Forest sources and pathways of organic matter transport to a blackwater stream: a hydrologic approach

Quantitative information regarding landscape sources and pathways of organic matter transport to streams is important for assessing impacts of terrestrial processes on aquatic ecosystems. We quantified organic C, a measure of organic matter, flowing from a blackwater stream draining a 12.6 km² watershed on the upper Atlantic Coastal Plain in South Carolina, and utilized a hydrologic approach to partition this outflow between its various pathways from upland and wetland forest sources. Results of this study indicate that 28.9 tonnes C yr^–1 were exported in stream flow, which was estimated to be 0.5% of the annual C input from forest detritus to the watershed. Upland forest, which covers 94% of the watershed area, contributed only 2.0 tonnes C yr^–1 to stream flow, which amounted to 0.04% of detritus annually produced by the upland forest. Organic matter was transported from uplands to the stream almost entirely through groundwater. Apparently, upland soils are too sandy to support overland flow, and the sloping topography insufficiently extensive or steep enough to drive important quantities of interflow. Riparian wetland forest, which covers only 6% of the watershed area, contributed 26.9 tonnes C yr^–1 to stream flow, amounting to about 10.2% of detritus annually produced by the wetland forest. Dissolved organic C leached from wetland soil accounted for 63% of all organic C entering the stream, and was transported chiefly in baseflow. These results indicate that upland detritus sources are effectively decoupled from the stream despite the sandy soils and quantitatively confirm that even small riparian wetland areas can have a dominant effect on the overall organic matter budget of a blackwater stream. In view of the recognized importance of dissolved organic matter in facilitating transport of other substances (e.g., cation nutrients, metals, and insoluble organic compounds), our results suggest that the potential for movement of these substances through wetland soils to streams in this region is high.     

黄淮海地区干旱变化特征及其对气候变化的响应

为了探究气候变化背景下黄淮海地区的干旱特征,基于黄淮海平原34个气象站点的1961—2012年气象数据,使用相对湿润指数探讨分析了近50年黄淮海地区冬小麦生长季及4个季节干旱的时空变化及其对气候变化的响应。结果表明:(1)在整个分析期内(1961—2011)冬小麦生长季干旱减轻,但是在近20年干旱有了加重的趋势,且干旱加重的趋势是一种突变现象。(2)黄淮海地区1961年以来,春季、冬季以及冬小麦生长季内均表现为不同程度的干旱,干旱频率都达到90%以上,其中春、冬两季最为干旱,3个时段整个黄淮海中北部地区都为高频干旱区域,且4个季节及冬小麦生长季干旱程度与干旱频率的区域分布均表现为由南向北递增的趋势。(3)黄淮海地区的干旱特征对降水、太阳辐射和相对湿度这3个气候要素的变化最为敏感。     

Soil-surface CO<Superscript>2</Superscript> fluxes in a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Deyeuxia angustifolia</Emphasis> wetland in Sanjiang Plain,China

In many temperate-zone ecosystems, seasonal changes in environmental and biological factors influence the dynamics and magnitude of surface–atmosphere exchange. Research was conducted between July and October 2001 to measure growing season surface-layer fluxes of CO₂ in a Deyeuxia angustifolia dominated wetland on the Sanjiang Plain in northeastern China. Seasonal fluctuation and daily change in soil-surface CO₂ fluxes were measured as well as the edaphic factors controlling CO₂ fluxes. Soil-surface CO₂ fluxes were measured with a closed-chamber system. The results revealed that there were both seasonal fluctuations and daily change in CO₂ fluxes. The ranges of measured soil-surface CO₂ flux were 0.208 – 1.265 g CO₂m^–2h^–1. Soil-surface CO₂ fluxes averaged 0.620 g CO₂ m^–2h^–1. An analysis of several edaphic factors including soil temperature and soil moisture of the D. angustifolia wetland showed that there was a significant relationship between flux and temperature (R² = 0.77).     

Growth of Greater White-Fronted Goose Goslings Relates to Population Dynamics at Multiple Scales

