全球变暖与湿地生态系统的研究进展

Progress in the study on the relationship between global warming and wetland ecological system

湿地作为一种独特的生态系统是各种主要温室气体的“源”与“汇”,因而在全球气候变化中有着特殊的地位与作用。另一方面 ,全球气候变化又有可能对湿地生态系统的面积、分布、结构、功能等造成巨大的影响 ,并有可能引起温室气体的源汇转化 ,从而对气候系统形成反馈。本文综述了国内外这两个方面的研究进展 。

This paper reviews the recent progress in the study on the relationship between global warming and wetland ecological system from three aspects. (1) The wetlands are both sources and sinks of the major trace gases, such as CO 2, CH 4, N 2O, NOx etc., hence they have a close relation with greenhouse effect and contribute a great deal to the global warming. (2) Global warming will affect the areal extent and distribution of wetlands——although at present it is impossible to estimate future areal size and distribution of wetlands from climate change scenarios——and the cycling of carbon in wetlands. As a result some carbon sequestering wetlands might change from CO 2 sinks to sources due to a lowering of water table or temperature rise. The hydrological regime changes resulted from global warming and/or other disturbance that change the vegetation types in wetland areas will affect other wetland functions as well. (3) Wetlands are highly valued in many areas. The lack of data to fully address their responses to global warming/climate change calls for several areas of research in the future. These include site-specific experiments on the direct responses of trace gases on wetland ecological system, the feedback on climate by changes in trace gases flow from wetlands, models suitable for the study, comprehension study on this issue, and adaptation, conservation and rehabilitation of wetlands in response to global warming.