Regional Variability and Drivers of Below Ice CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> in Boreal and Subarctic Lakes

Northern lakes are ice-covered for considerable portions of the year, where carbon dioxide (CO₂) can accumulate below ice, subsequently leading to high CO₂ emissions at ice-melt. Current knowledge on the regional control and variability of below ice partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO₂) is lacking, creating a gap in our understanding of how ice cover dynamics affect the CO₂ accumulation below ice and therefore CO₂ emissions from inland waters during the ice-melt period. To narrow this gap, we identified the drivers of below ice pCO₂ variation across 506 Swedish and Finnish lakes using water chemistry, lake morphometry, catchment characteristics, lake position, and climate variables. We found that lake depth and trophic status were the most important variables explaining variations in below ice pCO₂ across the 506 lakes_. Together, lake morphometry and water chemistry explained 53% of the site-to-site variation in below ice pCO₂. Regional climate (including ice cover duration) and latitude only explained 7% of the variation in below ice pCO₂. Thus, our results suggest that on a regional scale a shortening of the ice cover period on lakes may not directly affect the accumulation of CO₂ below ice but rather indirectly through increased mobility of nutrients and carbon loading to lakes. Thus, given that climate-induced changes are most evident in northern ecosystems, adequately predicting the consequences of a changing climate on future CO₂ emission estimates from northern lakes involves monitoring changes not only to ice cover but also to changes in the trophic status of lakes.     

Disproportionate Contribution of Vegetated Habitats to the CH4 and CO2 Budgets of a Boreal Lake

Ecosystems - Many lakes have areas that are colonized by different types of macrophytes, including emergent plants that are rooted in sediments. Emergent macrophytes are known to influence local...     

Links between Terrestrial Primary Production and Bacterial Production and Respiration in Lakes in a Climate Gradient in Subarctic Sweden

We compared terrestrial net primary production (NPP) and terrestrial export of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) with lake water heterotrophic bacterial activity in 12 headwater lake catchments along an altitude gradient in subarctic Sweden. Modelled NPP declined strongly with altitude and annual air temperature decreases along the altitude gradient (6°C between the warmest and the coldest catchment). Estimated terrestrial DOC export to the lakes was closely correlated to NPP. Heterotrophic bacterial production (BP) and respiration (BR) were mainly based on terrestrial organic carbon and strongly correlated with the terrestrial DOC export. Excess respiration over PP of the pelagic system was similar to net emission of CO₂ in the lakes. BR and CO₂ emission made up considerably higher shares of the terrestrial DOC input in warm lakes than in cold lakes, implying that respiration and the degree of net heterotrophy in the lakes were dependant not only on terrestrial export of DOC, but also on characteristics in the lakes which changed along the gradient and affected the bacterial metabolization of allochthonous DOC. The study showed close links between terrestrial primary production, terrestrial DOC export and bacterial activity in lakes and how these relationships were dependant on air temperature. Increases in air temperature in high latitude unproductive systems might have considerable consequences for lake water productivity and release of CO₂ to the atmosphere, which are ultimately determined by terrestrial primary production.     

Varying Vegetation Composition,Respiration and Photosynthesis Decrease Temporal Variability of the CO2 Sink in a Boreal Bog

Ecosystems - We quantified the role of spatially varying vegetation composition in seasonal and interannual changes in a boreal bog’s CO2 uptake. We divided the spatially heterogeneous site...     

