Litter decomposition and nitrogen mineralization from an annual to a monthly model

The forest litter decomposition model (FLDM) described in this paper provides an important basis for assessing the impacts of forest management on seasonal stream water quality and export of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). By definition, models with annual time steps are unable to capture seasonal, within-year variation. In order to simulate seasonal variation in litter decomposition and DOC production and export, we have modified an existing annual FLDM to account for monthly dynamics of decomposition and residual mass in experimental litterbags placed in 21 different forests across Canada.The original annual FLDM was formulated with three main litter pools (fast, slow, and very slow decomposing litter) to address the fact that forest litter is naturally composed of a mixture of organic compounds that decompose at different rates. The annual FLDM was shown to provide better simulations than more complex models like CENTURY and SOMM.The revised monthly model retains the original structure of the annual FLDM, but separates litter decomposition from nitrogen (N) mineralization. In the model, monthly soil temperature, soil moisture, and mean January soil temperature are shown to be the most important controlling variables of within-year variation in decomposition. Use of the three variables in a process-based definition of litter decomposition is a significant departure from the empirical definition in the annual model. The revised model is shown to give similar calculations of residual mass and N concentration as the annual model (r² = 0.91, 0.78), despite producing very different timeseries of decomposition over six years. It is shown from a modelling perspective that (i) forest litter decomposition is independent of N mineralization, whereas N mineralization is dependent on litter decomposition, and (ii) mean January soil temperature defines litter decomposition in the summer because of winter-temperatures’ role in modifying forest-floor microorganism community composition and functioning in the following summer.     

凋落物处理对森林地表CO2通量的影响及其调控机理

全球变化和森林演替可以导致森林地表凋落物数量和质量的变化,从而对森林地表 CO2通量产生影响。本实验对亚热带不同演替阶段的3种,即马尾松林（前期）、混交林（中期）和季风林（后期）进行地表凋落物去除、加倍与置换处理,利用静态箱气相色谱法测定地表CO2通量,并同步测定气温、土壤温度和湿度,分析凋落物质量和数量变化对森林地表CO2通量的影响及其调控机理。结果表明,（1）去除凋落物处理显著降低了不同演替阶段的3种森林地表CO2通量,而加倍凋落物处理可以增加森林地表CO2通量,但不同演替阶段增加的幅度不同,依次为：季风林＞马尾松林＞混交林。（2）置换凋落物对不同演替阶段的森林地表 CO2通量的影响不同,在演替后期的季风林中,置换混交林和马尾松林凋落物处理均增加地表CO2通量;在演替中期的混交林中,置换季风林和马尾松林凋落物均降低地表CO2通量。在演替前期的马尾松林中,置换季风林凋落物增加地表CO2通量,而置换混交林凋落物降低了地表CO2通量（3）结合测定的土壤温度和水分数据分析得出,凋落物处理引起森林地表 CO2通量的变化是通过处理凋落物质量和数量后改变森林地表水热条件来实现的。（4）3个林型的各种处理,地表 CO2通量与土壤温度均呈显著的指数相关关系,但不同处理不同地改变了森林地表土壤 CO2通量对温度的敏感性,即Q10值。     

Carbon sequestration of black locust forests in the Yellow River Delta region,China

The Yellow River Delta region in China is a land area of 1,200,000 ha with rich natural resources. Adverse environmental conditions, such as low rainfall and high salinity, promote the dominance of black locust trees for afforestation. With the increase of CO₂ in the atmosphere, this forest and others throughout the world have become valued for their ability to sequester and store carbon. Forests store carbon in aboveground biomass (i.e. trees), belowground biomass (i.e. roots), soils and standing litter crop (i.e. forest floor and coarse woody debris). There are well-developed methods to sample forest ecosystems, including tree inventories that are used to quantify carbon in aboveground tree biomass. Such inventories are used to estimate the types of roundwood products removed from the forest during harvesting. Based on standard plot inventories and stem analyses, carbon sequestration estimates of trees were 222.41 t ha^?1 for the Yellow River Delta region accounted for 67.12% of the whole forest. Similarly, carbon storage by herbaceous matter and soil was 0.50 and 50.34 t ha^?1, respectively. The results suggest that carbon sequestration in the forest ecosystem was performed by most of the forest, which plays an increasingly important role in sequestering carbon as the stand grows.     

