Rising utilization of stable isotopes in tree rings for climate change and forest ecology

Analyses of stable isotopes(C,O,H)in tree rings are increasingly important cross-disciplinary programs.The rapid development in this field documented in an increasing number of publications requires a comprehensive review.This study includes a bibliometric analysis-based review to better understand research trends in tree ring stable isotope research.Overall,1475 publications were selected from the Web of Science Core Collection for 1974-2023.The findings are that:(1)numbers of annual publications and citations increased since 1974.From 1974 to 1980,there were around two relevant publications per year.However,from 2020 to 2022,this rose sharply to 109 publications per year.Likewise,average article citations were less than four per year before 1990,but were around four per article per year after 2000;(2)the major subjects using tree ring stable isotopes include forestry,geosciences,and environmental sciences,contributing to 42.5%of the total during 1974-2023;(3)the top three most productive institutions are the Chinese Academy of Sciences(423),the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest,Snow and Landscape Research(227),and the University of Arizona(204).These achievements result from strong collaborations;(4)review papers,for example,(Dawson et al.,Annu Rev Ecol Syst 33:507-559,2002)and(McCarroll and Loader,Quat Sci Rev 23:771-801,2004),are among the most cited,with more than 1000 citations;(5)tree ring stable isotope studies mainly focus on climatology and ecology,with atmospheric CO_(2) one of the most popular topics.Since 2010,precipitation and drought have received increasing attention.Based on this analysis,the research stages,key findings,debated issues,limitations and direc-tions for future research are summarized.This study serves as an important attempt to understand the progress on the use of stable isotopes in tree rings,providing scientific guid-ance for young researchers in this field.

A bulk extraction method to determine the stable isotope ratios of iron,nickel,copper,zinc,and cadmium in seawater using multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

The oceanic trace metals iron(Fe),nickel(Ni),copper(Cu),zinc(Zn),and cadmium(Cd)are crucial to marine phytoplankton growth and global carbon cycle,and the analysis of their stable isotopes can provide valuable insights into their biogeochemical cycles within the ocean.However,the simultaneous isotopic analysis of multiple elements present in seawater is challenging because of their low concentrations,limited volumes of the test samples,and high salt matrix.In this study,we present the novel method developed for the simultaneous analysis of five isotope systems by 1 L seawater sample.In the developed method,the NOBIAS Chelate-PA1 resin was used to extract metals from seawater,the AG MP-1M anion-exchange resin to purify Cu,Fe,Zn,Cd,and the NOBIAS Chelate-PA1 resin to further extract Ni from the matrix elements.Finally,a multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscope(MC-ICPMS)was employed for the isotopic measurements using a doublespike technique or sample-standard bracketing combined with internal normalization.This method exhibited low total procedural blanks(0.04 pg,0.04 pg,0.21 pg,0.15 pg,and 3 pg for Ni,Cu,Fe,Zn,and Cd,respectively)and high extraction efficiencies(100.5%±0.3%,100.2%±0.5%,97.8%±1.4%,99.9%±0.8%,and 100.1%±0.2%for Ni,Cu,Fe,Zn,and Cd,respectively).The external errors and external precisions of this method could be considered negligible.The proposed method was further tested on the seawater samples obtained from the whole vertical profile of a water column during the Chinese GEOTRACES GP09 cruise in the Northwest Pacific,and the results showed good agreement with previous related data.This innovative method will contribute to the advancement of isotope research and enhance our understanding of the marine biogeochemical cycling of Fe,Ni,Cu,Zn,and Cd.

