Ecosystem nitrogen fixation throughout the snow‐free period in subarctic tundra: effects of willow and birch litter addition and warming

Nitrogen (N) fixation in moss‐associated cyanobacteria is one of the main sources of available N for N‐limited ecosystems such as subarctic tundra. Yet, N₂ fixation in mosses is strongly influenced by soil moisture and temperature. Thus, temporal scaling up of low‐frequency in situ measurements to several weeks, months or even the entire growing season without taking into account changes in abiotic conditions cannot capture the variation in moss‐associated N₂ fixation. We therefore aimed to estimate moss‐associated N₂ fixation throughout the snow‐free period in subarctic tundra in field experiments simulating climate change: willow (Salix myrsinifolia) and birch (Betula pubescens spp. tortuosa) litter addition, and warming. To achieve this, we established relationships between measured in situ N₂ fixation rates and soil moisture and soil temperature and used high‐resolution measurements of soil moisture and soil temperature (hourly from May to October) to model N₂ fixation. The modelled N₂ fixation rates were highest in the warmed (2.8 ± 0.3 kg N ha^?1) and birch litter addition plots (2.8 ± 0.2 kg N ha^?1), and lowest in the plots receiving willow litter (1.6 ± 0.2 kg N ha^?1). The control plots had intermediate rates (2.2 ± 0.2 kg N ha^?1). Further, N₂ fixation was highest during the summer in the warmed plots, but was lowest in the litter addition plots during the same period. The temperature and moisture dependence of N₂ fixation was different between the climate change treatments, indicating a shift in the N₂ fixer community. Our findings, using a combined empirical and modelling approach, suggest that a longer snow‐free period and increased temperatures in a future climate will likely lead to higher N₂ fixation rates in mosses. Yet, the consequences of increased litter fall on moss‐associated N₂ fixation due to shrub expansion in the Arctic will depend on the shrub species’ litter traits.     

Mapping gains and losses in woody vegetation across global tropical drylands

Woody vegetation in global tropical drylands is of significant importance for both the interannual variability of the carbon cycle and local livelihoods. Satellite observations over the past decades provide a unique way to assess the vegetation long‐term dynamics across biomes worldwide. Yet, the actual changes in the woody vegetation are always hidden by interannual fluctuations of the leaf density, because the most widely used remote sensing data are primarily related to the photosynthetically active vegetation components. Here, we quantify the temporal trends of the nonphotosynthetic woody components (i.e., stems and branches) in global tropical drylands during 2000–2012 using the vegetation optical depth (VOD), retrieved from passive microwave observations. This is achieved by a novel method focusing on the dry season period to minimize the influence of herbaceous vegetation and using MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data to remove the interannual fluctuations of the woody leaf component. We revealed significant trends (P < 0.05) in the woody component (VOD_wood) in 35% of the areas characterized by a nonsignificant trend in the leaf component (VOD_leaf modeled from NDVI), indicating pronounced gradual growth/decline in woody vegetation not captured by traditional assessments. The method is validated using a unique record of ground measurements from the semiarid Sahel and shows a strong agreement between changes in VOD_wood and changes in ground observed woody cover (r² = 0.78). Reliability of the obtained woody component trends is also supported by a review of relevant literatures for eight hot spot regions of change. The proposed approach is expected to contribute to an improved assessment of, for example, changes in dryland carbon pools.     

Temporal and spatial variation characteristics of China shrubland net primary production and its response to climate change from 2001 to 2013

Aims Net primary production (NPP) is the input to terrestrial ecosystem carbon pool. Climate and land use change affect NPP significantly. Shrublands occupy more than 20% of the terrestrial area of China, and their NPP is comparable to those of the forests. Our objective was to estimate China shrubland NPP from 2001 to 2013, and to analyze its variation and response to climate change.Methods We used a Carnegie-Ames-Stanford Approach (CASA) model to estimate the NPP of six shrubland types in China from 2001 to 2013. Furthermore, we used Theil-Sen slope combined with Mann-kendall test to analyze its spatial variation and a linear regression of one-variable model to analyze its inter- and intra-annual variation. Finally, a multi-factor linear regression model was used to analyze its response to climate change.Important findings We found the annual mean NPP of China shrubland was 281.82 g•m^-2•a^-1. The subtropical evergreen shrubland has the maximum NPP of 420.47 g•m^-2•a^-1, while the high cold desert shrubland has the minimum NPP of 52.65 g•m^-2•a^-1. The countrywide shrublands NPP increased at the rate of 1.23 g•m^-2•a^-1, the relative change rate was 5.99%. The temperate deciduous shrubland NPP increased the fastest with a speed of 3.05 g•m^-2•a^-1 and subalpine evergreen shrubland had a decreasing trend with a speed of -0.73 g•m^-2•a^-1. Moreover, the other four shrublands NPP had a growing trend, only subalpine deciduous shrubland NPP did not change significantly. The response of NPP to climate change of different seasons varies to different shrubland types. In general, the NPP variation was mainly affected by precipitation, and the spring warming also contributed to it. The increase of countrywide shrubland NPP may promote its contribution to the regional ecosystem function.     