Tree species effects on decomposition and forest floor dynamics in a common garden

We studied the effects of tree species on leaf litter decomposition and forest floor dynamics in a common garden experiment of 14 tree species (Abies alba, Acer platanoides, Acer pseudoplatanus, Betula pendula, Carpinus betulus, Fagus sylvatica, Larix decidua, Picea abies, Pinus nigra, Pinus sylvestris, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Quercus robur, Quercus rubra, and Tilia cordata) in southwestern Poland. We used three simultaneous litter bag experiments to tease apart species effects on decomposition via leaf litter chemistry vs. effects on the decomposition environment. Decomposition rates of litter in its plot of origin were negatively correlated with litter lignin and positively correlated with mean annual soil temperature (MAT(soil)) across species. Likewise, decomposition of a common litter type across all plots was positively associated with MAT(soil), and decomposition of litter from all plots in a common plot was negatively related to litter lignin but positively related to litter Ca. Taken together, these results indicate that tree species influenced microbial decomposition primarily via differences in litter lignin (and secondarily, via differences in litter Ca), with high-lignin (and low-Ca) species decomposing most slowly, and by affecting MAT(soil), with warmer plots exhibiting more rapid decomposition. In addition to litter bag experiments, we examined forest floor dynamics in each plot by mass balance, since earthworms were a known component of these forest stands and their access to litter in litter bags was limited. Forest floor removal rates estimated from mass balance were positively related to leaf litter Ca (and unrelated to decay rates obtained using litter bags). Litter Ca, in turn, was positively related to the abundance of earthworms, particularly Lumbricus terrestris. Thus, while species influence microbially mediated decomposition primarily through differences in litter lignin, differences among species in litter Ca are most important in determining species effects on forest floor leaf litter dynamics among these 14 tree species, apparently because of the influence of litter Ca on earthworm activity. The overall influence of these tree species on leaf litter decomposition via effects on both microbial and faunal processing will only become clear when we can quantify the decay dynamics of litter that is translocated belowground by earthworms.     

Declines in Woodland Salamander Abundance Associated with Non-Native Earthworm and Plant Invasions

Abstract:  Factors that negatively affect the quality of wildlife habitat are a major concern for conservation. Non-native species invasions, in particular, are perceived as a global threat to the quality of wildlife habitat. Recent evidence indicates that some changes to understory plant communities in northern temperate forests of North America, including invasions by 3 non-native plant species, are facilitated by non-native earthworm invasion. Furthermore, non-native earthworm invasions cause a reduction in leaf litter on the forest floor, and the loss of forest leaf litter is commonly associated with declines in forest fauna, including amphibians. We conducted a mark-recapture study of woodland salamander abundance across plant invasion fronts at 10 sites to determine whether earthworm or plant invasions were associated with reduced salamander abundance. Salamander abundance declined exponentially with decreasing leaf litter volume. There was no significant relationship between invasive plant cover and salamander abundance, independent of the effects of leaf litter loss due to earthworm invasion. An analysis of selected salamander prey abundance (excluding earthworms) at 4 sites showed that prey abundance declined with declining leaf litter. The loss of leaf litter layers due to non-native earthworm invasions appears to be negatively affecting woodland salamander abundance, in part, because of declines in the abundance of small arthropods that are a stable resource for salamanders. Our results demonstrate that earthworm invasions pose a significant threat to woodland amphibian fauna in the northeastern United States, and that plant invasions are symptomatic of degraded amphibian habitat but are not necessarily drivers of habitat degradation.     

Dynamic compartment approach for modelling regimes of carbon cycle functioning in bog ecosystems

Svirezhev's method of dynamic model design by a given “storage-flow” diagram [Svirezhev Y.M., 1997. On some general properties of trophic networks. Ecol. Model. 99, 7–17] is developed and used for investigating dynamic regimes of carbon cycle functioning in a typical boreal transitional bog ecosystem. Ecosystems are often represented by static “storage-flow” diagrams reflecting their structure and matter or energy transfer between components at fixed time moments. Using the data of such diagrams aggregated in ecological field studies one can construct a dynamic model of the ecosystem to predict its future behaviour and to estimate a response to external perturbations—natural and human. Stability of both current equilibrium and possible alternative steady states and more complicated attractors are studied under two types of parameter perturbation: CO₂ atmospheric concentration increase initiated by greenhouse effect, and change in the rate of carbon output from dead organic matter and litter which depends on the water table level and possible peat excavation. Calculation of bifurcation curves gives areas in the parameter space where stable functioning of carbon cycle is provided. Steady states can be interpreted as raised bog, meadow, forest and fen. CO₂ concentration increase leads the current state of transitional bog to loose stability with appearance of oscillatory dynamics and further evolution to the chaotic attractor. The model is rich by chaotic solutions serving as transition regimes between regular steady and periodic attractors. Another chaotic regime is formed from forest equilibrium and exists in the same area of phase space where current equilibrium is stable.     

