Components,drivers and temporal dynamics of ecosystem respiration in a Mediterranean pine forest

To investigate the climate impacts on the different components of ecosystem respiration, we combined soil efflux data from a tree-girdling experiment with eddy covariance CO₂ fluxes in a Mediterranean maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) forest in Central Italy. 73 trees were stem girdled to stop the flux of photosynthates from the canopy to the roots, and weekly soil respiration surveys were carried out for one year. Heterotrophic respiration (R_H) was estimated from the soil CO₂ flux measured in girdled plots, and rhizosphere respiration (R_Ab) was calculated as the difference between respiration from controls (R_S) and girdled plots (R_H).Results show that the R_S dynamics were clearly driven by R_H (average R_H/R_S ratio 0.74). R_H predictably responded to environmental variables, being predominantly controlled by soil water availability during the hot and dry growing season (May–October) and by soil temperature during the wetter and colder months (November–March). High R_S and R_H peaks were recorded after rain pulses greater than 10 mm on dry soil, indicating that large soil carbon emissions were driven by the rapid microbial oxidation of labile carbon compounds. We also observed a time-lag of one week between water pulses and R_Ab peaks, which might be due to the delay in the translocation of recently assimilated photosynthates from the canopy to the root system. At the ecosystem scale, total autotrophic respiration (R_At, i.e. the sum of carbon respired by the rhizosphere and aboveground biomass) amounted to 60% of ecosystem respiration. R_At was predominantly controlled by photosynthesis, and showed high temperature sensitivity (Q₁₀) only during the wet periods. Despite the fact that the study coincided with an anomalous dry year and results might therefore not represent a general pattern, these data highlight the complex climatic control of the respiratory processes responsible for ecosystem CO₂ emissions.     

Fine root decomposition,nutrient mobilization and fungal communities in a pine forest ecosystem

Despite its importance to energy flow and nutrient cycling the process of fine root decomposition has received comparatively little detailed research. Disruption of the fine root-soil interface during preparation of root litterbags for decomposition studies could affect decay rates and nutrient mobilization in part by altering the community of decay organisms. We compared rates of decomposition and nutrient release from fine roots of pine between litterbags and intact cores and characterized the fungal community in the decomposing roots. Fine root decomposition was about twice as fast overall for intact cores than litterbags, and rapid mobilization of N and P was observed for roots in cores whereas nutrients were immobilized in litterbags. Fungal communities characterized using 454 pyrosequencing were considerably different between decaying roots in intact cores and litterbags. Most interesting, taxa from ectomycorrhizal fungal orders such as Boletales, Thelephorales and Cantharellales appeared to be more common in decaying roots from cores than litterbags. Moreover, the rate of N and P mobilization from decaying fine roots was highly correlated with taxa from two orders of ectomycorrhizal fungi (Thelephorales, Cantharellales). Although we caution that DNA identified from the decaying roots cannot be conclusively ascribed to active fungi, the results provide tentative support for a significant role of ectomycorrhizal fungi in decomposition and nutrient mobilization from fine roots of pine.     

Response of a Norway spruce forest ecosystem to drought/rewetting experiments at Solling,Germany

As part of the Solling roof project, drought experiments were conducted in a 60 year old Norway spruce (Picea abies L. KARST.) plantation by means of a roof construction, installed below the canopy. It was tested, if the rewetting of a dried out soil leeds to a surplus production of nitrate and to an acidification pulse in the soil solution. Fine root growth and other physiological reactions were observed during the initiated drought phases. Results indicate no marked nitrification pulse during one of the 4 conducted experiments. However, drought reduced fine root growth strongly, but no root dieback could be found. The magnesium content of the needles were lower in trees subjected to water stress and increment parameters were significantly reduced.     

Net ecosystem exchange, evapotranspiration and canopy conductance in a riparian forest

The ecosystem fluxes of mass and energy were quantified for a riparian cottonwood (Populus fremontii S. Watson) stand, and the daily and seasonal courses of evapotranspiration, CO₂ flux, and canopy conductance were described, using eddy covariance. The ecosystem-level evapotranspiration results are consistent with those of other riparian studies; high vapor pressure deficit and increased groundwater depth resulted in reduced canopy conductance, and the annual cumulative evapotranspiration of 1095 mm was more than double the magnitude of precipitation. In addition, the cottonwood forest was a strong sink of CO₂, absorbing 310 g C m⁻² from the atmosphere in the first 365 days of the study. On weekly to annual time scales, hydrology was strongly linked with the net atmosphere-ecosystem exchange of CO₂, with ecosystem productivity greatest when groundwater depth was ∼2 m below the ground surface. Increases in groundwater depth beyond the depth of 2 m corresponded with decreased CO₂ uptake and evapotranspiration. Saturated soils caused by flooding and shallow groundwater depths also resulted in reduced ecosystem fluxes of CO₂ and water.     

