) Mg?hm^–2 and the shrub layer accounted for (83.18 ± 8.14)% of the total community biomass. There were significant correlations (p < 0.05) between shrub layer biomass and herb layer biomass, between shrub layer biomass and litter layer biomass, and between shrub layer biomass and the total community biomass. The biomass of various organs were also significantly correlated (p < 0.01) with the totalcommunity biomass. The mean biomass carbon density of the shrubs was estimated at (3.20 ± 1.93) Mg?hm^–2 across the 14 communities by using biomass conversion factor method.     

Diurnal and seasonal variations in light-use efficiency in an alpine meadow ecosystem: causes and implications for remote sensing

Aims Light-use efficiency (LUE) is an important tool for scaling up local CO₂ flux (F CO2) tower observations to regional and global carbon dynamics. Using a data set including F CO2 and environmental factors obtained from an alpine meadow on the Tibetan Plateau, we examined both diurnal and seasonal changes in LUE and the environmental factors controlling these changes. Our objectives were to (i) characterize the diurnal and daily variability of LUE in an alpine meadow, (ii) clarify the causes of this variability, and (iii) explore the possibility of applying the LUE approach to this alpine meadow by examining the relationship between daily LUE and hourly LUE at satellite visiting times.Methods First, we obtained the LUE—the ratio of the gross primary production (GPP) to the absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (APAR)—from the flux tower and meteorological observations. We then characterized the patterns of diurnal and seasonal changes in LUE, explored the environmental controls on LUE using univariate regression analyses and evaluated the effects of diffuse radiation on LUE by assigning weights through a linear programming method to beam photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and diffuse PAR, which were separated from meteorological observations using an existing method. Finally, we examined the relationships between noontime hourly LUE and daily LUE and those between adjusted noontime hourly and daily LUE because satellites visit the site only once or twice a day, near noon.Important findings The results showed that (i) the LUE of the alpine meadow generally followed the diurnal and seasonal patterns of solar radiation but fluctuated with changes in cloud cover. (ii) The fraction of diffuse light played a dominant role in LUE variation. Daily minimum temperature and vapor pressure deficit also affected LUE variation. (iii) The adjusted APAR, defined as the weighted linear sum of diffuse APAR and beam APAR, was linearly correlated with GPP on different temporal scales. (iv) Midday adjusted LUE was closely related to daily adjusted LUE, regardless of the cloud cover. The results indicated the importance of considering radiation direction when developing LUE-based GPP-estimating models.