Study of monthly variations in primary production and their relationships with environmental factors in the Daya Bay based on a general additive model

In this study, the horizontal and vertical distribution of primary production(PP) and its monthly variations were described based on field data collected from the Daya Bay in January–December of 2016. The relationships between PP and environmental factors were analyzed using a general additive model(GAM). Significant seasonal differences were observed in the horizontal distribution of PP, while vertical distribution showed a relatively consistent unimodal pattern. The monthly average PP(calculated by carbon) ranged from 48.03 to 390.56 mg/(m~2·h),with an annual average of 182.77 mg/(m~2·h). The highest PP was observed in May and the lowest in November.Additionally, the overall trend in PP was spring>summer>winter>autumn, and spring PP was approximately three times that of autumn PP. GAM analysis revealed that temperature, bottom salinity, phytoplankton, and photosynthetically active radiation(PAR) had no significant relationships with PP, while longitude, depth, surface salinity, chlorophyll a(Chl a) and transparency were significantly correlated with PP. Overall, the results presented herein indicate that monsoonal changes and terrestrial and offshore water systems have crucial effects on environmental factors that are associated with PP changes.

Radial growth response of Pinus densiflora and Quercus spp.to topographic and climatic factors in South Korea

Aims This study aimed to develop radial growth models and to predict the potential spatial distribution of Pinus densiflora(Japanese red pine)and Quercus spp.(Oaks)in South Korea,considering topographic and climatic factors.Methods We used a dataset of diameter at breast height and radial growth estimates of individual trees,topographic and climatic factors in systematic sample plots distributed over the whole of South Korea.On the basis that radial growth is attributed primarily to tree age,we developed a radial growth model employing tree age as an explanatory variable.We estimated standard growth(SG),defined as radial growth of the tree at age 30,to eliminate the influence of tree age on radial growth.In addition,SG estimates including the Topographic Wetness Index,temperature and precipitation were calculated by the Generalized Additive Model.Important Findings As a result of variogram analysis of SG,we found spatial autocorrelation between SG,topographic and climatic factors.Incremental temperature had negative impacts on radial growth of P.densiflora and positive impacts on that of Quercus spp.Precipitation was associated with positive effects on both tree species.Based on the model,we found that radial growth of P.densiflora would be more vulnerable than that of Quercus spp.to climatic factors.Through simulation with the radial growth model,it was predicted that P.densiflora stands would be gradually replaced with Quercus spp.stands in eastern coastal and southern regions of South Korea in the future.The models developed in this study will be helpful for understanding the impact of climatic factors on tree growth and for predicting changes in distribution of P.densiflora and Quercus spp.due to climate change in South Korea.