Headwater riparian forest-floor invertebrate communities associated with alternative forest management practices.

Headwater streams and their riparian zones are a common, yet poorly understood, component of Pacific Northwest, USA, landscapes. We describe the ecological importance of headwater stream riparian zones as habitat for forest-floor invertebrate communities and assess how alternative management strategies for riparian zones may impact these communities. We compared community composition of forest-floor invertebrates at increasing distances along trans-riparian (stream edge to upslope) transects in mature forests, clearcuts, and riparian buffers of approximately 30-m width with upslope clearcuts. Invertebrates were collected using pitfall traps in five replicate blocks of three treatments each in the Willamette National Forest, Oregon, USA. We measured microclimate and microhabitat variables at pitfall locations. Despite strong elevation and block effects on community composition, community analyses revealed a distinct "riparian" invertebrate community within 1 m of the stream edge in mature forest treatments, which was strongly related to cool, humid microclimate conditions. Invertebrate community composition in buffer treatments was far more similar to that of mature forests than to clearcuts; a pattern mirrored by microclimate. These results suggest that, within our study sites, forest-floor invertebrate distributions are strongly associated with microclimate and that riparian buffers of approximately 30-m width do provide habitat for many riparian and forest species. Riparian reserves may serve as effective forest refugia and/or dispersal corridors for invertebrates and other taxa, and their incorporation into watershed management plans likely will contribute to meeting persistence and connectivity objectives.     

青藏高原东部原始云杉林及其系列采伐迹地3个林地藓类种群结构与生物量的差异性评估

森林采伐对地表藓类种群的发育具有重要影响,但很少有人评估这种影响后迹地上的藓类种群状况.本研究调查了四川壤塘县4个系列采伐迹地和附近原始云杉林下3种林地优势藓类种群[锦丝藓(Actinothuidium hookeri)、塔藓(Hylocomium splendens)和大羽藓(Thuidium cymbifolium)]的发生频率和盖度、生物量以及维管束植物盖度和凋落物盖度,通过方差分析检验比较分析了3个藓类种群的盖度和生物量在不同采伐迹地及原始林之间的差异,评估了其自然发展趋势,揭示了维管束植物结构参数与藓类种群盖度和生物量之间的相互关系.发现:1)3种藓类种群的盖度和生物量在采伐迹地和附近原始林间有显著差异,但在系列采伐迹地之间没有明显差异,证实森林采伐后林生地表藓类种群显著衰退,随着迹地自然恢复进程这些藓类种群并未能逐渐恢复;2)微环境尺度上的藓类盖度和生物量在系列采伐迹地之间有较大的波动,Spearman相关分析显示乔木和草本层盖度是影响藓类种群生物量的主要因子.综合分析表明,采伐导致的环境变化以及藓类自身的牛态适应性和繁殖策略综合决定着藓类种群的自然恢复能力;如果仅仅依靠迹地自然恢复过程,顶极藓类种群(塔藓和锦丝藓)是难以自然复壮的.图6表4参44     

Dynamics of soil organic matter in primary and secondary forest succession on sandy soils in The Netherlands: An application of the ROMUL model

