Net Ecosystem CO2 Flux and Effect Factors in Peatland Ecosystem of Central China

Peatland ecosystems play an important role in the global carbon cycle because they act as a pool or sink for the carbon cycle. However, the relationship between seasonality effect factors and net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE) remains to be clarified, particularly for the non-growing season. Here, based on the eddy covariance technique, NEE in the peatland ecosystem of Central China was examined to measure two years’ (2016 and 2017) accumulation of carbon dioxide emissions with contrasting seasonal distribution of environmental factors. Our results demonstrate the cumulative net ecosystem CO2 emissions during the study period was in the first non-growing season 2.94 ± 4.83 μmolCO2 m-2.s-1 with the lowest values in the same year in first growing season was -2.79 ± 4.92 μmolCO2 m-2.s-1. The results indicate the effect of seasonal variations of NEE can be directly reflected in daily and seasonal variations in growth and respiration of peatland ecosystem by environmental parameters over different growing stages.

Impact of Drought Stress on Net CO_2 Exchange above an Alpine Grassland Ecosystem in the Central Tibetan Plateau

Drought may impact the net ecosystem exchange of CO2 （NEE） between grassland ecosystems and the atmosphere during growth seasons. Here, carbon dioxide exchange and controlling factors in alpine grassland under drought stress in the hinterland of Tibetan Plateau （Damxung, Tibet, China） were investigated. Data were obtained using the covariance eddy technique in 2009. Severe drought stress appeared in the early growing season （May to early July） and September. Drought conditions during the early growing season limited grass production and the green leaf area index （GLAD increased slowly, with an obvious decline in June. When encountering severe water stress, diurnal patterns of NEE in the growth season altered with a peak carbon release around 16：00 h or a second carbon uptake period before sunset. NEE variations in daytime related most closely with O other than PAR when daily averaged @〈0.1 m3 m 3. Seasonal patterns of gross primary production （GPP） and NEE were also influenced by drought： the maximum and minimum of daily-integrated NEE were 0.9 g C m-2 d-1 on 3 July 2009, and -1.3 g C m-2 d-1 on 12 August 2009 with a GPP peak （-2.3 g C m-2 d-1） on the same day, respectively. Monthly NEE from May to July remained as carbon release and increased gradually; peak values of monthly NEE and GPP both appeared in August, but that of ecosystem respiration （R^co） was reached in July. Annual NEE, GPP and Reco of the alpine grassland ecosystem were 52.4, -158.1 and 210.5 g C m-2, respectively. Therefore, the grassland was a moderate source of COs to the atmosphere in this dry year. Interannual variation in NEE was likely related to different water conditions in the growing season. The three greatest contributors to seasonal variation in NEE, GPP and R^co respectively were GLAI〉Ta〉O, GLAI〉O〉PPT, and Ta〉GLAI〉PAR. Seasonality of GLAI explained 60.7% and 76.1% of seasonal variation in NEE and GPP, respectively. GPP or NEE was more sensitive than Reco to variation in GLAI, and ecosystem water conditions.

Effect of solar radiation on net ecosystem CO_2 exchange of alpine meadow on the Tibetan Plateau

On the Tibetan Plateau, the alpine meadow is the most widespread vegetation type. The alpine meadow has a low biological productivity and low vegetation coverage in the growing season. The daytime NEE between the atmosphere and the alpine meadow ecosystem was influenced by solar radiation. To analyze the characteristics of change in NEE and to calculate the parameters related to photosynthesis and respiration in different solar radiation environments, the NEE measurements were taken in Damxung from July to August in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 using the eddy covariance technique. Solar radiation was grouped into three levels according to the net radiation, which was more than 155 W m-2 d-1 on clear days, 144±5 W m-2 d-1 on partly cloudy days and less than 134 W m-2 d-1 on cloudy days. The diurnal relationships between NEE and PAR varied with differences in solar radiation, which was a rectangular hyperbola form on clear days, two different concave curves on partly cloudy days and an irregular triangle form on cloudy days. The mean CO2 absorption rate showed a decreasing trend with increasing solar radiation. The daytime absorption maximum occurred around 10：00 on clear days with an average of slightly less –0.2 mg m-2 d-1, around 11：00 on partly cloudy days with an average of about –0.2 mg m-2 d-1, and around 12：00 on cloudy days with an average of about –0.25 mg m-2 d-1. As solar radiation increased, the Amax and the Q10 decreased. However, the R10 increased and the maximum of the α occurred on partly cloudy days. The optimum net solar radiation was about 134–155 W m-2 d-1, which induced a PAR of about 1800-2000 μmol m-2 s-1 and soil temperature at a depth of 5 cm of about 14℃. Therefore, on the Tibetan Plateau, the alpine meadow ecosystem will have a higher carbon absorption potential while solar radiation decreases in the future.