Bacteria in a pine forest soil as affected by clear-cutting

Clear-cutting a Scots pine stand resulted in an initial increase in bacterial biomass determined by microscopic counts after staining with both acridine orange (AO) and fluorescein diacetate (FDA). During the third year after clear-cutting and onwards, bacterial biomass decreased compared to a reference stand. Results from a ca. 10-yr old clear-cut area indicated long-lasting detrimental effects on the size of bacterial populations. Plots in the clear-cut area which received slash consistently contained greater amounts of bacteria than did plots with slash removed.The FDA staining was used for the first time in long-term field measurements and gave similar results to those obtained with AO.     

Liming and reacidification reactions of a forest lake ecosystem,lake Lysevatten,in SW Sweden

Long-term monitoring, 1973 to 1987, of reactions to liming and reacidification of a forest lake ecosystem near the Swedish west coast is reported in this study. Treatment of Lake Lysevatten with a slag product of limestone in 1974 resulted in neutralization and a positive alkalinity. Prolonged dissolution proceeded for about 7 yr whereby 86% dissolved. During 1984–86 Lake Lysevatten approached maximum reacidification with high Al concentrations and an affected biota. Asellus aquaticus L. decreased and dominance within chironomid groups approached preliming conditions. However, the most obvious biological change was the development of the filamentous algal genus Mougeotia and increased growth of Sphagnum. Populations of both plants increased notably when pH declined to about 5. Our study suggests that extensive reacidification (pH < 6.0) of limed lakes should be avoided by successive treatments to prevent development of destabilized lake ecosystems.     

Transport of metal cations through a nutrient-poor forest ecosystem

Metal cations were analyzed in bulk precipitation, soil water, and stream flow in a southeastern U.S. lower Coastal Plain pine flatwoods for 6 yr. Extractable ions in mineral soil and total amounts in herbaceous vegetation were also determined. Concentrations for all ions were higher in soil water than in bulk precipitation, but especially Na⁺ and Mg⁺⁺. There were smaller concentration differences between soil water and stream flow, except for three-fold higher Ca⁺⁺ in stream flow. Base saturation in the mineral soil was less than 10%, with Al dominating cation exchange sites. Of all cations, only K showed a significant relationship between exchangeable amounts in the soil and total amounts in herb layer vegetation. Soils in the watershed-ecosystem are experiencing minimal mineral weathering, although this can be spatially quite variable. We conclude that the chemistry of such soils is susceptible to change over several forest harvest rotations and continued acid deposition.

     

Influence of clear-cutting and forest age on the nematode fauna in a Swedish pine forest soil

The abundance and composition of the soil nematode fauna in three seral stages of a pine forest chronosequence located in central Sweden was investigated. The aim of the study was to investigate faunal development during the forest cycle (120–160 years). Three sites, clear-cut 3–12 years before sampling but still without pine trees were compared to three sites with 10–130 year-old trees. Together, these provided sites that could be classified as clear-cut, young stand and mature forest. In most sites without trees and with a poor field layer vegetation, nematode abundance was much lower than in the forested plots. Similar major species/genera of nematodes were found in all age stages of the forest development. The development of the fauna could be related both to climatic shifts and to changes in production of food sources.The ratio of fungal to bacterial feeders and the proportions of two groups of bacterial feeders (Rhabditida BF and Adenophorea BF) varied in distinct ways related to soil layer and seral stage. Thus, in the clear-cut sites the proportion of fungal feeders was quite low. This was also the case with Rhabditida BF. These two groups also contributed a rather low proportion in the litter layer, whereas, their importance successively increased with increasing depth of the soil layers. Proportions of fungal feeding members of the Dorylaimida were highest in the 10–20 year-old stands. The effect of forest trees on nematodes was quite large and the faunal structure in sites with pine trees differed quite markedly from the sites without trees.Apparently, there are certain nematode species whose contribution to the fauna is greatest in the early tree-free stages, others are more abundant in the young forest and still others have their greatest abundance in the mature forest. There are also species whose abundance seems to be unaffected by forest age. Nematode abundance was correlated with the abundance of some other groups of soil organisms.     