Distribution and sources of sedimentary organic matter in different aquaculture areas of northeastern Zhanjiang Bay using stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes

Zhanjiang Bay is a major aquaculture area in China with many types of mariculture products(such as oysters,fish,and shrimp).The culture area and shrimp output in Zhanjiang Bay are ranked first in China.We investigated the total organic carbon(TOC),total nitrogen(TN),TOC/TN ratio,and stable isotopes(δ^(13)C and δ^(15)N) of the fish and shrimp feed,fish and shrimp feces,and sedimentary organic matter(SOM) in and around different aquaculture areas of northeastern Zhanjiang B ay to study the impact of aquaculture activities on SOM.The average TOC contents of fish and shrimp feed were 39.20%±0.91% and 39.29%±0.21%,respectively.The average TOC content in the surface sediments of the oyster culture area,the mixed(fish and shrimp) culture area,and the cage fish farm area were 0.66%,0.88%±0.10%,and 0.58%±0.19%,respectively,which may indicate that mixed culture had a greater impact on SOM.The relatively high TOC and TN contents and relatively low TOC/TN ratios,and δ^(15)N values in the upper layer of the core sediment in the mixed culture area could also support the significant influence of mixed culture.The average δ^(13)C and δ^(15)N values of fish and shrimp feed were -20.6‰±2.2‰ and 1.8‰±1.2‰,respectively,which were different from the isotopic values of SOM in the study area.δ^(13)C and δ^(15)N values for SOM in different aquaculture areas were different from those of nearby reference stations,probably reflecting the influence of aquaculture.The δ^(13)C and δ^(15)N values in the oyster culture area(-25.9‰ and6.0‰,respectively) seemed to have reduced δ^(13)C and enriched δ^(15)N relative to those of the reference station(-24.6‰ and 5.8‰,respectively).This may reflect the influence of organic matter on oyster culture.The δ^(15)N value of the station in the mixed culture area(7.1‰±0.4‰) seemed to be relatively enriched in δ^(15)N relative to that of the reference station(6.6‰).Sedimentation and the subsequent degradation of organic matter from mixed cultures may have contributed to this phenomenon.The surface sediment at the cage fish farm area seemed to be affected by fish feces and primary production based on the indication of δ^(13)C and δ^(15)N values.The sediment core at the mixed culture region(NS6) had lower TOC/TN ratios and more positive δ^(13)C and δ^(15)N values than the sediment core at the oyster culture area,suggesting a higher proportionate contribution of marine organic matter in the mixed culture area.In summary,oyster culture,mixed culture,and cage fish culture in northeastern Zhanjiang Bay had a certain degree of impact on SOM,and mixed culture had more significant influences on SOM based on the high TOC contents and the significant vertical variations of TOC/TN ratio and δ^(15)N value in the sediment of this area.This study provides new insights into the impact of aquaculture activities on SOM content.

Effects of thinning and understory removal on water use efficiency of Pinus massoniana:evidence from photosynthetic capacity and stable carbon isotope analyses

Understanding the relationship between forest management and water use efficiency(WUE)is important for evaluating forest adaptability to climate change.However,the effects of thinning and understory removal on WUE and its key controlling processes are not well understood,which limits our comprehension of the physiological mechanisms of various management practices.In this study,four forest management measures(no thinning:NT;understory removal:UR;light thinning:LT;and heavy thinning:HT)were carried out in Pinus massoniana plantations in a subtropical region of China.Photosynthetic capacity and needle stable carbon isotope composition(δ^(13)C)were measured to assess instantaneous water use efficiency(WUE_(inst))and long-term water use efficiency(WUE_(i)).Multiple regression models and structural equation modelling(SEM)identified the effects of soil properties and physiological performances on WUE_(inst)and WUE_(i).The results show that WUE_(inst)values among the four treatments were insignificant.However,compared with the NT stand(35.8μmol·mol^(-1)),WUE_(i)values significantly increased to 41.7μmol·mol^(-1)in the UR,50.1μmol·mol^(-1)in the LT and 46.6μmol·mol^(-1)in HT treatments,largely explained by photosynthetic capacity and soil water content.Understory removal did not change physiological performance(needle water potential and photosynthetic capacity).Thinning increased the net photosynthetic rate(A_n)but not stomatal conductance(g_s)or predawn needle water potential(ψ_(pd)),implying that the improvement in water use efficiency for thinned stands was largely driven by radiation interception than by soil water availability.In general,thinning may be an appropriate management measure to promote P.massoniana WUE to cope with seasonal droughts under future extreme climates.

