土壤温度和水分对长白山3种温带森林土壤呼吸的影响

为了研究土壤温度和土壤含水量对阔叶红松林(山地暗棕壤)、云冷杉暗针叶林(山地棕针叶林土壤)和岳桦林(生草森林土)的土壤呼吸的影响,于2001年9月在长白山进行了土壤实验。利用增加土壤样柱的含水量,将土壤含水量分为9%,、21%、30%、37%和43%5个等级,土壤样品分别在0、5、15、25和35的温度下保持24小时。阔叶红松林土壤在0~35范围内,土壤呼吸速率与温度呈正相关。在一定的含水量范围内(21%~37%),土壤呼吸随含水量的增加而升高,当含水量超出该范围,土壤呼吸速率则随含水量的变化而降低。土壤温度和水分对土壤呼吸作用存在明显的交互作用。不同森林类型土壤呼吸作用强弱存在显著差异,大小顺序为阔叶红松林>岳桦林>云冷杉暗针叶林.红松阔叶林土壤呼吸作用的最佳条件是土壤温度35,含水量37%;云冷杉暗针叶林下的山地棕色针叶土壤呼吸作用的最佳条件是25,21%;岳桦林土壤呼吸作用的最佳条件是35,含水量37%。但是,由于长白山阔叶红松林,云冷杉林和岳桦林处在不同的海拔带上,同期不同森林类型土壤温度各不相同,相差4~5,所以野外所测的同期的山地棕色针叶林土呼吸速率应低于暗棕色森林土呼吸速率,山地生草森林土呼吸速率应高于山地棕色针叶林土的呼吸速率。图2表1参25。     

Seasonal dynamics of soil carbon dioxide efflux and simulated rhizosphere respiration in a beech forest

Respiration of the rhizosphere in a beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forest was calculated by subtracting microbial respiration associated with organic matter decomposition from daily mean soil CO2 efflux. We used a semi-mechanistic soil organic matter model to simulate microbial respiration, which was validated against "no roots" data from trenched subplots. Rhizosphere respiration exhibited pronounced seasonal variation from 0.2 g C m(-2) day(-1) in January to 2.3 g C m(-2) day(-1) in July. Rhizosphere respiration accounted for 30 to 60% of total soil CO2 efflux, with an annual mean of 52%. The high Q10 (3.9) for in situ rhizosphere respiration was ascribed to the confounding effects of temperature and changes in root biomass and root and shoot activities. When data were normalized to the same soil temperature based on a physiologically relevant Q10 value of 2.2, the lowest values of temperature-normalized rhizosphere respiration were observed from January to March, whereas the highest value was observed in early July when fine root growth is thought to be maximal.     

Effects of the extreme drought in 2003 on soil respiration in a mixed forest

We present a field study on the drought effects on total soil respiration (SR_t) and its components, i.e., “autotrophic” (SR_a: by roots/mycorrhizosphere) and “heterotrophic” respiration (SR_h: by microorganisms and soil fauna in bulk soil), in a mature European beech/Norway spruce forest. SR_a and SR_h were distinguished underneath groups of beech and spruce trees using the root exclusion method. Seasonal courses of SR_a and SR_h were studied from 2002 to 2004, with the summer of 2003 being extraordinarily warm and dry in Central Europe. We (1) analyzed the soil temperature (T _s) and moisture sensitivity of SR_a and SR_h underneath both tree species, and (2) examined whether drought caused differential decline of SR_a between spruce and beech. Throughout the study period, SR_a of beech accounted for 45–55% of SR_t, independent of the soil water regime; in contrast, SR_a was significantly reduced during drought in spruce, and amounted then to only 25% of SR_t. In parallel, fine-root production was decreased during 2003 by a factor of six in spruce (from 750 to 130 mg l⁻¹ a⁻¹), but remained at levels similar to those in 2002 in beech (about 470 mg l⁻¹ a⁻¹). This species-specific root response to drought was related to a stronger decline of SR_a in spruce (by about 70%) compared to beech (by about 50%). The sensitivity of SR_a and SR_h to changing T _s and available soil water was stronger in SR_a than SR_h in spruce, but not so in beech. It is concluded that SR_a determines the effect of prolonged drought on the C efflux from soil to a larger extent in spruce than beech, having potential implications for respective forest types. This article belongs to the special issue "Growth and defence of Norway spruce and European beech in pure and mixed stands."     