Assessing the uncertainty of estimated annual totals of net ecosystem productivity: A practical approach applied to a mid latitude temperate pine forest

Values for annual NEP of micrometeorological tower sites are usually published without an estimate of associated uncertainties. Few authors quantify total uncertainty of annual NEP. Moreover, different methods to assess total uncertainty are applied, usually addressing only one aspect of the uncertainty. This paper presents a robust and easy to apply method to quantify uncertainty of annual totals of Net Ecosystem Productivity (NEP), related to multiple factors involved therein. The method was applied to NEP observations for a Scots pine forest (Loobos) in the Netherlands. Total uncertainty of annual NEP for the Loobos site was on average ±32 g C m⁻² a⁻¹ (±8% of NEP), which is a quarter of the standard deviation of annual NEP (127 g C m⁻² a⁻¹).     

Soil fungal biomass after clear-cutting of a pine forest in central sweden

The effect of clear-cutting on fluorescein diacetate (PDA) active and total fungal biomass was studied in three soil horizons of a coniferous forest in Sweden. Throughout the soil profile, fungal biomass decreased after felling. FDA-active hyphae decreased more in the mineral soil than in the organic soil. The effect of felling residues left at the time of clear-cutting appeared to be of only minor importance, since the decrease in fungal content was independent of the amount of slash left on the ground. However, the addition of slash generally gave greater amounts of FDA-active fungal mycelium compared to the treatment without slash. The change in root dynamics is suggested to be an important reason for the decrease of fungal hyphae in forest soil after clear-cutting.     

Bacterial numbers in a pine forest soil in relation to environmental factors

Numbers of soil bacteria stained with acridine orange (AO) or fluorescein diacetate (FDA) were studied for 3 and 2 yr respectively. Three pine forest sites were used and both organic and mineral soil layers were included. Different patterns of fluctuation in bacterial numbers were found each year. Significant correlations were demonstrated between AO-stained bacterial numbers and soil moisture content and between FDA-stained bacteria and the accumulated precipitation during a week before the sampling date. In multiple regression analyses 60–80% of the variation in numbers of AO-stained bacteria could be accounted for by soil moisture and numbers of bacterial-feeding nematodes at the sampling dates, and 30–45% of the variation in numbers of FDA-stained bacteria was accounted for by precipitation.     

A geographically-based ecosystem model and its application to the carbon balance of the luquillo forest,Puerto Rico

We have developed a geography-based computer model of the Bisley Experimental Watershed ecosystem that simulates basic forest dynamics as a function of meteorological inputs and hydrologic simulation, as influenced by topography, soils, land use, and cover. The model is parameterized based on steady slate levels of, and hurricane impacts on, biomass, necromass and rate processes of the tabonuco forest, and is stable over decades. Over a 60 yr simulation (without hurricanes) leaf biomass remains approximately constant and woody biomass of those regions not having severe sunlight, moisture, or nutrient limitations increases slowly in agreement with observations. Necromass decreases slowly. Small quantities of C leave the ecosystem in stream water, especially during large rain events. When topographically-sensitive hurricane impacts are included, leaf and woody biomass are converted to necromass. In the model the recovery of the watersheds' hydrology, leaf and woody biomass, and necromass are consistent with field observations. We used this model to simulate the C dynamics of the forest over centurics using empirical values and found that (his forest acted to pump C from the atmosphere to the ocean at a rate of about 90 kg ha^?1 yr^?1.     

An analysis of food-web structure and function in a shortgrass prairie,a mountain meadow,and a lodgepole pine forest