Quantification of irrigation water transport processes in ZiZiphus jujuba garden using water stable isotopes

ZiZiphus jujuba,which is native to China,has become one of the main crops widely planted in the western Loess Plateau because of its drought and flood-tolerance,adaptability,and higher nutritional value of the fruit.The irrigation water infiltration in Z.jujuba gardens is complex,and understanding its mechanisms is essential for efficient water use and sustainable agriculture.This knowledge helps ensure the long-term success of jujuba cultivation.This paper describes a field experiment that investigates the infiltration process of irrigation water from Z.jujuba garden and quantifies the contribution of irrigation water to soil water at different depths using the MixSIAR model.According to the FC(Field water holding Capacity)of Z.jujuba,irrigation experiments with three volumes of 80%FC,60%FC,and 40%FC are set up in this study.The study finds that water retention is better in Z.jujuba garden soils with a higher proportion of coarse gravel in the soil particle composition.Soil water content exhibits a gradient change after irrigation,with deeper wetting front transport depth observed with increased irrigation water.Additionally,there is correlation between soil temperature and soil water content.The soil water in Z.jujuba garden generally exhibits a preferential flow signal in the 0-40 cm range.Below 40 cm,a piston flow pattern dominates.The rate of soil water infiltration increases with the amount of irrigation water.In the 0-40 cm range of the soil vertical profile,irrigation water was the main contributor to soil water.Z.jujuba demonstrated flexibility in water uptake,primarily absorbing soil water at depths of 0-40 cm.For optimal growth of Z.jujuba at this stage,40%FC irrigation is recommended.The results are expected to be valuable future irrigation practices and land use planning for Z.jujuba garden in arid zones,supporting sustainable agricultural development and water management.

Variation characteristics of stable isotopes in atmospheric precipitation in Adelaide,Australia

Background,aim,and scope Stable isotope in water could respond sensitively to the variation of environment and be reserved in different geological archives,although they are scarce in the environment.And the methods derived from the stable isotope composition of water have been widely applied in researches on hydrometeorology,weather diagnosis,and paleoclimate reconstruction,which help well for understanding the water-cycle processes in one region.Here,it is aimed to explore the temporal changes of stable isotopes in precipitation from Adelaide,Australia and determine the influencing factors at different timescales.Materials and methods Based on the isotopic data of daily precipitation over four years collected in Adelaide,Australia,the variation characteristics of dailyδD,δ^(18)O,and dexcess in precipitation and its relationship with meteorological elements were analyzed.Results The results demonstrated the local meteoric water line(LMWL)in Adelaide,wasδD=6.38×δ^(18)O+6.68,with a gradient less than 8.There is a significant negative correlation between dailyδ^(18)O and precipitation amount or relative humidity at daily timescales in both the whole year and wither/summerhalf year(p<0.001),but a significant positive correlation between dailyδ^(18)O and temperature in the whole year and the winter half-year(p<0.001).Discussion The correlation coefficients betweenδ^(18)O and daily mean temperature didn’t show a significant positive correlation,which may be attributed to that the precipitation in Adelaide area in January was mainly influenced by strong convective weather,and the stable isotope values in precipitation were significantly negative.Furthermore,this propose was also evidenced by the results from dexcess of precipitation with larger value in the winter half-year than that in the summer half-year,which may be resulted from the precipitation events in winter are mostly influenced by oceanic water vapor,while the sources of water vapor in summer precipitation events are more complicated and influenced by strong convective weather.On the other hand,the slope and intercept of theδ^(18)O—P regression lines in the summer months(-0.41 and 0.50‰)are larger and smaller than those in the winter months(-0.22 and-2.15‰),respectively,indicating that the precipitation stable isotopes have a relatively stronger rainout effect in the summer months than in the winter months.Besides,the measured values ofδ^(18)O in daily precipitation have a good linear relationship with our simulated values ofδ^(18)O,demonstrating the established regression model could provide a reliable simulation for theδ^(18)O values in daily precipitation in Adelaide area.It’s worth noting that the precipitation events with low precipitation amount,low relative humidity and high temperature,usually had relatively small slope and intercept of MWL,implying that raindrops may be strongly affected by sub-cloud secondary evaporation in the falling process.Conclusions The variation ofδ^(18)O in daily precipitation from Adelaide region was controlled by different factors at different timescales.And the water vapor sources and the meteorological conditions of precipitation events(such as the degree of sub-cloud secondary evaporation)also played an important role on the variation ofδ^(18)O.Recommendations and perspectives Stable isotope in daily precipitation can provide more accurate information about water-cycle and atmosphere circulation,it is therefore necessary to continue to collect and analyze daily-scale precipitation data over a longer time span.The results of this study will provide the basis for the fields of hydrometeorology,meteorological diagnosis and paleoclimate reconstruction in Adelaide,Australia.