The abundance of greater white-fronted geese (Anser albifrons frontalis) on the Arctic Coastal Plain (ACP) of northern Alaska, USA, has more than tripled since the late 1990s; however, recent rate of annual population growth has declined as population size increased, which may indicate white-fronted geese on the ACP are approaching carrying capacity. We examined rates of gosling growth in greater white-fronted geese at 3 sites on the ACP during 2012–2014 to assist with predictions of future population trends and assess evidence for density-dependent constraints on recruitment. We marked goslings at hatch with individually coded webtags and conducted brood drives during early August to capture, measure, and weigh goslings. Annual estimates of gosling mass at 32 days old (range = 1,190–1,685) indicate that goslings had obtained >60% of asymptotic size. This rate of growth corresponds with that of other goose species and populations with access to high-quality forage and no limitations on forage availability, and is consistent with the overall increase in abundance of white-fronted geese at the ACP scale. Contrary to most previous investigations, age-adjusted mass of goslings did not decline with hatch date. Goslings grew faster in coastal areas than at inland freshwater sites. Taken together, these findings suggest forage was not limiting gosling growth rates in either ecosystem, but forage was of greater quality in coastal areas where goose foraging habitat is expanding because of permafrost subsidence. Spatial patterns of gosling growth corresponded with local-scale patterns of population density and population change; the areas with greatest rates of gosling growth were those with the greatest population density and rates of population increase. We found little evidence to suggest forage during brood rearing was limiting population increase of white-fronted geese on the ACP. Factors responsible for the apparent slowing of ACP-wide population growth are likely those that occur in stages of the annual cycle outside of the breeding grounds. Published 2021. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.     

长江下游平原区乡村景观的结构、管理和土壤有机碳研究

通过实地研究主要位于宜兴市域的区域乡村景观代表性样方,评价并阐明了人口密集的长江下游平原区乡村景观的结构,土地管理与土壤有机碳储量的关系。景观绘图是基于1m分辨率的IKONOS影像并采用生态立地分类及绘图标准,通过直接解译和实地检验对边界清晰的均质景观缀块进行分类和绘图;依据区域权重分层取样设计方法,在生态立地斑块中随机设定取样点进行土壤和淤泥取样;利用区域权重系数进行区域土地利用/覆被和土壤有机碳储量评价计算。结果表明:在2.13×106hm2的长江下游平原区乡村景观面积范围内,0~30cm土壤有机碳储量为76.97Tg。该区域土地利用/覆被的主要类型为水田,水产养殖,非渗漏性建筑用地,旱地1年生作物和水浇地多年生作物,这5种类型的面积百分数和土壤有机碳储量百分数分别为83%和85%。其中平原稻田面积为0.89×106hm2,占总面积的42%;其0~30cm土壤有机碳储量高达36.60Tg,占总储量的48%。通过区域分层取样和小尺度景观斑块的区域权重推绎分析,揭示了人口密集的乡村景观中土地利用/覆被方式对当地和区域土壤有机碳的影响模式。这种在小尺度下对土地管理调查,土壤有机碳和其它生态特征研究的方法明显优于传统的基于30~1000m分辨率遥感影像的土地覆被研究和基于土壤类型的区域土壤有机碳储量评价方法。     

Mineral Release Dynamics of Tricalcium Phosphate and Waste Muscovite by Mineral-Solubilizing Rhizobacteria Isolated from Indo-Gangetic Plain of India

The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the mineral release abilities of ten rhizobacterial strains isolated from rhizosphere of various crops growing in the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) of India. Their abilities to solubilize inorganic phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) minerals from insoluble tricalcium phosphate (TCP) and waste muscovite (WM) revealed that rhizobacteria significantly solubilized different levels of inorganic P and fixed K, respectively. Some of the rhizobacterial stains have the ability to produce ammonia, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and hydrogen cyanide (HCN). The identification based on the 16S rDNA gene sequencing of selected mineral-solubilizing rhizobacteria (MSR) having greater potential to serve as bioagents were identified as Bacillus subtilis (BRHU01, BRHU03, and BHU20), Bacillus tequilensis (BRHU02), Bacillus licheniformis (BRHU04), Bacillus pumilus (BRHU05), Bacillus flexus (BHU02), Brevibacillus formosus (BHU16), Bacillus methylotrophicus (BHU29), and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (BHU30). Interestingly, inorganic P and K solubilization by these strains belonging to genera Bacillus and Brevibacillus showed significant variations from 0.52 to 14.49 and from 1.62 to 8.60 µg mL^?1, respectively. However, generally, pH values of culture media decreased from near neutral (6.43) to acidic (3.83) with increasing incubation period, and this was inversely correlated with quantities of K solubilized by these rhizobacterial strains. Meanwhile, the electrical conductivity (EC) of broth culture increased from 0.09 to 0.23 dS m^?1 with increasing incubation period. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the MSR revealed three clusters, which exhibited high variance with respect to nutrient release. Taken together, these results suggest that Bacillus and Brevibacillus sp. identified in this study solubilized varying levels of inorganic P and fixed K from insoluble TCP and WM by acidolysis mechanisms.     