We applied the simulation model ROMUL of soil organic matter dynamics in order to analyse and predict forest soil organic matter (SOM) changes following stand growth and also to identify gaps of data and modelling problems. SOM build-up was analysed (a) from bare sand to forest soil during a primary succession in Scots pine forest and (b) on mature forest soil under Douglas fir plantations as an example of secondary succession in The Netherlands. As some of the experimental data were unreliable we compiled a set of various scenarios with different soil moisture regime, initial SOM pools and amount and quality of above and below ground litter input. This allowed us to find the scenarios that reflect the SOM dynamics more realistically. In the Scots pine forest, total litter input was estimated as 0.50 kg m⁻² year⁻¹. Two scenarios were defined for the test runs: (a) forest floor moisture regimes—‘dry, mesic and hydric’ and (b) augmenting a root litter pool with three ratios of needles and branches to roots: 1:1, 1:1.5 and 1:2.0. The scenario finally compiled had the following characteristics: (a) climate for dry site with summer drought and high winter moisture of forest floor; (b) a litter input of 0.25 kg m⁻² year⁻¹ above ground and 0.50 kg m⁻² year⁻¹ below ground; (c) a low nitrogen and ash content in all litter fall fractions. The test runs for the estimation of the initial SOM pools and the amount and proportion of above and below ground litter fall were also performed in the Douglas fir plantation. The inputs of above ground litter tested in various combinations were 0.30 and 0.60 kg m⁻² year⁻¹, and below ground litter 0.30, 0.60 and 0.90 kg m⁻² year⁻¹. The scenario that fitted the experimental data had an SOM pool of 20–25 kg m⁻², an aboveground litter input of 0.6 kg m⁻² year⁻¹and a below ground litter input of 0.9 kg m⁻² year⁻¹. The long-term simulation corresponded well with the observed patterns of soil organic matter accumulation associated with the forest soil development in primary and secondary succession. During primary succession in Scots pine forest on dry sand there is a consistent accumulation of a raw humus forest floor. The soil dynamics in the Douglas fir plantation also coincide with the observed patterns of SOM changes during the secondary succession, with SOM decreasing significantly under young forest, and SOM being restored in the older stands.     

Temperature influences carbon accumulation in moist tropical forests

Evergreen broad-leaved tropical forests can have high rates of productivity and large accumulations of carbon in plant biomass and soils. They can therefore play an important role in the global carbon cycle, influencing atmospheric CO2 concentrations if climate warms. We applied meta-analyses to published data to evaluate the apparent effects of temperature on carbon fluxes and storages in mature, moist tropical evergreen forest ecosystems. Among forests, litter production, tree growth, and belowground carbon allocation all increased significantly with site mean annual temperature (MAT); total net primary productivity (NPP) increased by an estimated 0.2-0.7 Mg C x ha(-1) x yr(-1) x degrees C(-1). Temperature had no discernible effect on the turnover rate of aboveground forest biomass, which averaged 0.014 yr(-1) among sites. Consistent with these findings, forest biomass increased with site MAT at a rate of 5-13 Mg C x ha(-1) x degrees C(-1). Despite greater productivity in warmer forests, soil organic matter accumulations decreased with site MAT, with a slope of -8 Mg C x ha(-1) x degrees C(-1), indicating that decomposition rates of soil organic matter increased with MAT faster than did rates of NPP. Turnover rates of surface litter also increased with temperature among forests. We found no detectable effect of temperature on total carbon storage among moist-tropical evergreen forests, but rather a shift in ecosystem structure, from low-biomass forests with relatively large accumulations of detritus in cooler sites, to large-biomass forests with relatively smaller detrital stocks in warmer locations. These results imply that, in a warmer climate, conservation of forest biomass will be critical to the maintenance of carbon stocks in moist tropical forests.     

A simulation model to evaluate the impacts of invasive earthworms on soil carbon dynamics

Recent studies have reported that earthworm invasions alter native communities and impact nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. We developed a simulation model to evaluate the potential impacts of earthworm invasions on carbon dynamics, taking into consideration earthworm feeding strategies and priming effects on the microorganisms through their casting activities. Responses of carbon stocks (forest litter, soil organic matter, microbial biomass and earthworm populations) and carbon fluxes (litter decomposition, earthworm consumption, and microbial respiration) were used to evaluate an earthworm invasion of a forest ecosystem. Data from a northern temperate forest (Arnot Forest, New York) were adapted for model calibration and evaluation. Simulation results suggest that the impact and outcome of earthworm invasions are affected by pre-invasion resource availability (litter and soil organic matter), invasive earthworm assemblages (particularly feeding strategy), and invasion history (associated with earthworm population dynamics). The abovementioned factors may also determine invasion progress of earthworm species. The accuracy of the model could be improved by the addition of environmental modules (e.g., soil water regimes), precise parameters accounting for individual species attributes under different environmental conditions (e.g. utilization ability of different types of food resources), as well as earthworm population dynamics (size and structure) and interactions with predators and other invasive/indigenous species during the invasion progress. Such an earthworm invasion model could provide valuable evaluation of the complicated responses of carbon dynamics to earthworm invasions in a range of forest ecosystems, particularly under global change scenarios.     