Food Resource Partitioning in Alpine Weasel,Steppe Polecat and Upland Buzzard:Evidence from Stable Isotope Ratios

Based on mass balance theory and IsoSource program,stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic ratios revealed that small mammals (plateau pika,root vole and plateau zokor) contributed 26.8% and 27.0% and 29.2% to alpine weasel,steppe polecat and upland buzzard of carnivores as food respectively;adult passerine birds contributed 22.3%,47.7% and 69.1%,with hatchlings contributing 50.9%,25.6% and 1.70% to each respectively.δ 13 C values plotted against δ 15 N indicated significant partitioning in two-dimensional space among the three carnivores.It was reasonable to propose a food resource partitioning among alpine weasel,steppe polecat and upland buzzard,which partially revealed their co-existence mechanisms.

Stable Isotope Technique——An Advanced Technology in Ascertaining Plant-Water Relations

Some key terms and relevant standard related with stable isotope tech- nique were introduced, and the determination of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, the three stable isotopes in water, as well as their isotope effect was discussed. Appli- cations and advances of stable isotopes were stated mainly from plant water source, water use efficiency, the most active water adsorption region in root system and water resources utilization differences among different species in plant communi- ty. In addition, some existing problems in investigating the plant-water relations by using stable isotope technique were put forward. In this study, we aimed to promote the sustainable development of stable isotope technique in the research of plant water utilization and in the field of ecology in China.

Changes in the Activities of C4 Pathway Enzymes and Stable Carbon Isotope Discrimination in Flag Leaves of Super High-yield Hybrid Rice

Activities of several key enzymes of C-4 photosynthesis pathway and stable carbon isotope discrimination were investigated in flag leaves of a super high-yield hybrid rice (Oryza sativa L.) cv. Peiai 64S/E32 and a traditional hybrid rice cv. Shanyou 63 at different developing stages. Results show that the activity of PEP carboxylase (PEPCase) increased with age of flag leave; the activity of NADP-malate dehydrogenase (NADP-MDH) increased and reached to a peak value at grain filling stage (68-75 d after transplanting), then fell down; the activity of NADP-MDH in cv. Peiai 64S/E32 was much higher than that in cv. Shanyou 63. Before ripening stage (95 d after transplanting), NADP-malic enzyme activity rose gradually. The level of stable carbon isotope discrimination (Delta(13)C) in flag leaves and grains at different developing stages were similar and exhibited a comparative high value at ripening stage. The average Delta(13)C in leaf of cv. Peiai 64S/E32 during different developing stages was 0.43parts per thousand more than that in cv. Shanyou 63.

Assimilation of carbonate country rock by the parent magma of the Panzhihua Fe-Ti-V deposit(SW China):Evidence from stable isotopes