Heterotrophic respiration causes seasonal hysteresis in soil respiration in a warm-temperate forest

To assess the effect of changes in organic litter stock on seasonal changes in heterotrophic respiration (R _H), soil respiration (R _S), and total ecosystem respiration (R _E), we measured seasonal changes in leaf litter respiration (R _LL) by the chamber method and estimated the seasonal change in total R _H using the RothC model in a warm-temperate mixed deciduous?Cevergreen forest in Japan. Both R _E and R _S had seasonal hysteresis and were higher in spring than at the same temperature during autumn. Under warm and humid conditions, the rate of decomposition of newly supplied leaf litter in one?year was high (60% loss). Consequently, R _LL and R _H were higher in spring after leaf drop, when more fresh material was available, than in autumn. In this study, 42 and 88% of the difference in R _E and R _S between spring and autumn (soil temperature 16?C18°C) could be accounted for by the difference in R _H, respectively, and 71% of the difference in R _H could be accounted for by the difference in R _LL. This study showed that seasonal changes in heterotrophic respiration (R _LL and R _H) could be a major factor in the seasonal hysteresis of R _E and R _S.     

Regeneration niches and functional traits of three common species in subtropical dune forest

South African coastal dune forests are young, highly disturbed subtropical communities where conventional models of forest dynamics may be challenged. We tested predictions from the gap-phase regeneration model by comparing seedlings of three common species representing contrasting regeneration strategies: Acacia karroo as a ruderal, Celtis africana as a coloniser of forest gaps, and Diospyros natalensis as a late-successional species. We grew seedlings under contrasting light and nitrogen levels in a greenhouse and in the field for 1 year to compare their growth and survival rates, allocation and photosynthetic traits. Species’ growth rates generally followed the expected order: Acacia > Celtis > Diospyros, but Acacia responded strongly to light and Celtis responded strongly to nitrogen, leading to cross-overs in growth rates. The plasticity of allocation and photosynthesis did not clearly differentiate the strategies, although it was greater in the light-demanding species. Acacia and Celtis tended to survive better in Acacia stands than in forest plots. Leaf-level light compensation points (LCPs) were similar for the three species in most conditions, but auxiliary data suggest Diospyros has a lower whole-plant LCP than Acacia. Growth rates and LCPs were lower than most of those reported for primary-forest species in the literature, suggesting an unusual degree of shade-tolerance in this habitat. We discuss reasons why variation in shade-tolerance may be less important here than in the prevailing model for forest regeneration and suggest other biotic factors that may help differentiate regeneration niches.     

温度对杉木林土壤呼吸的影响(英文)

Soil samples collected from the surface soil (0(10 cm) in an 88-year-old Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) forest in Nanping, Fujian, China were incubated for 90 days at the temperatures of 15°C, 25°C and 35°C in laboratory. The soil CO2 evolution rates were measured at the incubation time of 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90 days. The results showed that CO2 evolution rates of soil samples varied significantly with incubation time and temperature during the incubation period. Mean CO2 evolution rate and cumulative amount of CO2 evolution from soil were highest at 35°C, followed by those at 25°C, and 15°C. Substantial differences in CO2 evolution rate were found in Q10 values calculated for the 2nd and 90th day of incubation. The Q10 value for the average CO2 evolution rate was 2.0 at the temperature range of 15-25°C, but it decreased to 1.2 at 25- 35°C. Soil CO2 evolution rates decreased with the incubation time. The cumulative mineralized C at the end of incubation period (on the 90th day) was less than 10% of the initial C amounts prior to incubation.     

中国南方喀斯特石漠化地区3种经济林土壤呼吸日动态特征

喀斯特石漠化作为一个脆弱生态系统,对全球气候变化和碳循环具有重要影响。为阐明中国南方喀斯特石漠化生态治理工程背景下土壤呼吸作用的时空动态变化特征及其影响因素,选取贵州省贞丰县北盘江镇查耳岩村的核桃林Julans regia、花椒林Zanthoxylum bungeamum和关岭县花江镇峡谷村的枇杷林Eriobotrya japonica3种特色经济林作为研究对象,采用英国ADC Bioscientific公司生产的Lcpro+便携式土壤呼吸仪对土壤呼吸进行了监测。结果表明:1)土壤温度能预测土壤呼吸速率变异83%～89%的信息,是影响土壤碳排放量变异的主要因素;2)3种经济林中土壤呼吸的温度敏感性(Q10)有所差异,Q10为4.34～6.40;3)喀斯特石漠化地区冬季土壤的月平均碳排放量达到了63.46 g·m-2;4)土壤呼吸速率的偏离程度变化较大,在-56%～83%之间;5)花椒林在09:00、15:00、21:00,核桃林0:00、11:00,枇杷林在12:00土壤的呼吸速率与日平均值偏离程度较小(<10%),为最佳观测时间;6)各土壤特征因子中,全钾是影响土壤呼吸速率变异的主要因素。     

