Atmospheric element deposit on tree barks: The opposite effects of rain and transpiration

The elemental composition of the deposit formed on the bark of ash-trees was studied over several months on stems ranging from 3 months to 10 years. For this purpose (1) the total elemental composition of the deposit, (2) the structure and composition of the solid particles and (3) the deposit dry weight per dm² were studied. Concurrently the part of this superficial deposit washed out by rain during 3.5 months was sampled at each rain event and its elemental composition analyzed. This study shows that the deposit was submitted to an intense turnover, with an average leaching-out flux reaching approximately 27 mg dm⁻² month⁻¹ and a very low increase of the deposit weight per dm² during the first five years and almost null afterwards. The origin of this superficial deposit was investigated. The main part (78 ± 10%) was organic matter originating from the atmospheric deposition or from the tree. The inorganic content originated partly from the atmosphere, with geogenic and anthropogenic particles, and also from the tree, in which it was demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy - energy dispersive X-ray that a non-negligible part was obtained from bark transpiration, inducing a superficial deposit, mainly of Ca or K in the area surrounding the lenticels. All those results demonstrate that this bark superficial deposit is a complex matrix which must not be considered as a simple cumulative archive but which seems to be the source of interesting information targeting mostly recent atmospheric pollution pressures, when compared to the bulk of suber integrated particles.     

树干径流对梭梭"肥岛"和"盐岛"效应的作用机制

为探明荒漠灌木个体周围土壤养分和盐分的空间分布及其成因,以荒漠灌木梭梭(Haloxylon ammodendron Bge.)为研究对象,对其周围土壤pH值,电导率,有机碳,全氮和有效磷的空间异质性以及树干径流的化学性质进行了研究。结果表明:树干周围出现显著的"肥岛"效应,且土壤有机碳,全氮和有效磷的"肥岛"作用范围发生在距主根大约20—40 cm以内。土壤pH值和电导率在主根周围25 cm以内的值却显著低于外围,而在离主根25 cm处出现了"盐岛",即在梭梭主根中心形成了一种高养分、低盐和低pH值的环境。树干径流和自然降雨化学性质的对比研究表明:除pH值和CO23-外,树干径流中其他化学离子的含量均显著高于自然降雨中的含量,说明这种高养分、低盐分的环境是由树干径流引起的,也就是树干径流带给土壤养分的同时将盐分带走。     

树干径流过程的计算机模拟

本文应用系统分析方法,将树干径流过程这一连续系统离散化,编制程序,以计算机直接模拟过程行为,绕过了解微分方程之烦恼,并取得了满意的结果。此举对扩展系统分析概念,研究连续系统颇有意义。     

Episodic stemflow inputs of magnesium and potassium to a tropical forest floor during heavy rainfall events

Summary Stemflow inputs of magnesium and potassium were measured from 57 canopy trees representing eight species under heavy rainfall conditions in two tropical forest sites in northeast Queensland, Australia. In the premontane tropical moist forest site on the Atherton Tableland, the stemflow input per unit trunk basal area of 51 canopy trees was found to be 0.46 g m^-2 of Mg²⁺ and 4.22 g m^-2 of K⁺ for an average wet season rainday of 99 mm. In the wetter montane tropical rainforest site on Mount Bellenden Ker, the stemflow input per unit trunk basal area of six canopy trees was 5.55 g m^-2 of Mg²⁺ and 9.12 g m^-2 of K⁺ for a wet season rainday of 38 mm. These stemflow inputs from single raindays are greater than the mean annual rainfall input and are almost of the same order of magnitude as the mean annual throughfall input of these cations to areas equal to the trunk basal area from which the stemflow was collected. Stemflow cation fluxes of this magnitude are mainly attributable to the funnelling of large quantities of rainwater down the trunks of these canopy trees by their thoroughly wetted, upwardly inclined branches.     

Dissolved and particulate carbon and nitrogen fluxes along a Phytophthora agathidicida infection gradient in a kauri (Agathis australis) dominated forest

Kauri dieback, caused by Phytophthora agathidicida, is an emergent threat to the ecologically unique and carbon-rich kauri (Agathis australis) forests in New Zealand. Our main aim was to assess the effect of kauri dieback on canopy and forest floor dissolved and particulate carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) fluxes. Throughfall and stemflow collectors and free-draining lysimeters were deployed underneath the canopy of ten kauri trees differing in their soil P. agathidicida DNA concentration and visual health status and sampled weekly to monthly over 1 y. Throughfall and forest floor dissolved C and N fluxes decreased significantly with increasing soil P. agathidicida DNA concentration which may be related to changes in leaf chemistry, leachable kauri leaf surface area and uptake of N by the understory vegetation. The observed alteration in dissolved and particulate C and N fluxes under P. agathidicida infected kauri trees could lead to long-term changes in biogeochemical processes (e.g. mineralization, nutrient availability) in these ecologically unique kauri forests.