The Panzhihua intrusion in southwest China is part of the Emeishan Large Igneous Province and host of a large Fe-Ti-V ore deposit.During emplacement of the main intrusion,multiple generations of mafic dykes invaded carbonate wall rocks,producing a large contact aureole.We measured the oxygen-isotope composition of the intrusions,their constituent minerals,and samples of the country rock.Magnetite and plagioclase from Panzhihua intrusion haveδ18O values that are consistent with magmatic equilibrium, and formed from magmas withδ18O values that were 1-2‰higher than expected in a mantle-derived magma.The unmetamorphosed country rock has highδ18O values,ranging from 13.2‰（sandstone） to 24.6-28.6‰（dolomite）.The skarns and marbles from the aureole have lowerδ18O andδ13C values than their protolith suggesting interaction with fluids that were in exchange equilibrium with the adjacent mafic magmas and especially the numerous mafic dykes that intruded the aureole.This would explain the alteration ofδ18O of the dykes which have significantly higher values than expected for a mantle-derived magma.Depending on the exactδ18O values assumed for the magma and contaminant, the amount of assimilation required to produce the elevatedδ18O value of the Panzhihua intrusion was between 8 and 13.7 wt.%,assuming simple mixing.The exact mechanism of contamination is unclear but may involve a combination of assimilation of bulk country rock,mixing with a melt of the country rock and exchange with CO2-rich fluid derived from decarbonation of the marls and dolomites.These mechanisms,particularly the latter,were probably involved in the formation of the Fe-Ti-V ores.

Genesis of the Bangbu Orogenic Gold Deposit, Tibet： Evidence from Fluid Inclusion, Stable Isotopes, and Ar-Ar Geochronology

The Bangbu gold deposit is a large orogenic gold deposit in Tibet formed during the AlpineHimalayan collision. Ore bodies（auriferous quartz veins） are controlled by the E-W-trending Qusong-Cuogu-Zhemulang brittle-ductile shear zone. Quartz veins at the deposit can be divided into three types： pre-metallogenic hook-like quartz veins, metallogenic auriferous quartz veins, and postmetallogenic N-S quartz veins. Four stages of mineralization in the auriferous quartz veins have been identified：（1） Stage S1 quartz＋coarse-grained sulfides,（2） Stage S2 gold＋fine-grained sulfides,（3） Stage S3 quartz＋carbonates, and（4） Stage S4 quartz＋ greigite. Fluid inclusions indicate the oreforming fluid was CO_2-N_2-CH_4 rich with homogenization temperatures of 170–261°C, salinities 4.34–7.45 wt% Na Cl equivalent. δ^（18）Ofluid（3.98‰–7.18‰） and low δDV-SMOW（-90‰ to-44‰） for auriferous quartz veins suggest ore-forming fluids were mainly metamorphic in origin, with some addition of organic matter. Quartz vein pyrite has δ^（34）SV-CDT values of 1.2‰–3.6‰（an average of 2.2‰）, whereas pyrite from phyllite has δ^（34）SV-CDT 5.7‰–9.9‰（an average of 7.4‰）. Quartz vein pyrites yield 206Pb/204 Pb ratios of 18.662–18.764, 207Pb/204 Pb 15.650–15.683, and ^（208）Pb/204 Pb 38.901–39.079. These isotopic data indicate Bangbu ore-forming materials were probably derived from the Langjiexue accretionary wedge. 40Ar/39 Ar ages for sericite from auriferous sulfide-quartz veins yield a plateau age of 49.52 ± 0.52 Ma, an isochron age of 50.3 ± 0.31 Ma, suggesting that auriferous veins were formed during the main collisional period of the Tibet-Himalayan orogen（-65–41 Ma）.

Fractionation mechanism of stable isotope in evaporating water body

Under Rayleigh equilibrium condition, stable isotopic ratio in residual water increases with the decrease of the residual water proportion f exponentially, and the fractionation rate of stable isotopes is inversely proportional to temperature. However, under kinetic evaporation condition, the fi＇actionation of stable isotopes is not only related to the phase temperature but also influenced by the atmospheric humidity and the mass exchange between liquid and vapor phases. The ratio 6 in residual water will not change with f after undergoing evaporation of a long time for great relative humidity. The rate that the evaporating water body reaches isotopic steady state is mainly dependent on the relative humidity in atmosphere. The analysis shows that the actual mean linear variety rates, about -30.0, of the δ^18O in residual water versus the residual water proportion at Nagqu and Amdo stations are consistent with the simulated process under temperature of 20℃ and relative humidity of 50%. The distillation line simulated under Rayleigh equilibrium condition is analogous to the global meteoric water line （MWL） as the temperature is about 20℃. Under non-equilibrium condition, the slope and constant values of distillation line are directly proportional to temperature and relative humidity. According to the basic data, the simulated distillation line is very consistent with the actual distillation line of Qinghai Lake.