Effects of different mobilities of leaf and woody litters on litter carbon dynamics in arid ecosystems in Western Australia

Afforestation of arid land is a promising countermeasure against global warming. We had previously found, through modeling and mass balance analyses of an arid land afforestation experimental project in Western Australia, that a significant amount of litter could have been physically removed from the floors of natural forests. In order to analyze litter carbon dynamics in depth, we investigated the actual mobility of litter in several natural forests in Sturt Meadows in an arid region of Western Australia, and estimated the difference between the removal rate of leaf and woody (twigs and branches) litter on the forest floor. Then we redeveloped a litter carbon dynamics model by incorporating physical removal of litter to show the different mobilities of leaf and woody litters. We also analyzed carbon balances and the effect of differential litter mobility on litter carbon dynamics. Except for twigs in one plot in a high density forest, 29–100% of leaf litter and 10–100% of woody litter was removed annually, demonstrating the physical removal of litter in these natural forests. The main cause of litter removal was wind, not flooding. Decreases in leaf and woody litters could be approximated as first order decay functions in most plots; first order decay or disappearance rate constants were then determined. Estimated disappearance rate constants of leaf and woody litter ranged from 0.19 to 11 and 0.11–12 year⁻¹, respectively; most of the constants ranged from 0.19 to 2.0 and 0.11–0.74 year⁻¹, respectively. Based on the disappearance rate constant, the mobility of woody litter was estimated to be roughly 20% that of leaf litter, confirming that climatic factors move leaves more easily than twigs. The improved model, which took into account the different mobilities of leaf and woody litters, showed that annual physical removal of litter reached 70–82% of the annual litter fall in Acacia aneura forests, and that roughly 40–60% of the existing litter was removed annually from all sites. Incorporating into the model the difference in mobilities of leaf and woody litters showed that the ratio of annual litter removal to annual litter fall increased about 10% points compared with the assumption of that both litter types had equal mobility.     

粤北亚热带山地森林土壤有机碳沿海拔梯度的变化

选择位于南岭国家级自然保护区的广东第一峰——石坑崆,从海拔300 m起到山顶部1 900 m范围,每隔100 m高程设置1条10 m×120 m的样带,共17条样带,研究土壤有机碳含量沿海拔梯度的变化规律及其与植被类型和凋落物层厚度的关系。结果表明,0～20 cm和>20～40 cm土层有机碳含量均随海拔梯度变化呈极显著差异(P<0.001),并随林分类型不同而呈高度显著差异(P<0.01),土壤有机碳含量总体上呈随海拔上升而升高的变化趋势。凋落物层厚度仅对0～20 cm土层有机碳含量有显著影响(P<0.05)。可见,海拔梯度变化是影响土壤有机碳含量的综合和主导因素,而最表层土壤有机碳含量还易受林分因子的影响,这些因子反映了土地利用变化及自然保护历史。该研究结果提示,减少人类活动的干扰和保持林地适合的凋落物层厚度有助于增加森林生态系统的碳储量。     

The ecology of energy and nutrient fluxes in hemlock forests invaded by hemlock woolly adelgid

The hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA, Adelges tsugae Annand) is currently causing a severe decline in vitality and survival of eastern hemlock in North American forests. We analyzed the effects of light HWA infestation on vertical energy and nutrient fluxes from the canopy to the forest floor. Canopy throughfall, litter lysimeters, and laboratory litter microcosms were used to examine the effects of HWA-affected and unaffected throughfall on litter type, leachate, and litter chemistry. Early in the season adelgid infestation caused higher dissolved organic carbon (DOC; +24.6%), dissolved organic nitrogen (DON; +28.5%), and K (+39.3%) fluxes and lower inorganic nitrogen fluxes (-39.8%) in throughfall and in adjacent litter solutions collected beneath infested compared to uninfested trees. Needle litter collected beneath uninfested hemlock had significantly lower N concentrations compared to needles collected beneath infested trees, while no difference in N concentrations was found in birch litter. Bacteria were significantly more abundant on hemlock and birch litter beneath infested trees, while yeasts and filamentous fungi showed no consistent response to HWA throughfall. Litter microcosms showed that less DOC was leaching from birch than from hemlock needles when exposed to HWA throughfall. Overall, NH4-N and DON leachate concentrations were higher from birch than from hemlock litter. Thus, HWA-affected throughfall leads to qualitative and quantitative differences in nitrogen export from the litter layer. The N concentration of hemlock litter did not change with time, but the N concentration in birch litter increased significantly during the course of the experiment, especially when HWA-affected throughfall was applied. We suggest a nonlinear conceptual model for the temporal and vertical transition of energy and nutrient fluxes relative to progressing HWA infestation from a pure hemlock to a birch/maple-dominated forest. Progressive needle loss and changes in needle chemistry are likely to produce a humped-shaped DOC curve, while N fluxes initially decrease as infestation continues but rise eventually with hemlock decline and immigration of hardwood species. These findings suggest that it is necessary to understand the biology and specific physiological/trophic effects of exotic pests on their hosts and associated ecosystem processes in order to decipher the temporal dynamics, direction of change, and functional consequences.     