Shrub encroachment effect on the evapotranspiration and its component—A numerical simulation study of a shrub encroachment grassland in Nei Mongol,China

Aims Shrub encroachment is a common global change phenomenon occurring in arid and semi-arid regions. Due to the difficulty of partitioning evapotranspiration into shrub plants, grass plants and soil in the field, there are few studies focusing on shrub encroachment effect on the evapotranspiration and its component in China. This study aims to illustrate shrub encroachment effect on evapotranspiration by the numerical modeling method. Methods A two-source model was applied and calibrated with the measured evapotranspiration (ET) by the Bowen ratio system to simulate evapotranspiration and its component in a shrub encroachment grassland in Nei Mongol, China. Based on the calibrated model and previous shrub encroachment investigation, we set three scenarios of shrub encroachment characterized by relative shrub coverage of 5%, 15% and 30%, respectively, and quantified their effects caused by shrub encroachment through localized and calibrated two-source model.Important findings The two-source model can well reconstruct the evapotranspiration characteristics of a shrub encroachment grassland. Sensitivity analysis of the model shows that errors for the input variables and parameters have small influence on the result of partitioning evapotranspiration. The result shows that shrub encroachment has relatively small influence on the total amount of ET, but it has clear influence on the proportion of the components of evapotranspiration (E/ET). With shrub coverage increasing from 5% to 15% and then 30%, the evapotranspiration decreased from 182.97 to 180.38 and 176.72 W·m^-2, decreasing amplitude values of 0.34% and 0.44%, respectively. On average, E/ET rises from 52.9% to 53.9% and 55.5%, increasing amplitude values to 2.04% and 3.25%. Data analysis indicates that shrub encroachment results in smaller soil moisture changes, but clear changes of ecosystem structure (decreasing ecosystem leaf area index while increasing vegetation height) which lead to the decrease of transpiration fraction through decreasing canopy conductance. The research highlights that, with the shrub encroachment, more water will be consumed as soil evaporation which is often regarded as invalid part of evapotranspiration and thus resulting in the decrease of water use efficiency.     

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.     

车八岭山地常绿阔叶林冰灾后林木受损的生态学评估

从植物生态学的角度对2008年初南方冻雨冰雪灾害对典型的亚热带山地常绿阔叶林造成的损害情况做了研究。对12个优势种和亚优势种的受灾情况做了对比分析, 对不同径级和不同地形因子下林木抵抗冻雨灾害的差异做了对比。统计检验结果显示林木受损程度存在显著的种间差异、径级差异和地形级差异。优势种米槠(Castanopsis carlesii)比多数亚优势种受害更严重; 各树种抗冻雨灾害能力以山茶科和樟科的种较强, 而壳斗科的多个种, 如米槠、栲(C. fargesii)受灾较为严重; 林木的受损比例随着胸径(diameter at breast height, DBH)增加而增大; 在未受灾的各级林木中, 超过70%的个体集中在最小一级径阶(1-5 cm)。χ²检验显示坡度、坡向、坡位等地形因子对林木受损状况有显著的影响, 随着坡位上升, 林木受损程度逐渐加重, 上坡位的林木受损比例最大, 下坡位最小, 这可能与随着坡位升高, 迎风面降温效果更迅速有关。对于坡向和坡度而言, 位于半阳坡的林木受灾比例显著高于半阴坡, 位于坡度级III (15°-25°)、IV (25°-35°)、V (35°-45°)上的林木受灾最严重。该研究结果对于亚热带常绿阔叶林的保育和应对未来可能再次发生的冰雪灾害有重要意义; 同时对于森林恢复和演替、乡土阔叶树种的选育及森林经营等方面的研究和应用也有重要的参考价值。     