Estimating distribution of water uptake with depth of winter wheat by hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopes under different irrigation depths

Crop root system plays an important role in the water cycle of the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum. In this study, com- bined isotope techniques, root length density and root cell activity analysis were used to investigate the root water uptake mechanisms of winter wheat （Triticum aesfivum L.） under different irrigation depths in the North China Plain. Both direct inference approach and multisource linear mixing model were applied to estimate the distribution of water uptake with depth in six growing stages. Results showed that winter wheat under land surface irrigation treatment （Ts） mainly absorbed water from 10-20 cm soil layers in the wintering and green stages （66.9 and 72.0%, respectively）; 0-20 cm （57.0%） in the jointing stage; 0-40 （15.3%） and 80-180 cm （58.1%） in the heading stage; 60-80 （13.2%） and 180-220 cm （35.5%） in the filling stage; and 0-40 （46.8%） and 80-100 cm （31.0%） in the ripening stage. Winter wheat under whole soil layers irrigation treatment （Tw） absorbed more water from deep soil layer than Ts in heading, filling and ripening stages. Moreover, root cell activity and root length density of winter wheat under TW were significantly greater than that of Ts in the three stages. We concluded that distribution of water uptake with depth was affected by the availability of water sources, the root length density and root cell activity. Implementation of the whole soil layers irrigation method can affect root system distribution and thereby increase water use from deeper soil and enhance water use efficiency.

Stable oxygen-hydrogen isotopes reveal water use strategies of Tamarix taklamakanensis in the Taklimakan Desert, China

Tamarix taklamakanensis,a dominant species in the Taklimakan Desert of China,plays a crucial role in stabilizing sand dunes and maintaining regional ecosystem stability.This study aimed to determine the water use strategies of T.taklamakanensis in the Taklimakan Desert under a falling groundwater depth.Four typical T.taklamakanensis nabkha habitats(sandy desert of Tazhong site,saline desert-alluvial plain of Qiemo site,desert-oasis ecotone of Qira site and desert-oasis ecotone of Aral site)were selected with different climate,soil,groundwater and plant cover conditions.Stable isotope values of hydrogen and oxygen were measured for plant xylem water,soil water(soil depths within 0–500 cm),snowmelt water and groundwater in the different habitats.Four potential water sources for T.taklamakanensis,defined as shallow,middle and deep soil water,as well as groundwater,were investigated using a Bayesian isotope mixing model.It was found that groundwater in the Taklimakan Desert was not completely recharged by precipitation,but through the river runoff from snowmelt water in the nearby mountain ranges.The surface soil water content was quickly depleted by strong evaporation,groundwater depth was relatively shallow and the height of T.taklamakanensis nabkha was relatively low,thus T.taklamakanensis primarily utilized the middle(23%±1%)and deep(31%±5%)soil water and groundwater(36%±2%)within the sandy desert habitat.T.taklamakanensis mainly used the deep soil water(55%±4%)and a small amount of groundwater(25%±2%)within the saline desert-alluvial plain habitat,where the soil water content was relatively high and the groundwater depth was shallow.In contrast,within the desert-oasis ecotone in the Qira and Aral sites,T.taklamakanensis primarily utilized the deep soil water(35%±1%and 38%±2%,respectively)and may also use groundwater because the height of T.taklamakanensis nabkha was relatively high in these habitats and the soil water content was relatively low,which is associated with the reduced groundwater depth due to excessive water resource exploitation and utilization by surrounding cities.Consequently,T.taklamakanensis showed distinct water use strategies among the different habitats and primarily depended on the relatively stable water sources(deep soil water and groundwater),reflecting its adaptations to the different habitats in the arid desert environment.These findings improve our understanding on determining the water sources and water use strategies of T.taklamakanensis in the Taklimakan Desert.