东北松嫩平原羊草群落的土壤呼吸与枯枝落叶分解释放CO2贡献量

根据静态气室法的测量结果 ,分析了羊草群落土壤呼吸量和枯枝落叶分解释放 CO2 量的季节动态 ,及其与地上生物量 ,枯枝落叶分解量及环境因子的关系。结果表明 :( 1 )在整个观测期内 ,羊草群落土壤呼吸的季节动态呈现单峰曲线 ,8月中旬达到最大值 1 3.2 7g C/( m2 · d)。 ( 2 )羊草群落土壤呼吸的季节变化规律与地上绿色体生物量的季节动态同步。( 3)羊草群落土壤呼吸的季节动态与枯枝落叶分解量的季节动态同步。 ( 4 )羊草群落土壤呼吸量与土壤 0～ 1 0 cm土壤含水量显著正相关。( 5 )地表枯枝落叶层直接排放 CO2 量的季节动态呈现逐渐递减的趋势 ,释放量平均为 -0 .87g C/( m2·d)。有减缓土壤向大气排放 CO2 的作用。 ( 6 )枯枝落叶分解释放 CO2 量同地表枯枝落叶量显著正相关。     

Responses of Plant Dark Respiration to Doubled CO2 Concentration

Ten species of plants were grown at ambient (350μmol CO2·mol-1 air) and doubled (700 μmol CO2·mol-1 air) CO2 concentrations at ambient temperature and illumination in order to examine changes of dark respiration of whole seedlings or detached leaves. Effects of CO2 on dark respiration were determined by brief exposure ( ≤ 5 min) to corresponding CO2 concentration and temperatures ( 15,20,25,30 and 35 ℃ ) with infrared CO2 analyzer. The reductions in dark respiration on a weight base for leaves of East-Liaoning oak (Quercus liaotungensis Koidz. ) at 15,20 and 25 ℃ and of soybean ( Glycine max L. ) at 20,25,30 and 35 ℃ and for whole seedlings of three- tcoloured amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor L. ) at 15 and 20 ℃ and cucumber ( Cucumis sativus L. ) at 15 cE measured at elevated concentration relative to the ambient CO2 concentration were observed. No significant difference in respiration responded was observed to elevated or ambient CO2 concentrations at 15 ℃ in maize (Zea mays L. ) seedlings and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. ) leaves, at 35 ℃ in East-Liaoning oak leaves and at 20,25 and 30 ℃ in three-coloured amaranth seedlings. However CO2 efflux in leaves of weeping willow (Salix babylonica L. ), simon poplar (Populus simonii Carr. ) and eucommia (Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. ) at 15,20,25,30 and 35 ℃, alfalfa at 20,25,30 and 35 ℃, East-Liaoning oak at 30 ℃, maize at 15 ℃, seedlings of common buckwheat (Fagotrytum esculentum Moench) at 15,20,25,30 and 35 ℃, cucumber and maize at 20,25,30 and 35 ℃ and three-coloured amaranth at 35 ℃ showed an increase at elevated in contrast to ambient CO2 concentration. In general, at lower temperatures (i. e. 15, 20 ℃ ) there was no significant difference between elevated and ambient CO2 concentration for dark respiration, while at higher temperatures (i. e. 30,35 ℃ ) elevated CO2 concentration positively stimulate clark respiretion. It has not yet been described that double CO2 concentration could enhance plant dark respiration at 30 and 35 ℃. Impacts of the characteristics in dark respiration on the future changes of vegetation and its mechanism were discussed.     

Effect of Oxygen on the Contribution of Respiration to the CO(2) Compensation Point in Wheat and Bean Leaves

The CO₂ compensation point at 21% O₂ (Γ₂₁) and at 2% O₂ (Γ₂), and the rate of dark CO₂ efflux at 21% O₂ (R_n) were measured in adult wheat (Triticum aestivum L, cv Gabo) leaves at the end of the night and after a period of photosynthesis of 5 h at 800 μbar CO₂. The values of Γ₂₁ and R_n significantly increased after the light period, due to the stimulation of respiration by carbohydrates. In contrast, Γ₂ did not increase after the same period of photosynthesis, suggesting that the respiratory component of Γ₂ was not stimulated by carbohydrates. In a different experiment, Γ₂₁, Γ₂, and R_n were studied during the growth period of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L, cv Hawkesbury Wonder) leaves. The values of Γ₂₁ and R_n were high in young leaves, and decreased rapidly in parallel during maturation. However, Γ₂ presented relatively low values in growing bean leaves, and a model predicted that the observed values of Γ₂ should have been considerably higher if their respiratory component was considered to be as large as that of Γ₂₁. The results suggest that the rate of respiration in the light contributing to the CO₂ compensation point in wheat and bean leaves is smaller at low O₂ levels than at ambient levels.     