Effects of elevated CO2 concentrations on soil microbial respiration and root/rhizosphere respiration in forest soils

The two main components of soil respiration, i.e., root/rhizosphere and microbial respiration, respond differently to elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentrations both in mechanism and sensitivity because they have different substrates derived from plant and soil organic matter, respectively. To model the carbon cycle and predict the carbon source/sink of forest ecosystems, we must first understand the relative contributions of root/rhizosphere and microbial respiration to total soil respiration under elevated CO₂ concentrations. Root/rhizosphere and soil microbial respiration have been shown to increase, decrease and remain unchanged under elevated CO₂ concentrations. A significantly positive relationship between root biomass and root/rhizosphere respiration has been found. Fine roots respond more strongly to elevated CO₂ concentrations than coarse roots. Evidence suggests that soil microbial respiration is highly variable and uncertain under elevated CO₂ concentrations. Microbial biomass and activity are related or unrelated to rates of microbial respiration. Because substrate availability drives microbial metabolism in soils, it is likely that much of the variability in microbial respiration results from differences in the response of root growth to elevated CO₂ concentrations and subsequent changes in substrate production. Biotic and abiotic factors affecting soil respiration were found to affect both root/rhizosphere and microbial respiration. __________ Translated from Journal of Plant Ecology, 2007, 31(3): 386–393 [译自: 植物生态学报]     

Influences of canopy photosynthesis and summer rain pulses on root dynamics and soil respiration in a young ponderosa pine forest

Our first objective was to link the seasonality of fine root dynamics with soil respiration in a ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa P. & C. Lawson) plantation located in the Sierra Nevada of California. The second objective was to examine how canopy photosynthesis influences fine root initiation, growth and mortality in this ecosystem. We compared CO2 flux measurements with aboveground and belowground root dynamics. Initiation of fine root growth coincided with tree stem thickening and shoot elongation, preceding new needle growth. In the spring, root, shoot and stem growth occurred simultaneously with the increase in canopy photosynthesis. Compared with the other tree components, initial growth rate of fine roots was the highest and their growing period was the shortest. Both above and belowground components completed 90% of their growth by the end of July and the growing season lasted approximately 80 days. The period for optimal growth is short at the study site because of low soil temperatures during winter and low soil water content during summer. High photosynthetic rates were observed following unusual late-summer rains, but tree growth did not resume. The autotrophic contribution to soil respiration was 49% over the whole season, with daily contributions ranging between 18 and 87%. Increases in soil and ecosystem respiration were observed during spring growth; however, the largest variation in soil respiration occurred during summer rain events when no growth was observed. Both the magnitude and persistence of the soil respiration pulses were positively correlated with the amount of rain. These pulses accounted for 16.5% of soil respiration between Days 130 and 329.     

Spatial structure and species composition of soil seed banks in moving sand dune systems of northeast China

Soil seed banks can provide a mechanistic for understanding the recruitment dynamics and can inform conservation management of ecosystems. To investigate the contribution of soil seed banks to vegetation restoration in moving sand dune systems, we compared seed structure and species similarity between soil seed banks and standing vegetation among moving sand dunes, ecotones and dune slacks in northeast China. Average seed density in dune slacks was greater than in ecotones or moving sand dunes.Seed density in the soil layer of 0–10 cm was greater than at 10–20 cm both in the moving sand dunes and the ecotones, but seed densities were similar at depths of 10–20and 20–30 cm in moving sand dunes. Moreover, the spatial autocorrelation of seed density on moving sand dunes was weak but was strong on the ecotones and dune slacks. The species in the soil seed bank of moving sand dune systems were nearly all annuals, and the low similarity was mainly due to the lack of perennial species that were common in standing vegetation. Consequently, vegetation restoration cannot mainly rely on the soil seed banks in the movingsand dunes and more attention should be paid to protection of the dune slacks because they are the main source of seed disperse and seedling recruitment in moving sand dune systems.     

Survival and growth dynamics of red spruce seedlings planted under different forest cover densities and types

New Forests - Advance regeneration of red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) is scarce in many forest stands, due to past clearcuts and heavy harvesting of large seed trees in partial cuts. Understory...     