Applications of Light Stable Isotopes(C, O, H) in the Study of Sandstone Diagenesis: A Review

This article reviews the applications of light stable isotope, including carbon, oxygen and hydrogen, in thestudies on origin and formation temperature of authigenic carbonate, quartz and clay minerals. Theoretical knowledge andanalytical methods for major light stable isotopes are introduced in detail. Negative and positive δ^(13)C values indicatesignificant differences on the origin of carbonate cements. The δ^(18)O value is an effective palaeotemperature scale forauthigenic minerals formation. Various fractionation equations between δ^(18)O and temperature are proposed for carbonatecements, quartz cements and clay minerals, whose merit and demerit, applicable conditions are clarified clearly. Clumpedisotope analysis can reconstruct the temperature of carbonate precipitation with no requirement on the δ^(18)O of initial waters,which makes temperature calculation of carbonate cements formation more convenient and accurate. Hydrogen and oxygenisotopes mainly reflect the origin of diagenetic fluid for clay mineral formation, providing reliable evidence for diageneticenvironment analysis. This work aims at helping researchers for better understanding the applications of light stable isotopein sandstone diagenesis.

Application of Stable Isotope Techniques in Studies of Carbon and Nitrogen Biogeochemical Cycles of Ecosystem

Stable isotope techniques have been proved useful as tools for studying the carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) biogeochemical cycles of ecosystem. This paper firstly introduced the basic principles and the distribution characteristics of stable isotope, then reviewed the recent advances and applications of stable isotope in the C and N biogeochemical cycles of ecosystem. By applying the 13 C natural abundance technique, ecologists are able to understand the photosynthetic path and CO 2 fixation of plants, the CO 2 exchange and C balance status of ecosystem, the composition, distribution and turnover of soil organic C and the sources of organic matter in food webs, while by using the 13 C labeled technique, the effects of elevated CO 2 on the C processes of ecosystem and the sources and fate of organic matter in ecosystem can be revealed in detail. Differently, by applying the 15 N natural abundance technique, ecologists are able to analyze the biological N 2 -fixation, the N sources of ecosystem, the N transformation processes of ecosystem and the N trophic status in food webs, while by using the 15 N labeled technique, the sources, transformation and fate of N in ecosystem and the effects of N input on the ecosystem can be investigated in depth. The applications of both C and N isotope natural abundance and labeled techniques, combined with the elemental, other isotope ( 34 S) and molecular biomarker information, will be more propitious to the investigation of C and N cycle mechanisms. Finally, this paper concluded the problems existed in current researches, and put forward the perspective of stable isotope techniques in the studies on C and N biogeochemical cycles of ecosystem in the future.

Stable isotope analysis of water sources for Tamarix laxa in the mega-dunes of the Badain Jaran Desert, China

The complex interactions in desert ecosystems between functional types and environmental conditions could be reflected by plant water use patterns. However, the mechanisms underlying the water use patterns as well as the water sources of Tamarix laxa in the mega-dunes of the Badain Jaran Desert, China, remain unclear. This study investigated the water sources and water use patterns of T. laxa using the stable oxygen isotope method. The δ18O values of xylem water, soil water in different layers(0–200 cm), rainwater, snow water, lake water, atmospheric water vapor, condensate water, and groundwater were measured. The sources of water used by T. laxa were determined using the IsoSource model. The results indicate that T. laxa mainly relies on soil water. At the beginning of the growing season(in May), the species is primarily dependent on water from the middle soil layer(60–120 cm) and deep soil layer(120–200 cm). However, it mainly absorbs water from the shallow soil layer(0–60 cm) as the rainy season commences. In September, water use of T. laxa reverts to the deep soil layer(120–200 cm). The water use patterns of T. laxa are closely linked with heavy precipitation events and soil water content. These findings reveal the drought resistance mechanisms of T. laxa and are of significance for screening species for ecological restoration.