南亚热带中幼龄针阔混交林碳储量及其分配格局

以南亚热带中幼龄针阔混交林为研究对象,通过典型样地调查法,对森林生态系统各个层次进行取样调查,采用12个样地实测数据和已有生物量模型相结合的方法计算乔木层生物量,灌木层、草本层和凋落物层采用全部收获法测得其生物量,对土壤层的调查采用剖面法加土钻法,代表性样品碳含量的测定采用重铬酸钾-水合加热法。在此基础上,分析了中幼龄针阔混交林碳储量及其分配格局。结果表明,主要造林树种树根、树杆、树枝和树叶碳含量均值分别为45.07%、46.73%、46.30%和47.72%。植物碳含量表现为乔木〉灌木〉草本。乔木碳储量占植被总碳储量比例介于63.38%-94.08%之间,灌木碳储量所占比例介于3.55%-12.67%之间,而草本碳储量仅介于为1.28%-23.95%之间,不同林龄段乔木和灌木碳储量均值随林龄的增加呈上升趋势,而草本碳储量呈下降趋势。土壤碳储量介于106.73-136.61 t·hm^-2之间,土壤碳储量随林龄的增加呈现出先降低后升高的趋势。针阔混交林总碳储量介于134.79-162.60 t·hm^-2之间,分配格局表现为土壤层〉植被层〉凋落物层。土壤层碳储量所占总碳储量比例范围为78.34%-94.45%,植被层所占比例介于4.84%-20.16%之间,凋落物层仅介于0.71%-1.50%之间,中幼龄针阔混交林碳储量主要以土壤固碳为主。研究结果为树种选择、人工林生态系统固碳潜力以及人工碳汇林的经营管理等研究提供科学参考。     

鼎湖山森林演替序列水文过程中总有机碳(TOC)变化规律及其对土壤碳平衡的贡献

森林水文过程中的总有机碳转运对土壤有机碳平衡起着重要的作用,但我们对于水文过程对碳平衡的贡献机理所知甚少.本研究针对鼎湖山季风常绿阔叶林演替序列不同森林生态系统(马尾松林、针阔混交林和季风常绿阔叶林(简称季风林))的大气降水、穿透水、树干流、凋落物淋洗水以及地表径流中的总有机碳(TOC)进行了三年(2002年4月-2005年5月)观测,以此来分析水文学过程中TOC的变化规律和水文学过程对不同成熟度森林生态系统土壤有机碳积累的贡献.每场雨后进行水样的采集,采集的水样装入棕色玻璃瓶中,加硫酸至pH值小于2,放置于实验室冰箱冷藏待测.TOC用日本岛津公司生产的5000A型TOC-V分析仪测定.研究结果及推论如下:鼎湖山森林水文学过程中TOC浓度和总量变化呈现规律性的变化.大气降水中的TOC浓度和总量分别为(3.65±0.59)mg·L~(-1)和51.8104 kg·hm~(-2)·a~(-1),大气降水是鼎湖山森林生态系统水文循环过程中TOC的主要来源.穿透水(DTF)中TOC浓度和总量均为:松林>混交林>季风林,其中季风林TOC浓度显著低于其他两种林型.松林树干流的TOC浓度显著高于混交林和季风林.凋落物淋洗水TOC浓度和总量大小依次均为:松林>混交林>季风林,且三林型间存在显著差异(p<0.05).径流中TOC浓度和总量均较小,且无明显差异.在湿季5月份,穿透水、树干流、凋落物淋洗水的TOC浓度呈现下降趋势.干季(10月)开始以后,穿透水、树干流、凋落物淋洗水中的TOC浓度又逐步回升.地表径流中TOC浓度干湿季变化趋势不明显.干季中各水文学分量TOC浓度大于湿季,但TOC总量呈现相反趋势.在森林水文学过程中,凋落物淋洗水所携带的有机碳量是土壤有机碳输入的最大项,季风林、混交林、松林中TOC总量分别为246.983 kg·hm~(-2)·a~(-1),255.187kg·hm~(-2)·a~(-1)和261.876kg·hm~(-2)·a~(-1);其次是直接到达土壤表面的穿透水,季风林、混交林、松林中TOC总量分别为28.152kg·hm~(-2)·a~(-1),37.410kg·hm~(-2)·a~(-1)和43.176kg·hm~(-2)·a~(-1);树干流中有机碳浓度虽高,但总量很微小,季风林、混交林、松林中TOC总量分别为4.663kg·hm~(-2)·a~(-1),5.910kg·hm~(-2)·a~(-1)和4.566kg·hm~(-2)·a~(-1),所以对土壤有机碳收入贡献不大.径流所携带的TOC总量很小,季风林、混交林、松林中分别为8.707kg·hm~(-2)·a~(-1),9.318kg·hm~(-2)·a~(-1),7.220kg·hm~(-2)·a~(-1).由此可知,水文过程输入土壤的TOC总量远大于径流所带走的TOC总量,导致了水文过程中的TOC存留在土壤中,对土壤有机碳(SOC)的积累起着重要作用.季风林、混交林和马尾松林土壤每年通过水文学过程净输入的有机碳量分别为(27.1+1.65)g·m~(-2),(28.9±2.79)g·m~(-2)和(30.2±2.65)g·m~(-2).水文学过程中的这部分有机碳由于占总有机碳比例较小往往被忽视,但是正是由于水分在土壤中的下渗使得有机碳的分布趋于均匀,这将更加利于SOC的积累和保存.     