Summary The structure of the below-ground detrital food web was similar in three different semiarid vegetation types: lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta subsp. latifolia), mountain meadow (Agropyron smithii), and shortgrass prairie (Bouteloua gracilis). The densities of component food-web functional groups and the response to removal of component groups, differed however. As measured by biomass, bacteria were dominant in the meadow and prairie, while fungi were dominant in the forest. Resourde-base dominance was reflected in consumer dominance, and both directly correlated with the form of inorganic N present. Bacterial-feeding nematodes were numerically dominant in the meadow and prairie, while microarthropods were dominant in the forest. Ammonium-N was the dominant form in the forest, while nitrate —nitrite-N was the more important form in both bacterial-dominated grasslands.Addition of a biocide solution containing carbofuran and dimethoate reduced the numbers of both microarthropods and nematodes. In the bacterial-dominated grasslands, these reductions resulted in no apparent effect on bacterial densities because one group of bacterial consumers (protozoa) increased following the decrease in bacteria-feeding nematodes, in increased fungal biomass, and in increased soil inorganic N. Conversely, in the forest, following the biocide-induced reduction in consumers, the total fungal biomass decreased, but inorganic-N levels increased. The meadow appeared to be the most resilient of the three ecosystems to biocide disturbance, as both nematode and arthropod numbers returned to control levels more rapidly in the meadow than in the prairie or the forest.     

Element Inputs and Canopy Interactions in two Pine Forest Ecosystems in Berlin,Germany

For 3 years (1986-89), element fluxes with bulk deposition and throughfall were determined in a 40 yr. old pine plantation and a 80-140 yr. old mixed pine/oak stand in the Grunewald forest in Berlin. Although SO₄-inputs are very high (60 kg S·ha^?1.a^?1) due to the urban character of the study site, acid inputs are moderate because of the buffering action of airborne alkaline dusts. This is reflected in the high Ca-inputs (12 kg·ha^?1a^?1 in bulk precipitation). Acid neutralisation was also observed in the canopies and could be attributed to 60-80% to increased Ca- and Mg-fluxes in throughfall, stemming from foliage leaching and dust interception. Heavy metal inputs were low in comparison to other Central European study sites, the decrease in Pb-inputs over the 3-year period could be attributed to the increased use of unleaded gasoline since 1987. Total inputs and canopy leaching showed clear seasonal patterns for some elements: SO₄-, H-, Ca- and Mg-fluxes were higher in winter, on the other hand, K- and Mn-enrichment in throughfall showed two peaks, in early summer and late fall.     

Carbon dioxide and energy fluxes from a boreal mixedwood forest ecosystem in Ontario, Canada

A long-term flux measurement station has been established in a 74-year-old mixedwood forest ecosystem, located approximately 80 km west of Timmins in northern Ontario, as part of the Fluxnet-Canada Research Network (FCRN). Measurements of energy, water vapour, and carbon dioxide fluxes have been made continuously since August 2003 using the eddy covariance technique, along with ancillary meteorological variables. The spatial structure of the site was evaluated using a variety of sources and techniques, including remote sensing, showing that this forest is mixed but relatively homogeneous. The canopy top height is remarkably constant at between 30 and 32 m. The basal area varies from 18 to 27 m² ha⁻¹, and the aboveground biomass ranges from 82 to 122 Mg ha⁻¹. In this paper, we summarize the diurnal and seasonal patters of carbon dioxide exchange and water loss from September 1, 2003 to August 31, 2004. Net ecosystem productivity (NEP) is strongly related to temperature. Atmospheric vapour pressure deficit (VPD) in this ecosystem exerted strong biophysical control on the daily gross ecosystem productivity (GEP) and evapotranspiration. Seasonal change in shortwave albedo, as a result of the presence of mixed deciduous and coniferous species, was clearly evident. Albedo changes were comparable to the seasonal pattern of NEP. The dormant season lasts more than 6 months of the year at this station. This forest was a moderate sink of carbon over the measurement period. Annual values of GEP, ecosystem respiration (R), and NEP were 1075, 919, and 156 ± 35 g C m⁻², respectively.     

Volatile and water-soluble inhibitors of nitrogen mineralization and nitrification in a ponderosa pine ecosystem

Summary Bioassay experiments were performed to test for inhibition of the processes of nitrogen mineralization and nitrification by organics in the forest floor of a ponderosa pine ecosystem. Water-extractable organics in the forest floor were tested by applying filtered extracts to the assay soil. The extract decreased nitrate production by 17.0% and decreased net mineralization by 4.1%. Inhibition by volatile organics was tested by placing vials containing forest floor or selected terpenoids of ponderosa pine in sealed jars containing the assay soil. Nitrate production was inhibited by 87.4% and 100%, and net nitrogen mineralization was inhibited by 73.3% and 67.7% in the jars with forest floor and terpenoids, respectively. Organics which are partially water-soluble and are volatile (such as terpenoids) would be very effective inhibitors of nitrogen cycling processes.     