Stable Carbon Isotope Geochemical and Hydrochemical Features in the System of Carbonate-H_2O-CO_2 and Their Implications—Evidence from Several Typical Karst Areas of China

On the basis of hydrochemical observation and experimental calculation, the features of stable carbon isotope geochemistry in the karst dynamic systems of the Guilin Karst Experimental Site, Huanglong Ravine and Wujiangdu Dam Site are summarized in this study. Furthermore, an attempt has been made to solve several geochemical problems, such as the origin of CO2 in the system, kinetic fractionation of carbon isotopes during calcite deposition, hydrochemistry and formation of tufa, and carbon-14 dating of tufa of hydrothermal origin. The results show that three kinds of karst dynamic system can be distinguished: (1) the shallow system, such as the Guilin Karst Experimental Site, in which soil CO2 provides the an active agent for karst processes; (2) the geothermal system, such as the Huanglong Ravine, in which metamorphic or/ and juvenile CO, is the source of activity for karst; (3) the anthropogenic system, such as the Wujiangdu Dam Site, in which the stable carbon isotope geochemical and hydrochemical features have been greatly affected by human activity.

Seasonal Changes in Food Uptake by the Sea Cucumber Apostichopus japonicus in a Farm Pond: Evidence from C and N Stable Isotopes

This study investigated the seasonal changes in carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stable isotope values of several typical food sources of Apostichopus japonicus in a farm pond, including particulate organic matter (POM), macroalgae, benthic microalgae and animals such as nematode and copepod. The stable isotope technique was used to quantify relative contributions of various sources to the food uptake by A. japonicus. The results showed that significant changes occurred in the C and N stable isotope values of sea cucumber food sources due to the seasonality of micro-or macroalgae prosperity and the fluctuation of environmental conditions. The sea cucumber A. japonicus exhibited corresponding alterations in feeding strategy in response to the changes in food conditions. Calculation with a stable isotope mixing model showed that macroalgae was the principal food source for A. japonicus throughout the 1-yr investigation, with the relative contribution averaging 28.1% - 63.2%. The relative contributions of other food sources such as copepod and nematode, POM, benthic microalgae to the total food uptake by sea cucumber averaged 22.6% - 39.1%, 6.3% - 22.2%, 2.8% - 6.5%, and 2.8% - 4.2%, respectively. Together these results indicated that the seasonal changes in food sources led to the obvious temporal differences in the relative contribution of various food sources utilized by A. japonicus. Such findings provide the basic scientific information for improving the aquaculture techniques of A. japonicus, particularly for optimizing the food environment of A. japonicus culture in farm ponds.

Evaporative enrichment of stable isotopes(δ^(18)O and δD) in lake water and the relation to lake-level change of Lake Qinghai, Northeast Tibetan Plateau of China

Stable isotopic compositions （δ18O and 6D） have been utilized as a useful indicator for evaluating the current and historical climatic and environmental changes. Therefore, it is vital to understand the relationship be- tween the stable isotopic contents in lake water and the variations of lake level, particularly in Lake Qinghai, China. In this study, we analyzed the variations of isotope compositions （δ18O, 6D and d-excess） in lake water and pre- cipitation by using the samples that were collected from Lake Qinghai region during the period from 2009 to 2012. The results showed that the average isotopic contents of δ18O and 6D in lake water were higher than those in pre- cipitation, which were contrary to the variations of d-excess. The linear regression correlations between δ18O and 6D in lake water and precipitation showed that the local evaporative line （LEL） in lake water （δD=5.88δ18O-2.41） deviated significantly from the local meteoric water line （LMWL）in precipitation （δD=8.26δ18O＋16.91）, indicating that evaporative enrichment had a significant impact on isotopic contents in lake water. Moreover, we also quanti- fied the Eli ratio （evaporation-to-input ratio） in Lake Qinghai based on the lake water isotopic enrichment model derived from the Rayleigh equation. The changes of E/I ratios （ranging from 0.29 to 0.36 between 2009 and 2012） clearly revealed the shifts of lake levels in Lake Qinghai in recent years. The average E/I ratio of 0.40 reflected that water budget in Lake Qinghai was positive, and consistent with the rising lake levels and the increasing lake areas in many lakes of the Tibetan Plateau. These findings provide some evidences for studying the hydrological balance or water budget by using δ18O values of lake sedimentary materials and contribute to the reconstruction of paleo- lake water level and paleoclimate from an isotopic enrichment model in Lake Qinghai.