深圳福田秋茄红树林生态系统碳循环的初步研究

滨海红树林的生产力极高,在全球碳循环中占有重要地位,但是其碳循环的系统测定却鲜见报道。以深圳福田秋茄林为研究对象,2011年4月-2012年4月对内滩天然林、中滩和外滩人工林的植被、凋落物、粗木质残体、土壤的碳密度和净增量,以及植被和土壤呼吸进行了实际观测,并探讨了土壤有机碳来源,初步构建了秋茄林沿不同滩位的生态系统碳循环模式。结果表明,深圳福田秋茄林的碳密度在234.58～694.46 t.hm^-2之间,其中植被碳密度为44.54～239.51 t.hm^-2,凋落物和粗木质残体碳密度为2.02～24.56 t.hm^-2,土壤碳密度（深度为50 cm）为188.02～430.39 t.hm^-2,生态系统碳密度整体上表现为自内滩向外滩降低的趋势。在研究时段内,3个滩位的植被碳密度净增量为4.31～13.28 t.hm^-2.a^-1,凋落物和土壤碳密度没有显著变化。红树林的凋落物生成量为2.17～10.55 t.hm^-2.a^-1,约有49.94～94.01%通过食草动物、冲入海洋和腐烂分解等途径消耗。植被呼吸量为2.20～12.08 t.hm^-2.a^-1,土壤微生物的异氧呼吸量为0.25～1.61 t.hm^-2.a^-1,甲烷排放为0.09～0.31 t.hm^-2.a^-1,土壤有机碳输入约18.99%～44.43%来自植被内源输入,其余来源于海洋碳输入。生态系统的总初级生产力介于8.68～35.91t.hm^-2.a^-1之间,约有47.38%～74.08%转变为净初级生产力（6.48～23.84 t.hm^-2.a^-1）。碳平衡分析表明,在研究时段内,内滩的天然林是个很大的碳汇,约20.08 t.hm^-2.a^-1,中滩和外滩的人工林碳汇量分别为9.98 t.hm^-2.a^-1和4.03 t.hm^-2.a^-1。相对于陆地森林,秋茄红树林有着显著的碳汇效益,在全球碳循环中起着不可忽视的作用。     

