Temporal and environmental factors drive community structure and function of methanotrophs in volcanic forest soils

Methanotrophs,organisms that obtain oxygen by oxidizing methane,are recognized as the only known biological sink for atmospheric CH_4,and forest soil methanotrophs play crucial roles in mitigating global warming.The succession patterns of methanotrophic communities and functions in Wudalianchi volcano forest soils could provide a basis for the study of evolutionary mechanisms between soil microorganisms,the environment,and carbon cycling of temperate forest ecosystems under climate change.In this study,the characteristics and drivers of methanotrophic community structure and function of two volcanic soils at different stages of development are analyzed,including an old volcano and a new volcano,which most recently erupted 300 years and 17-19×10^(5)years ago,respectively,and a non-volcano hills as control,based on space for time substitution and Miseq sequencing and bioinformation technology.The results showed that CH_(4) fluxes were significantly higher in old-stage volcano forest soils than new-stage forest soils and non-volcano forest soils.There were significant differences in the community composition and diversity of soil methanotrophs from different volcano forest soils.Methylococcus was the dominant genus in all soil samples.Additionally,the relative abundance of Methylococcus,along with Clonothrix,Methyloglobulus,Methylomagum,Methylomonas and Methylosarcina,were the important genera responsible for the differences in methanotrophic community structure in different volcano forest soils.The relative abundance of methanotroph belonging toγ-proteobacteria was significantly higher than that belonging toα-proteobacteria(P<0.05).Chao1,Shannon and Simpson indices of soil methanotrophic community were significantly lower in new-stage volcanos and were significantly affected by bulk density,total porosity,p H,nitrate,dissolved organic carbon and dissolved organic nitrogen.There were significant differences in community structure between new-stage and old-stage volcanoes.Bulk density and p H are important soil properties contributing to the divergence of methanotrophs community structure,and changes in soil properties due to soil development time are important factors driving differences in methanotrophs communities in Wudalianchi volcanic soils.

Effects of long-term elevated CO_2 on N_2-fixing,denitrifying and nitrifying enzyme activities in forest soils under Pinus sylvestriformis in Changbai Mountain

A study was conducted to determine the effects of elevated CO2 on soil N process at Changbai Mountain in Jilin Province, northeastern China （42°24＂N, 128°06＂E, and 738 m elevation）. A randomized complete block design of ambient and elevated CO2 was established in an open-top chamber facility in the spring of 1999. Changpai Scotch pine （Pinus sylvestris var. sylvestriformis seeds were sowed in May, 1999 and CO2 fumigation treatments began after seeds germination. In each year, the exposure started at the end of April and stopped at the end of October. Soil samples were collected in June and August 2006 and in June 2007, and soil nitrifying, denitrifying and N2-fixing enzyme activities were measured. Results show that soil nitrifying enzyme activities （NEA） in the 5-10 cm soil layer were significantly increased at elevated CO2 by 30.3% in June 2006, by 30.9% in August 2006 and by 11.3% in June 2007. Soil denitrifying enzyme activities （DEA） were significantly decreased by elevated CO2 treatment in June 2006 （P 〈 0.012） and August 2006 （P 〈 0.005） samplings in our study; no significant difference was detected in June 2007, and no significant changes in N2-fixing enzyme activity were found. This study suggests that elevated CO2 can alter soil nitrifying enzyme and denitrifying enzyme activities.