Composition and Structure of Zooplankton Communities in Eighteen Arctic and Subarctic Lakes

The factors influencing the composition and structure of zooplankton communities in 18 lakes in the Canadian arctic and subarctic were determined during 1975 and 1976. Phytoplankton were consumed in very low numbers by all species (Diaptomus sicilis, Heterocope septentrionalis, Cyclops scutifer, Daphnia longiremis, Bosmina longirostris, Holopedium gibberum, Keratella cochlearis, Kellicottia longispina) and therefore differences in algal productivity among the lakes had little effect on the zooplankton. Variations in surface area, maximum water depth, pH and the ionic composition of the water were also unimportant in controlling the communities. However, low temperature exerted strong influence over the diversity, abundance, fecundity and vertical distribution of most species.     

Microbial and Root Components of Respiration of Sod-Podzolic Soils in Boreal Forest

The microbial contribution to the respiration of sod-podzolic soils has been estimated during two seasons (2012–2013) in boreal forest (Valdai district in Novgorod oblast, Russia) by a combination of methods of substrate induced respiration (SIR) and integration of components (IC). Despite the higher accuracy of SIR in estimating soil microbial respiration (R_mic), it is found that the combined application of these two methods results in a better correspondence of field experiments to the published data based on laboratory experiments. The contribution of microbial respiration differs between wooded and degraded sites. Hence, these sites should be investigated separately in upscaling studies of microbial respiration in soils of a boreal forest. The underestimation of microbial respiration should also be noted when using the IC method in field experiments. Among the main controls of R_mic are abiotic ones (soil temperature at a depth of 10 cm; month of the vegetation season), as well as the type of the mesohabitat. The seasonal dynamics of microbial respiration was related to the Selyaninov hydrothermal factor. Despite seasonal and cross-habitat differences in R_mic, it was specific for the particular type of soil and ecosystem.     

Controlled Environment Chambers for Investigating Tree Response to Elevated CO2 and Temperature Under Boreal Conditions

A closed CO₂ and temperature-controlled, long-term chamber system has been developed and set up in a typical boreal forest of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) near the Mekrijärvi Research Station (62°47N, 30°58E, 145 m above sea level) belonging to the University of Joensuu, Finland. The main objectives of the experiment were to provide a means of assessing the medium to long-term effects of elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentration (EC) and temperature (ET) on photosynthesis, respiration, growth, and biomass at the whole-tree level and to measure instantaneous whole-system CO₂ exchange. The system consists of 16 chambers with individual facilities for controlling CO₂ concentration, temperature, and the combination of the two. The chambers can provide a wide variety of climatic conditions that are similar to natural regimes. In this experiment the target CO₂ concentration in the EC chambers was set at a fixed constant of 700 µmol mol^–1 and the target air temperature in the ET chambers to track the ambient temperature but with a specified addition. Chamber performance was assessed on the base of recordings covering three consecutive years. The CO₂ and temperature control in these closed chambers was in general accurate and reliable. CO₂ concentration in the EC chambers was within 600–725 µmol mol^–1 for 90 % of the exposure time during the "growing-season" (15 April – 15 September) and 625–725 µmol mol^–1 for 88 % of the time in the "off-season" (16 September – 14 April), while temperatures in the chambers were within ±2.0 °C of the ambient or target temperature in the "growing season" and within ±3.0 °C in the "off season". There were still some significant chamber effects. Solar radiation in the chambers was reduced by 50–60 % for 82 % of the time in the "growing season" and 55–65 % for 78 % of the time in the "off season", and the relative humidity of the air was increased by 5–10 % for 72 % of the time in the "growing season" and 2–12 % for 91 % of the time in the "off season". The crown architecture and main phenophase of the trees were not modified significantly by enclosure in the chambers, but some physiological parameters changed significantly, e.g., the radiant energy-saturated photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate, maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem 2, and chlorophyll content.     