梵净山不同森林植被生物量、净生产量、碳储量及空间分布特征

为做好梵净山国家级自然保护区森林植被保护,摸清自然保护区森林植被资源家底,采用2016年第四次森林资源规划设计调查数据及变更至2019年的森林资源数据,计算和分析保护区内森林植被生物量、净生产量、碳储量。梵净山8种森林类型的总生物量为443.72×10⁴t,总碳储量为219.80×10⁴t,总生长量为29.75×10⁴t·a^?1,总凋落量为18.65×10⁴t·a^?1,总净生产量为48.40×10⁴t·a^?1,总生物量、总碳储量较大的是栎林,较小的是铁杉林,桦木林、阔叶混交林、马尾松林、软阔林、杉木林和硬阔林居中;平均碳密度为48.86 t·hm^?2,依次为:桦木林>阔叶混交林>栎林>硬阔林>软阔林>马尾松林>杉木林>铁杉林;总生长量、年凋落量、净生产量较高的是栎林、硬阔林,较低的是马尾松林、阔叶混交林和铁杉林,3种森林类型合计比例不到10%;在龄组中的分配依次为:中龄林>近熟林>成熟林>幼龄林>过熟林。在不同海拔中,梵净山森林植被生物量、碳储量、生长量、凋落量和净生产量主要分布在海拔1201—1800 m,其分布比例分别为50.39%、50.38%、49.21%、50.08%和49.54%;在不同坡向中,梵净山森林植被生物量、碳储量、生长量、凋落量和净生产量主要分布在南坡和北坡,二者合计比例大于60%。     

Use of Stress‐Hormone Levels and Habitat Selection to Assess Functional Connectivity of a Landscape for an Amphibian

Abstract: The influence of landscape matrix on functional connectivity has been clearly established. Now methods to assess the effects of different land uses on species’ movements are needed because current methods are often biased. The use of physiological parameters as indicators of the level of resistance to animal movement associated with different land uses (i.e., matrix resistance) could provide estimates of energetic costs and risks to animals migrating through the matrix. To assess whether corticosterone levels indicate matrix resistance, we conducted experiments on substrate choice and measured levels of corticosterone before and after exposure of toads (Bufo bufo) to 3 common substrates (ploughed soil, meadow, and forest litter). We expected matrix resistance and hormone levels to increase from forest litter (habitat of the toad) to meadows to ploughed soil. Adult toads had higher corticosterone levels on ploughed soil than on forest litter or meadow substrates. Hormone levels did not differ between forest litter and meadow. Toads avoided moving onto ploughed soil. Corticosterone levels in juvenile toads were not related to substrate type; however, hormone levels decreased as humidity increased. Juveniles, unlike adults, did not avoid moving over ploughed soil. The difference in responses between adult and juvenile toads may have been due to differences in experimental design (for juveniles, entire body used to measure corticosterone concentration; for adults, saliva alone); differences in the scale of sensory perception of the substrate (juveniles are much smaller than adults); or differences in cognitive processes between adult and juvenile toads. Adults probably had experience with different substrate types, whereas juveniles first emerging from the water probably did not. As a consequence, arable lands could act as ecological traps for juvenile toads.     

基于Meta分析的土壤呼吸对凋落物输入的响应

凋落物输入是影响土壤呼吸的一个重要因素,然而从国内外目前研究结果来看,土壤呼吸响应凋落物输入的影响因素尚不清楚。利用国内外已发表的30篇研究论文共1393对有效数据,通过Meta分析,从凋落物管理措施、气候、植被、地形、土壤理化性质等因素揭示凋落物输入对土壤呼吸的影响程度。研究发现:与清除凋落物处理相比较而言,(1)凋落物输入后显著增加了土壤呼吸,且土壤呼吸的增加程度呈现出倍增凋落物处理是自然凋落物处理的1.33倍;(2)不同气候条件下的土壤呼吸增加程度呈现出强降雨(>1000 mm)是微弱降雨(<1000 mm)的1.34倍,以及高温气候(>20℃)是低温气候(<20℃)的1.7倍;(3)土壤呼吸的增加程度在不同植被带下呈现出针叶林带(34.1%)>阔叶林带(28%)>混交林带(22%)>草地(17.3%)的趋势;(4)不同海拔梯度条件下土壤呼吸的增加程度呈现出高海拔(59.6%)>中海拔(34.2%)>低海拔(26.7%)的趋势;(5)不同土壤理化性质条件下的土壤呼吸增量呈现出低容重(77.5%)分别是中容重(26.9%)和高容重(18.0%)的2.9倍和4.3倍,同时中性土壤(79.6%)的呼吸增量远远大于酸性(28.2%)和碱性(24.1%)土壤的呼吸增量,以及高土壤碳氮比(81.2%)的土壤呼吸增量远远大于低土壤碳氮比(19.4%)和中土壤碳氮比(29.6%)的土壤呼吸增量。由此可见,凋落物输入后会导致土壤呼吸的显著增加,但是不同气候、不同植被、不同地形、不同土壤理化性质等条件下其土壤呼吸增加的幅度不同。