Advances of study on atmospheric methane oxidation (consumption) in forest soil

Next to CO2, methane (CH4) is the second important contributor to global warming in the atmosphere and global atmospheric CH4 budget depends on both CH4 sources and sinks. Unsaturated soil is known as a unique sink for atmospheric CH4 in terrestrial ecosystem. Many comparison studies proved that forest soil had the biggest capacity of oxidizing atmospheric CH4 in various unsaturated soils. However, up to now, there is not an overall review in the aspect of atmospheric CH4 oxidation (consumption) in forest soil. This paper analyzed advances of studies on the mechanism of atmospheric CH4 oxidation, and re-lated natural factors (Soil physical and chemical characters, temperature and moisture, ambient main greenhouse gases con-centrations, tree species, and forest fire) and anthropogenic factors (forest clear-cutting and thinning, fertilization, exogenous aluminum salts and atmospheric deposition, adding biocides, and switch of forest land use) in forest soils. It was believed that CH4 consumption rate by forest soil was limited by diffusion and sensitive to changes in water status and temperature of soil. CH4 oxidation was also particularly sensitive to soil C/N, Ambient CO2, CH4 and N2O concentrations, tree species and forest fire. In most cases, anthropogenic disturbances will decrease atmospheric CH4 oxidation, thus resulting in the elevating of atmos-pheric CH4. Finally, the author pointed out that our knowledge of atmospheric CH4 oxidation (consumption) in forest soil was insufficient. In order to evaluate the contribution of forest soils to atmospheric CH4 oxidation and the role of forest played in the process of global environmental change, and to forecast the trends of global warming exactly, more researchers need to studies further on CH4 oxidation in various forest soils of different areas.

Major factors controlling nitrous oxide emission and methane uptake from forest soil

Soil samples were taken from depth of 0-12 cm in virgin broad-leaved Korean pine mixed forest in Changbai Moun-tain in July 2000. The effects of temperature, soil water content, pH, NH4+ and NO3- on N2O emission and CH4 uptake of a for-est soil were studied in laboratory by the method of orthogonal design. It was observed under laboratory conditions in this study that there were significant correlations between N2O emission rate, CH4 oxidation rate, soil pH and temperature. Nevertheless, N2O emission rate also showed a significant positive correlation with CH4 oxidation rate. The results suggested that pH and temperature were important factors controlling N2O emission and CH4 oxidation under this experiment conditions.

Ecogeographical characteristics of forest soil animal in mountainous districts of the eastern China

In this paper ecogeographical characteristics of forest soil animal i n mountainous districts of the eastern China was analyzed, and results show that soil fauna was very rich in diversified forest habitat, moreover, as times and spaces varied, their compositions and abundance changed obviously too. Forest so il animal decreased gradually in taxa and individual number from the tropics to cold-temperature zone, and they are higher in zonal forest habitat than in other ones on the same mountain. Forest soil animal also got gradually less with incr easing of depth in soil layer, and distributed principally in surface layer. The activities of human had strong affection on faunal composition and diversity of soil animal. On the tropics and subtropics mountains, forest soil animal are le ss in spring-summer than in autumn-winter, whereas they are more in summer-autum n than in winter-spring from warm-temperate zone to cold-temperate zone.

An economic and efficient method for further purification of crude DNA extracted from forest soils

To obtain pure DNA directly from some complex forest soils are still very difficulty at present,though many methods even commercial kits have been attempted.This paper reports an economic and efficient method for further purifying crude DNA extracted from forest soils with two steps.First,the crude DNA was dissolved using the extraction buffer,which removed the debris by chloroform-isoamyl alcohol,and then reprecipitated the DNA by isopropanol;second,the recovered DNA was further purified with silica spin column.Results show that 82-91% of the humic acids was removed by step one.The remaining humic acids could be completely effaced through the second step.The recovered DNA following this protocol was quite pure and ready for sensitive conventional PCR reactions.This is an economic,efficient,and timesaving method.Moreover,crude DNA extracted by other methods can be also further purified with this new way.