Effect of water stress on ecosystem photosynthesis and respiration of a Leymus chinensis steppe in Inner Mongolia

Many studies on global climate have forecast major changes in the amounts and spatial patterns of precipitation that may significantly affect temperate grasslands in arid and semi-arid regions. As a part of ChinaFLUX, eddy covariance flux measurements were made at a semi-arid Leymus chinensis steppe in Inner Mongolia, China during 2003-2004 to quantify the response of carbon exchange to environmental changes. Results showed that gross ecosystem production (FGEP) and ecosystem respiration (Reco) of the steppe were significantly depressed by water stress due to lack of precipitation during the growing season. Temperature was the dominant factor affecting FGEP and Reco in 2003, whereas soil moisture imposed a significant influence on both Reco and FGEP in 2004. Under wet conditions, Reco showed an exponentially increasing trend with temperature (Q10 = 2.0), but an apparent reduction in the value of Reco and its temperature sensitivity were observed during the periods of water stress (Q10=1.6). Both heat and water stress can cause decrease in FGEP. The sea-sonality of ecosystem carbon exchange was strongly correlated with the variation of precipitation. With less precipitation in 2003, the steppe sequestrated carbon in June and July, and went into a senescence in early August due to water stress. As compared to 2003, the severe drought during the spring of 2004 delayed the growth of the steppe until late June, and the steppe became a CO2 sink from early July until mid-September, with ample precipitation in August. The semi-arid steppe released a total of 9.7 g C·m-2 from May 16 to the end of September 2003, whereas the net carbon budget during the same period in 2004 was close to zero. Long-term measurements over various grasslands are needed to quantify carbon balance in temperate grasslands.

Estimate of productivity in ecosystem of the broad-leaved Korean pine mixed forest in Changbai Mountain

We measured soil, stem and branch respiration of trees and shrubs, foliage photosynthesis and respiration in ecosystem of the needle and broad-leaved Korean pine forest in Changbai Mountain by LI-6400 CO2 analysis system. Measurement of forest microclimate was conducted simultaneously and a model was found for the relationship of soil, stem, leaf and climate factors. CO2 flux of different components in ecosystem of the broad-leaved Korean pine forest was estimated based on vegetation characteristics. The net ecosystem exchange was measured by eddy covariance technique. And we studied the effect of temperature and photosynthetic active radiation on ecosystem CO2 flux. Through analysis we found that the net ecosystem exchange was affected mainly by soil respiration and leaf photosynthesis. Annual net ecosystem exchange ranged from a minimum of about -4.671μmol·m-2·s-1 to a maximum of 13.80μmol·m-2·s-1, mean net ecosystem exchange of CO2 flux was -2.0μmol·m-2·s-1 and 3.9μmol·m-2·s-1 in winter and summer respectively (mean value during 24 h). Primary productivity of tree, shrub and herbage contributed about 89.7%, 3.5% and 6.8% to the gross primary productivity of the broad-leaved Korean pine forest respectively. Soil respiration contributed about 69.7% CO2 to the broad-leaved Korean pine forest ecosystem, comprising about 15.2% from tree leaves and 15.1% from branches. The net ecosystem exchange in growing season and non-growing season contributed 56.8% and 43.2% to the annual CO2 efflux respectively. The ratio of autotrophic respiration to gross primary productivity (Ra:GPP) was 0.52 (NPP:GPP=0.48). Annual carbon accumulation underground accounted for 52% of the gross primary productivity, and soil respiration contributed 60% to gross primary productivity. The NPP of the needle and broad-leaved Korean pine forest was 769.3 gC·m-2·a-1. The net ecosystem exchange of this forest ecosystem (NEE) was 229.51 gC·m-2·a-1. The NEE of this forest ecosystem acquired by eddy covariance technique was lower than chamber estimates by 19.8%.

The interactive effects of nitrogen addition and increased precipitation on gross ecosystem productivity in an alpine meadow

The ecological consequences of precipitation change and increased atmospheric nitrogen(N)deposition have profound impacts on ecosystem CO2 exchange in grassland ecosystems.Water and N can largely influence grassland productivity,community composition and ecosystem functions.However,the influences of water and N addition on the ecosystem CO2 exchange of alpine grassland ecosystems remain unclear.A field manipulative experiment with water and N additions was conducted in an alpine meadow on the Tibetan Plateau over 4 years with contrasting precipitation patterns.There were four treatments:control(Ctrl),N addition(N),water addition(W)and N and water addition(NW),each replicated three times.N addition,but not water addition,increased gross ecosystem productivity(GEP),plant biomass,community cover and community-weighted mean height.The responses of ecosystem CO2 exchange to water and N addition varied between the wet and dry years.Water addition had a positive effect on net ecosystem carbon exchange(NEE)due to a larger increase in GEP than in ecosystem respiration(ER)only in the dry year.On the contrary,N addition significantly enhanced ecosystem CO2 exchange only in the wet year.The increased GEP in N addition was attributed to the larger increase in NEE than ER.Moreover,N addition stimulated NEE mainly through increasing the cover of dominant species.Our observations highlight the important roles of precipitation and dominant species in regulating ecosystem CO2 exchange response to global environmental change in alpine grasslands.