Trace elements in the hydrologic cycle of a tolerant hardwood forest ecosystem

The concentrations and annual fluxes of Fe, Al, Mn, Cu and Pb were measured during 1983 in bulk precipitation, throughfall, stem-flow, forest floor percolate, mineral soil solution below the root zone and streamflow in a maple-birch stand on an acid podzolic soil at the Turkey Lakes Watershed (TLW), Ontario. Inputs of metals to TLW in precipitation were small in comparison with those in the eastern United States and Europe. Considerable loss of Mn and Cu from the vegetation during both the growing and the dormant (leafless) periods was observed and presumed to be due to leaching. The enrichment in soil solution of all metals examined, in relation to throughfall, was greatest for Al (7X) and least for Cu (1.2X). Aluminum was mobilized in both the forest floor and the mineral soil, the latter possibly in association with SO₄ ^2?. Copper was solubilized in the lower forest floor or the mineral soil. Surface soil contents of Al and Cu were reduced by Al and, to a lesser extent, Cu leaching beyond the effective rooting zone. Iron, Mn and Pb were mobilized largely in the F horizon of the forest floor, most likely by organic acids. Leaching of Fe, Mn and Pb was reduced by metal accumulation in vegetation, the lower forest floor, or mineral soil within the effective rooting zone of the vegetation. Most (80 to 99%) of the metals leached from the rooting zone were retained in the watershed and did, not appear in streamwater.     

Effect of wood ash on soil chemistry of a pine stand in Northern Germany

Addition of wood ash to acid soils will affect the soil chemistry of forests in a number of ways which were assessed for a pine stand in northern Germany. A field experiment was carried out in a fifty‐year old pine stand on a sandy Podzol at Fuhrberg (Lüneburger Heide, Lower Saxony/Germany) which involved depositing wood ash (2.4 t ha^—1) on the surface. Soil solution chemistry was investigated monthly at different depths for 24 months. Prior to and 19 months after the ash addition, exchangeable cations and amounts of heavy metals were determined at different depths. Two to four months after addition of wood ash, maximum mean concentrations in the soil solution of Ca were 240 μmol l^—1 at 0 cm (surface of mineral soil) and 100 μmol l^—1 at 100 cm and of K 980 μmol l^—1 and 140 μmol l^—1, respectively. The pH values in soil solutions dropped temporarily by 0.3 units at 0 and 10 cm depth. Nitrate concentrations increased at all depths and maximum mean concentration was 230 μmol l^—1 at 100 cm. Concentrations of Pb and Cr in soil solution did not change significantly (p < 0.05) after ash addition. Concentrations of Cd and Zn increased significantly at some depths but stayed well below the legal limit for drinking water and below the limits given by the German recommendation for soil conservation. Nineteen months after ash addition, the cation exchange capacity (corrected for the release of cations from the ash) of the upper 6 cm of the organic layer was almost doubled and amounts of exchangeable Ca and Mg increased significantly in the upper 8 cm of the organic layer. Amounts of Zn were increased in the entire organic layer, but changes were significant only in the upper 4 cm. The results of this study suggest that ash from untreated wood (using modest additions) may be recommended for amelioration of forest soils.     

大岗山森林生态系统服务功能及其价值评估

 通过构建适合大岗山森林生态系统服务功能的评估指标体系,依据大岗山森林生态站长期、连续观测数据及多年科研成果、2次二类森林资源调查资料及社会经济公共数据估算大岗山"九五"和"十五"期间森林生态系统服务功能的总价值。结果表明:"九五"期间大岗山森林生态系统服务功能总价值平均为1亿8495.00万元/a,单位面积价值为7.89万元/(hm2.a),"十五"期间为1亿9180.00万元/a,单位面积价值为8.09万元/(hm2.a),总价值增长3.70%,单位面积价值增长2.63%;在7项森林生态系统服务功能中,"九五"和"十五"期间大小顺序依次均为涵养水源>固碳制氧>保护生物多样性>净化大气环境>保育土壤>林木营养积累>森林游憩与生态文化,"九五"和"十五"期间各森林类型总价值大小顺序均为毛竹林>杉木>硬阔类>软阔类>针阔混交类>灌木>马尾松,单位面积价值大小顺序均为硬阔类>软阔类>毛竹林>灌木>马尾松>针阔混交类>杉木。