Temporal and spatial variations of stem CO_(2) efflux of three species in subtropical China

Aims Although stem CO_(2) efflux is critical to ecosystem carbon and energy balance and its feedback to future climate change,little information is available on stem CO_(2) efflux and its responses to temperature,especially in subtropical China.This study aims to(i)evaluate the temporal and spatial variations of stem CO_(2) efflux of three species,including oak(Quercus acutissima Carr.),masson pine(Pinus massoniana Lamb.)and loblolly pine(Pinus taeda Linn.)in subtropical China and(ii)analyze the temperature sensitivity of stem CO_(2) efflux in the three species based on 2-year field measurements.Methods We measured stem CO_(2) efflux and stem temperature(at 3 cm depth)of the three species using the horizontally oriented soil chamber technique from September 2008 to August 2010.We also conducted a 24-h measurement to examine the diurnal variation of stem CO_(2) efflux in three consecutive days in April 2009.Important findings The temporal dynamics of stem CO_(2) efflux followed the change of the stem temperature in a 3-cm depth with a bell-shaped curve in the three species.Stem temperature explained 77–85%of the seasonal variations of stem CO_(2) efflux over the entire study period in the three species.The temperature sensitivity(Q_(10))of stem CO_(2) efflux was obviously different among the three species with higher Q10 value found in oak(2.24)and lower values in the coniferous species(1.76 and 1.63).Our results also showed that the Q10 values of stem CO_(2) efflux in all the three species were lower in the growing season than that in the non-growing season,indicating that the growth and maintenance respiration had different temperature responses.Moreover,we found that the temperature-normalized stem CO_(2) efflux(R_(10))changed greatly between the growing and non-growing seasons in oak and masson pine,but not in loblolly pine.Additionally,we also found that in the non-growing season,the principal factor responsible for the spatial variation of stem CO_(2) efflux among the 15 sampling trees was sapwood volume,whereas in the growing season,stem CO_(2) efflux was closely related to annual dry-matter production in the three subtropical species.

Progress in the study of algae and mosses in biological soil crusts

Algae and mosses are not only two of the familiar communities in the process of desert vegetational succession,but also have the highest biomass in biological soil crusts.Meanwhile,being the pioneer plants,algae and mosses are involved in the establishment of biological soil crusts,which have great importance in arid environments and play a major role in desert ecosystems,such as being the indicator of the vegetation type,soil-holding,preventing erosion by water and wind,and sand fixation.This paper reviews the advances in the study of algae and mosses in arid and semi-arid areas.It mainly describes the ecological functions of algae and mosses including their influences on water cycle,circulation of substances,and community succession.In addition,the relationships between algae and mosses are discussed.Finally,some suggestions are proposed for the research orientations of algae and mosses in biological soil crusts.Ecologically,algae and mosses have significant ecological importance in arid areas,especially in those areas where environmental problems are becoming increasingly serious.