常绿阔叶林片段中木荷凋落叶分解速率及中小型土壤节肢动物群落的结构动态

2004年6月-2006年4月,选择浙、闽、赣交界山地的4个森林片段作为研究地点,并以浙西的古田山国家级自然保护区作为连续森林对照,采用尼龙网袋法,研究了不同常绿阔叶林群落优势种木荷凋落叶的分解速率及土壤节肢动物群落的结构和动态.结果表明：5个研究地共获土壤节肢动物1050个,分属8纲23目,其中鳞翅目、膜翅目、弹尾目和双翅目占个体总数的10%以上,为该地区的优势类群.片段化对群落物种组成的影响主要体现在稀有类群的差异上.不同分解阶段各种土壤节肢动物类群优势度因其功能的不同而各异.经过2年的分解,各研究地木荷凋落叶损失量为60%～70%,研究地凋落物中土壤节肢动物的各项多样性指标均有一定的变化,且与连续森林的变化规律不一致.     

五种常绿冬青叶片防火性能评价

为了筛选冬青属(Ilex)植物优良防火品种,了解该属植物叶片燃烧表现特征,优化园林树种防火性能的评价方法,该文以克恩氏冬青(Ilex×koehneana)、史蒂芬冬青(Ilex ‘Nellie R. Stevens’)、大别山冬青(I. dabieshanensis)、博福德冬青(I. cornuta ‘Burfordii’)、双核冬青(I. dipyrena)为研究对象,以海桐(Pittosporum tobira)和石楠(Photinia serrulata)作为参照,采用因子分析法对这七种植物鲜叶和干叶的防火性能分别进行综合评价。结果表明:(1)不同冬青品种鲜叶火灾性能指数存在显著性差异,其余指标均呈极显著性差异。(2)经过因子分析进行评价得出鲜叶抗火性从强到弱依次为博福德冬青史蒂芬冬青大别山冬青石楠海桐双核冬青克恩氏冬青;干叶抗火性从强到弱依次为史蒂芬冬青大别山冬青博福德冬青海桐双核冬青克恩氏冬青石楠。(3)综合鲜叶及干叶的评分结果,得出博福德冬青、史蒂芬冬青、大别山冬青得分较高,防火性能优于石楠和海桐,防火性能表现更突出。     

冬季郑州市12个常绿树种的光合特性及滞尘能力

为筛选出北方城市冬季生态效益突出的常绿树种,以缓解大气CO_2和粉尘颗粒物污染,并为这些树种的园林应用提供科学支持,该文选取郑州市园林绿化应用广泛的12个常绿树种,利用LI-6400便携式光合测定仪和洗脱-质量差值法,并对其光合特性及滞尘能力进行测定,计算出其光合参数[叶片的净光合速率(Pn)、蒸腾速率(Tr)、气孔导度(Gs)、胞间CO_2浓度(Ci)]和滞尘参数(单位叶面积滞尘量、单叶滞尘量、单位面积树冠滞尘量),并分别进行聚类分析。结果表明:(1)大叶女贞、黄杨、海桐、枇杷叶片Pn、Tr、Gs值均极显著高于其他树种(P0.01);香樟、银木、黄杨、枇杷叶片Ci值极显著高于其他树种(P0.01)。大叶女贞、海桐、石楠叶肉细胞保持着较高的光合活性,而香樟、银木叶片光合活性较弱,低温抑制明显。(2)洗淋后7 d和14 d,枇杷、广玉兰、桂花各滞尘参数均极显著高于其他树种(P0.01)。洗淋后14 d,枇杷、广玉兰、桂花单位面积树冠的滞尘量累积在6.65 g·m~(-2)·crown~(-1)以上,滞尘能力强;石楠、银木、大叶女贞、法国冬青、黄杨单位面积树冠的滞尘量在3.99 g·m~(-2)·crown~(-1)以上。(3)聚类分析结果表明,黄杨、大叶女贞和海桐光合特性优势明显,其次为法国冬青、广玉兰、枇杷、石楠和乐东拟单性木兰;广玉兰、桂花、枇杷滞尘能力最强,其次为大叶女贞、法国冬青、石楠和银木。综上所述,大叶女贞、广玉兰、枇杷、法国冬青、黄杨、石楠对改善北方城市冬季空气质量及滞尘均有重要贡献,生态调节能力强,可作为园林绿化优先选用树种。