Effects of Exogenous Organic Acids on Phosphorus Availability of Dark Brown Forest Soils and Phosphorus Absorption and Accumulation of Larix olgensis Seedlings with Nutrient Deficiency

Different proportions of A1 and B horizons dark brown forest soils （A1∶B=1∶2） were utilized to set the soil nutrient deficient conditions, and Larix olgensis seedlings were cultivated. By simulating organic acids concentrations in forest litter leachates of northeast China, the effects and mechanism of different concentrations of organic acid solutions on phosphorus （P） availability of dark brown forest soils and P absorption of Larix olgensis seedlings with nutrient deficiency were studied. The results showed that, compared with A1 horizon soils, available P contents of mixed soils in A1 and B horizons decreased, and P accumulation and efficiency of P uptake in root and leaves of Larix olgensis seedlings also decreased, but efficiency of P utilization increased. After treatments of exogenous organic acids, available P contents of mixed soils increased and the impact sequence of different organic acids were succinic acid 〉 citric acid 〉 oxalic acid; the concentration of 5.0 mmol/L had the best function, and the best effect of organic acids was at 20 d. Organic acids also increased P accumulation and efficiency of P uptake in roots and leaves of Larix olgensis seedlings, but decreased efficiency of P utilization. The impact strength of organic acids on P accumulation and efficiency of P uptake varied with treatment time, type and concentration of organic acids. The results of 20 d and 30 d in roots were higher than those of 10 d, however, the results of 10 d and 20 d in leaves were higher than those of 30 d, thus, at the earlier stage of organic acids treatments, more P absorbed were transferred to leaves, and at the later stage, more P would be accumulated in roots. The concentration of 10.0 mmol/L had the best function, and the impact sequence of different organic acids was succinic acid 〉 citric acid 〉 oxalic acid. Therefore, organic acids might contribute to P absorption and accumulation by Larix olgensis seedlings, final y increasing the adaptability and endurance of Larix olgensis seedlings to nutrient deficient soils.

Soluble organic nitrogen in forest soils of northeast China

Soluble organic nitrogen （SON） is recognized as a sensitive indicator of soil nitrogen status. The present work was conducted in the temperate forests of northeast China where soils are typically characterized by high organic matter and high organic nitrogen content, and soil sampling was made in early spring just after the freeze-thaw period. The water extracted SON pools in the organic layer of forest soils were measured within the range from 156.0 mg·kg^-1 to 292.6 mg·kg^-1, a similar magnitude of salt solution extracted SON pools reported in literatures. However, the water soluble SON pools in 0-15 cm mineral soils in present study were much higher （3-10 times） than any other reports, ranging from 58.6 mg·kg^-1 to 125.2 mg·kg^-1. Water soluble SON varied markedly among the soils under different forests and at different sites. The SON in water extracts were positively and significantly correlated to soil organic matter and total nitrogen contents, but negatively correlated to microbial biomass nitrogen （MBN）. The reasons of the abnormally large SON pools and the negative correlations between SON and MBN in the 0-15cm mineral soils in this study were specially discussed.

Water holding effect of subalpine dark coniferous forest soil in Gongga Mountain, China

Because of the distinction of soil property and humus content, soil water content is not ideal to indicate whether it is suitable to the growth of plant. Mainly based on the PF-a numerical value denoting the water regime of soil and connected with the growth of plant, the study combined the moisture percentage of soil with PF to research in quantity the interrelation between the moisture percentage and PF in different succession phases of subalpine dark coniferous forest in Gongga Mountain. The results showed that: (1) In the same PF value, the moisture percentage in humus horizon increased gradually with the devel-opment of the succession of the dark coniferous forest; The moisture percentage of over-mature forest was the highest and>mature forest>half-mature forest>young growth forest; (2) With the increase of soil depth, the soil bulk density increased and the moisture percentage decreased, but the difference in the percentage of moisture was not notable in different succession phases. (3) In different succession series, the vegetation affected the soil water characteristics by increasing the soil organic matter, improving the soil construction, receding the soil bulk density and enhancing the soil porosity; (4) The humus horizon of the dark coniferous forest soil has the highest water holding capability in this region.