Direct Inhibition of Plant Mitochondrial Respiration by Elevated CO2

Doubling the concentration of atmospheric CO2 often inhibits plant respiration, but the mechanistic basis of this effect is unknown. We investigated the direct effects of increasing the concentration of CO2 by 360 [mu]L L-1 above ambient on O2 uptake in isolated mitochondria from soybean (Glycine max L. cv Ransom) cotyledons. Increasing the CO2 concentration inhibited the oxidation of succinate, external NADH, and succinate and external NADH combined. The inhibition was greater when mitochondria were preincubated for 10 min in the presence of the elevated CO2 concentration prior to the measurement of O2 uptake. Elevated CO2 concentration inhibited the salicylhydroxamic acid-resistant cytochrome pathway, but had no direct effect on the cyanide-resistant alternative pathway. We also investigated the direct effects of elevated CO2 concentration on the activities of cytochrome c oxidase and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and found that the activity of both enzymes was inhibited. The kinetics of inhibition of cytochrome c oxidase were time-dependent. The level of SDH inhibition depended on the concentration of succinate in the reaction mixture. Direct inhibition of respiration by elevated CO2 in plants and intact tissues may be due at least in part to the inhibition of cytochrome c oxidase and SDH.     

A Simple and Highly Reproducible Technique to Extract the 14CO2 Resulting from Respiration of 14C-Labeled Seawater Samples

Plumatella geimermassardi is a newly recognized species of phylactolaemate bryozoan. Its known range extends from Ireland east through southern Norway and south into Italy. Colonies grow close to the substrate with little free branching; the body wall is mostly transparent and without an obvious raphe. Floatoblasts are broadly oval and relatively small, with distinctively large dorsal fenestra and uniformly narrow ventral annulus. The sessoblast basal valve is low and dish-shaped; the annulus bears tubercles which vary in their prominence. This species brings to 14 the number of phylactolaemate bryozoans known in the region.     

Carbon Dioxide in Boreal Surface Waters: A Comparison of Lakes and Streams

The quantity of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from inland waters into the atmosphere varies, depending on spatial and temporal variations in the partial pressure of CO₂ (pCO₂) in waters. Using 22,664 water samples from 851 boreal lakes and 64 boreal streams, taken from different water depths and during different months we found large spatial and temporal variations in pCO₂, ranging from below atmospheric equilibrium to values greater than 20,000???atm with a median value of 1048???atm for lakes (n?=?11,538 samples) and 1176???atm for streams (n?=?11,126). During the spring water mixing period in April/May, distributions of pCO₂ were not significantly different between stream and lake ecosystems (P?>?0.05), suggesting that pCO₂ in spring is determined by processes that are common to lakes and streams. During other seasons of the year, however, pCO₂ differed significantly between lake and stream ecosystems (P?<?0.0001). The variable that best explained the differences in seasonal pCO₂ variations between lakes and streams was the temperature difference between bottom and surface waters. Even small temperature differences resulted in a decline of pCO₂ in lake surface waters. Minimum pCO₂ values in lake surface waters were reached in July. Towards autumn pCO₂ strongly increased again in lake surface waters reaching values close to the ones found in stream surface waters. Although pCO₂ strongly increased in the upper water column towards autumn, pCO₂ in lake bottom waters still exceeded the pCO₂ in surface waters of lakes and streams. We conclude that throughout the year CO₂ is concentrated in bottom waters of boreal lakes, although these lakes are typically shallow with short water retention times. Highly varying amounts of this CO₂ reaches surface waters and evades to the atmosphere. Our findings have important implications for up-scaling CO₂ fluxes from single lake and stream measurements to regional and global annual fluxes.