三江平原沟渠网络结构对区域景观格局的影响

农业开发进程中产生的沟渠作为农业景观中廊道内部的动因主体,会对周围自然生态系统产生不同程度的影响;同时沟渠网络的形成,又使得这种影响作用更加深入和复杂.以根据三江平原建三江管局辖区2004年的Landsat-TM卫星影像解译的土地利用现状图以及沟渠分布水利图为基础资料,在地理信息系统(GIS)支持下,选择3个30×30km2的取样区为研究对象,分析了各样区的景观结构特征和沟渠网络结构.在此基础上,用典范相关分析(CCA)定量研究了沟渠网络结构对于区域景观格局的影响.结果表明:沟渠网络的结构对区域景观格局有显著影响,沟渠密度越大,网络结构越复杂,则区域景观中斑块数目越多,平均斑块面积越小;同时农业用地所占比例越大,自然湿地所占比例越小.通过各沟渠网络结构指标与CCA排序轴的相关性分析发现,对区域景观格局影响最大的指标是沟渠密度,其次是线点率和环度,而反映沟渠网络连通性的连通度指标影响相对较小.     

松嫩平原碱化草甸朝鲜碱茅、獐茅耐盐碱特性的比较研究

本研究通过野外调查与室内实验相结合的方法,从生态学、生理学方面探讨了松嫩平原碱化草甸朝鲜碱茅和獐毛耐盐碱的特性,结果表明：两种植物均生长在含盐、潮湿而贫瘠的土壤上,朝鲜碱茅分布地段的土壤多含碱性盐(Na2CO3)。而獐毛所在地的土壤则多含中性盐(NaCl),这些体现出它们对盐碱适应性的差异。不同浓度的NaCl、Na2CO3胁迫对这两种植物的细胞膜透性、游离脯氨酸含量有明显影响。均以logistic曲线y=k/(1+ea-bx)或直线方程：y=a+bx形式较好地表达出来。说明朝鲜碱茅对NaCl的胁迫敏感,獐毛则对Na2CO3的胁迫敏感。两种植物在自然条件下的生态适应与实验条件下的生理适应相近。     

Trade-off between leaf chlorophyll and betacyanins in Suaeda salsa in the Liaohe estuary wetland in northeast China

Aims Pigment composition is an important functional trait that can be affected by environmental factors. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of soil salinity on pigment composition in Suaeda salsa by comparing chlorophyll and betacyanin content in the Liaohe estuary wetland, a typical coastal wetland in northeast China.Methods We investigated the plant biomass, percentage of red leaves and pigment content (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and betacyanins) in S. salsa in intertidal and supratidal zones of the upper, middle and lower reaches of the Liaohe estuary wetlands. The Na + content of both the soil and plant was also measured. Full analysis of variance and multivariate analysis were used to compare differences in pigment content and Na + content between the supratidal and intertidal zones.Important findings Pigment composition was significantly affected by soil salinity. With increasing soil salinity, the percentage of red leaves was higher in the intertidal zone than in the supratidal zone. In all three reaches, plants had lower chlorophyll a content and higher betacyanin content in the intertidal zone than in the supratidal zone. Compared to chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b was less sensitive to soil salinity. There were no differences in chlorophyll b content between the intertidal and supratidal zones in the upper and lower reaches. Furthermore, pigment composition was associated with both the plant tissue and soil Na + content. Compared to the supratidal zone, the intertidal zone had a higher Na + content in plants. There was a negative relationship between plant chlorophyll content and soil Na + content, but a positive relationship between betacyanin content and soil Na + content. Overall, the results indicated that there might be a trade-off between leaf chlorophyll and betacyanin content in S. salsa to maintain its growth and survival in high salinity environments.     

Response of the soil seed‐bank of Cumberland Plain Woodland to heating

Abstract Soil was investigated in a Cumberland Plain Woodland community to determine the presence of a soil seed‐bank and whether species richness and abundance of plants germinating from it were affected by heating such as that experienced in a fire. Soil samples were taken from the Holsworthy Military Area, in the south‐eastern region of the Sydney Basin, New South Wales, Australia, and one of four treatments was applied; soil was heated to 80°C, 40°C, unheated or unheated with litter not removed. Sixty‐eight species, representing 26 families including 11 exotic and 57 native species germinated from the soil. Herbs and grasses dominated and were in similar proportions to those surveyed in the above‐ground vegetation, suggesting that the soil seed‐bank reflected the current structure of the vegetation, although species composition differed. Species responded differently to heating. The seeds of some species germinated when heated at a higher temperature (80°C), particularly those from the family Fabaceae, whereas other species were more common in unheated or lightly heated samples (40°C). This suggests that fire is likely to change the species composition of the above‐ground vegetation and indicates that management must ensure that species that do not germinate when heated are maintained, as well as those species that germinate following heating. A large proportion of soil seed‐bank species showed low germination rates in the trials, and 112 above‐ground species did not germinate in the soil samples. We do not understand whether species of these two sets do not produce a soil‐stored seed‐bank or whether the seed‐bank has been depleted by past practices at Holsworthy. Further research is needed.