Effect of Simulated Acid Rain on Potential Carbon and Nitrogen Mineralization in Forest Soils

Acid rain is a serious environmental problem worldwide. In this study, a pot experiment using forest soils planted with the seedlings of four woody species was performed with weekly treatments of pH 4.40, 4.00, 3.52, and 3.05 simulated acid rain (SAR) for 42 months compared to a control of pH 5.00 lake water. The cumulative amounts of C and N mineralization in the five treated soils were determined after incubation at 25 ℃ for 65 d to examine the effects of SAR treatments. For all five treatments, cumulative CO2-C production ranged from 20.24 to 27.81 mg kg-1 dry soil, net production of available N from 17.37 to 48.95 mg kg-1 dry soil, and net production of NO-3 -N from 9.09 to 46.23 mg kg-1 dry soil. SAR treatments generally enhanced the emission of CO2-C from the soils; however, SAR with pH 3.05 inhibited the emission. SAR treatments decreased the net production of available N and NO3-N. The cumulative CH4 and N2O productions from the soils increased with increasing amount of simulated acid rain. The cumulative CO2-C production and the net production of available N of the soil under Acmena acuminatissima were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) than those under Schima superba and Cryptocarya concinna. The mineralization of soil organic C was related to the contents of soil organic C and N, but was not related to soil pH. However, the overall effect of acid rain on the storage of soil organic matter and the cycling of important nutrients depended on the amount of acid deposition and the types of forests.

Study on Variation in ^(15)N Natural Abundance. Ⅰ. Characteristics of Variation in ^(25)N Natural Abundance of Forest Soils

INTRODUCTION A lot 0fwork has been done on the variation of natural ^(15)N abundance in soils andtheir N components (Chen et al., 1964). However, these reports mostly concerned thegeochemical mean of natural ^(15)N abundance, and only a little work has been done on thecharacteristics of variation of the natural ^(15)N abundance in different ecosystems and itsrelationship with the properties and conditions of soil, which is the aim of our recent re-

Quantification of 3D macropore networks in forest soils in Touzhai valley(Yunnan,China)using X-ray computed tomography and image analysis

The three dimensional （3D） geometry of soil macropores largely controls preferential flow, which is a significant infiltrating mechanism for rainfall in forest soils and affects slope stability. However, detailed studies on the 3D geometry of macropore networks in forest soils are rare. The intense rainfall-triggered potentially unstable slopes were threatening the villages at the downstream of Touzhai valley （Yunnan, China）. We visualized and quantified the 3D macropore networks in undisturbed soil columns （Histosols） taken from a forest hillslope in Touzhai valley, and compared them with those in agricultural soils （corn and soybean in USA; barley, fodder beet and red fescue in Denmark） and grassland soils in USA. We took two large undisturbed soil columns （250 mm^25o mmxsoo mm）, and scanned the soil columns at in-situ soil water content conditions using X-ray computed tomography at a voxel resolution of 0.945 × 0.945 × 1.500o mm^3. After reconstruction and visualization, we quantified the characteristics of macropore networks. In the studied forest soils, the main types of maeropores were root channels, inter-aggregate voids, maeropores without knowing origin, root-soil interfaee and stone-soil interface. While maeropore networks tend to be more eomplex, larger, deeper and longer. The forest soils have high maeroporosity, total maeropore wall area density, node density, and large maeropore volume, hydraulie radius, mean maeropore length, angle, and low tortuosity. The findings suggest that maeropore networks in the forest soils have high inter- connectivity, vertical continuity, linearity and less vertically oriented.

Effects of soil moisture and temperature on CH_4 oxidation and N_2O emission of forest soil

Soil samples were taken from depth of 0-12cm in the virgin broad- leaved/Korean pine mixed forest in Changbai Mountain in April, 2000. 20 μL·L-1 and 200 μL·L-1 CH4 and N2O concentration were supplied for analysis. Laboratory study on CH4 oxidation and N2O emission in forest soil showed that fresh soil sample could oxidize atmospheric methane and product N2O. Air-dried soil sample could not oxidize atmospheric methane, but could produCt N2O. However, it could oxidize the supplied methane quickly when its concentration was higher than 20 μL·L-1. The oxidation rate of methane was increased with its initial concentration. An addition of water to dry soil caused large pulse of N2O emissions within 2 hours. There were curvilinear correlations between N2O emission and temperature (r2=0.706, p <0.05), and between N2O emission andtwater content (r2=0.2968. p <0.05). These suggested temperature and water content were important factors controlling N2O emission. The correlation between CH4 oxidization and temperature was also found while CH4 was supplied 200 μL·L-1 (r2 =0.3573, p<0.05). Temperature was an important f8Ctor controlling CH4 oxidation. However, when 20 μL·L-1 CH4 was supplied, there was no correlation among CH4 oxidization, N2O emission, temperature and water content.

Determination of forest soil organic nitrogen determination using technique of X-ray absorption near-edge structure

The forest soil organic N was investigated using N K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure （XANES） to gain an insight into the relationship between N speciation and its transformation in quantity. Soil samples were collected from spruce, hemlock and pine forests in central Taiwan. Results showed that various organic N types could be revealed by XANES spectra. Amide and pyrrolic N are the major parts of the composition in the humic substance, soluble organic nitrogen and original soils. The relative distribution of N speciation differed in treatments and vegetations samples. The spruce had a significant difference from the hemlock in soluble organic nitrogen （SON） spectra at 402.3 eV energy peak. In the A-horizon soils, the relative amount of pyridinic N was much higher than that in the O-horizon soils, indicating N transformation in quantity in the mineral horizon was different from that in the organic horizon, which might play an important role in N cycling of forest ecosystems.

Nitrification and denitrification as sources of gaseous nitrogen emission from different forest soils in Changbai Mountain

The contributions of nitrification and denitrification to N2O and N2 emissions from four forest soils on northern slop of Changbai Mountain were measured with acetylene inhibition methods. In incubation experiments, 0.06% and 3% C2H2 were used to inhibit nitrification and denitrification in these soils, respectively. Both nitrification and denitification existed in these soils except tundra soil, where only denitrification was found. The annually averaged rates of nitrification and denitrification in mountain dark brown forest soil were much higher than that in other three soils. In mountain brown coniferous soil, contributions of different processes to gaseous nitrogen emissions were Denitrification N2O>nitrification N2O>Denitrification N2. The same sequence exists in mountain soddy soil as that in the mountain brown coniferous soil. The sequence in mountain tundra soil was Denitrification N2O>Denitrification N2.

Composition and ecological distribution of forest soil animalin Confucian graveyard of Qufu

Soil animal communities of Secondary forest,Platycladus forest andQuercus acutissima forest in Confucian graveyard of Qufu were investigated. 3583 specimens were collected, belonging separately to 5 Phylums, 11 Classes and 23 Orders. Two dominant groups and 9 common groups account for 94.45% of the total numbers. The soil animals in these three forest habitats differ in composition, ecological distribution and important indices. The dominant groups of soil animals in the three forests were the same, but other groups differ more greatly. Diversity index (H′) and evenness index (E) of soil animal in Secondary forest are the highest, and yet dominance index (C) inQuercus acutissima forest is the highest. Most soil animals in each forest habitats congregate to the surface soil layer. Their sorts and individual numbers are all layer I>II>III. It is very similar for composition of soil animals in the three forests.

Effect of Rock Fragments on Tracer Transport in Broadleaved and Coniferous Forest Soils: Column Study

This study investigated the effect of rock fragments on tracer transport in broadleaved and coniferous forest soils from the 0 - 100 cm depth of Gongga Mountain in eastern margin of Qinghai Tibetan Plateau. Using repacked soil columns (20 cm in height and 10 cm in diameter) with different rock fragments contents (0%, 5%, and 15% in v/v), breakthrough curves of bromide (as non-reactive tracer) were obtained under saturated condition. A two-region model was applied and the parameters were estimated by inverse modeling. Results show that with increasing rock fragment content the dispersivity (λ) generally increased while the mobile-immobile partition coefficient (β) and the mass transfer coefficient (ω) decreased. The presence of rock fragments led to an increase in the fraction of immobile domain as well as soil tortuosity. A plausible explanation is that the soil beneath the rock fragments behaved as immobile domain and soil-rock interfaces could serve as preferential flow paths.

The Research of Forest Soil Organic Carbon Accumulation in Dabie Mountain

In subtropical to warm temperate transitional zone of the Dabie Mountains hinterland forest topsoil as the research object this text,through the different levels of soil bulk density,organic carbon content of the determination of analytical studies in the area of forest surface soil organic carbon density.Because of the ecological role of small environment,the study area within the soil bulk density increased with depth,surface soil porosity,and bulk density from top to bottom in 0.8.All measuring points are the 0-10 cm surface layer soil organic carbon content are highest,content between 67.232-61.940 g/kg,this,because the forest soil organic carbon important source withers and falls in the vegetation stack and rotten.Different measuring point organic carbon along with depth change characteristic slightly different,low elevation the measuring point soil organic carbon content increases the monotonous drop along with the depth,the elevation is high,the measuring point slightly has in the 30-40 cm depth content increases.The comprehensive bulk specific gravity factor computation,the 0-40 cm soil organic carbon total content slightly has along with altitude above sea level’s rise increases,each square meter organic carbon content between 16 560.5-18 354.6 g,studies the region 0-40 cm soil organic carbon content mean value by 3 measuring points mean value achievement,then this region 0-40 cm soil organic carbon density approximately 174.3 t/hm2;Refers to the related research between the surface layer and the 0-100 cm soil layer organic carbon content relational reckoning,studies the region 0-100 cm soil organic carbon density to be possible to reach 233.9 t/hm2,it indicated that the Dabie Mountain area forest soil system has the giant organic carbon capacity.

Assessment of Forest Soil Fertility in Yunfu City based on Grey Correlation

Due to the spatial heterogeneity of forest soil,it is a difficult problem to evaluate the forest soil fertility on a large scale.This study conducted a grid survey of forest soil in Yunfu City,Guangdong Province,and used the the gray correlation system to evaluate forest soil fertility in each county.The results showed that the effect of using the gray correlation analysis to evaluate soil fertility in Yunfu city was ideal,and the fertilizer strength in each county was in order of Yunan,Yun'an,Yuncheng,Xinxing,and Luoding.The results can provide an appropriate scientific basis for forestry division within the county scale.

Forest Soil Management: A Mexican Experience

Forests improve the livelihoods and resilience of communities in diverse ways. In particular, soils provide important environmental services for communities in addition to performing many essential ecological functions in forest ecosystems, such as nutrient uptake, organic matter decomposition, water storage, and provision of anchorage for plant growth. The sound management of forest soils, although often disregarded, is a key element of sustainable forest management. From 2002 to 2016 the Forest Soil Conservation and Restoration Sub-Program was designed and implemented by the National Forest Commission (CONAFOR) in Mexico. Forests in Mexico have high biological diversity and are often owned, governed, and managed by communities or, in some cases, community forestry is practiced. Despite the importance of periodic monitoring to ensure that policies are both effective and suitable for diverse conditions and decision making, the policies implemented by this program were not evaluated during its years of operation. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to identify the deficiencies of this policy as well as opportunities based on a review of the official information available on the Forest Soil Conservation and Restoration Sub-Program of CONAFOR during the 2002-2016 period and interviews with key informants. In addition, we aimed to highlight experiences that may be useful for similar soil conservation policies in tropical forest regions. The identified limitations ranged from conceptual problems such as policy weakness and lack of understanding of local drivers of soil degradation to an overly rigid implementation of soil conservation measures across diverse forest ecosystems and socio-ecological contexts. These deficiencies had several unintended outcomes: perhaps the most relevant was the inability of forest communities to build capacities for soil conservation. Another important limitation was the complete lack of monitoring of the program and its outcomes, which could have prevented its poor results. Finally, a lack of transparency in the distribution and determination of funding was noted. In conclusion, the hierarchical approach of this policy appears to have compromised its long-term efficacy.