喀斯特原生乔木林和次生林土壤呼吸研究

研究喀斯特森林土壤呼吸对探索陆地生态系统碳循环有重要意义。对喀斯特原生乔木林和次生林土壤呼吸速率的非生长季动态变化及对温度变化的响应和不同凋落物处理下土壤呼吸的变化进行了研究,结果表明:喀斯特次生林和原生乔木林土壤呼吸速率非生长季动态变化与土壤温度、林内温度变化总体一致;两演替群落土壤温度能解释95.1%~96.8%,91.3%~92.8%的土壤呼吸变化。去除、添加凋落物处理对土壤呼吸影响有显著差异(P<0.05),分别使土壤呼吸降低了21.29%~54.03%和增加了13.79%~98.41%。不同土壤深度土壤呼吸的Q10值次生林为4.62~4.71、原生林为4.01~4.31。随着土壤深度的增加而增加,去除和添加凋落物处理引起土壤呼吸的Q10值不同,从大到小均表现为去除、对照、添加。两演替群落比较,土壤呼吸因小生境、森林植被不同而存在差异,次生林土壤呼吸速率高于原生乔木林,次生林呼吸速率与土壤温度的相关程度略高于原生乔木林,次生林土壤呼吸对温度的敏感性更强。     

Effect of six years of nitrogen additions on soil chemistry in a subtropical Pleioblastus amarus forest,Southwest China

Soil chemistry influences plant health and carbon storage in forest ecosystems. Increasing nitrogen(N) deposition has potential effect on soil chemistry. We studied N deposition effects on soil chemistry in subtropical Pleioblastus amarus bamboo forest ecosystems. An experiment with four N treatment levels(0, 50, 150,and300 kg N ha~(-1)a~(-1),applied monthly, expressed as CK,LN,MN, HN,respectively) in three replicates. After6 years of N additions, soil base cations, acid-forming cations, exchangeable acidity(EA), organic carbon fractions and nitrogen components were measured in all four seasons. The mean soil pH values in CK,LN,MN and HN were 4.71, 4.62, 4.71, and 4.40, respectively, with a significant difference between CK and HN. Nitrogen additions significantly increased soil exchangeable Al3+,EA, and Al/Ca,and exchangeable Al3+ in HN increased by 70%compared to CK. Soil base cations(Ca~(2+), Mg~(2+), K+, and Na+) did not respond to N additions. Nitrogen treatments significantly increased soil NO3--N but had little effect on soil total nitrogen, particulate organic nitrogen, or NH4~+-N. Nitrogen additions did not affect soil total organic carbon, extractable dissolved organic carbon,incorporated organic carbon, or particulate organic carbon.This study suggests that increasing N deposition could increase soil NO3--N, reduce soil pH, and increase mobilization of Al~(3+). These changes induced by N deposition can impede root grow and function, further may influence soil carbon storage and nutrient cycles in the future.     

Canopy cover and groundlayer vegetation dynamics in a fire managed eastern sand savanna

Savanna vegetation is characterized by high and variable ground layer species richness regulated by functional group interactions with fire regimes and canopy cover. Frequent fire selects for C4 grasses and prairie forbs in canopy openings and C3 graminoid species and shade-adapted forbs and shrubs in canopy shade. Frequent fire also maximizes heterogeneity in partial canopy cover and species richness across the full canopy gradient. However, few studies have linked fire induced change in tree canopy cover with groundlayer vegetation dynamics in relation to this model. In 1986 and in 2007, we measured canopy cover and sampled groundlayer vegetation in 1 m² plots along 53 transects at the Tefft Savanna, a fire managed 197 ha eastern sand savanna with strong canopy cover and elevation gradients. We analyzed temporal change in canopy cover and groundlayer vegetation, correlating percent change in canopy cover with change in ground layer functional groups. After 20 years of burning at 3 fires/decade, elevation accounted for 62% of the variation in an NMS ordination of groundlayer vegetation. However, canopy cover, which averaged 24-86% in 2007, had a significant secondary effect on the ordination. Five vegetation types classified by TWINSPAN varied significantly in elevation and canopy cover. Woody vegetation comprised 8 of the 12 species with greatest niche breadths, and tended to predominant in woodland or forest, where tree cover averaged 50% or more. Forbs had greater richness in savanna, which averaged less than 30% canopy cover. The C3 sedge Carex pensylvanica was the dominant graminoid species under woodland canopy cover, and was co-dominant with the C4 grasses Andropogon scoparius and Sorghastrum nutans under savanna canopy cover. As in other savannas, N-fixing species sorted across shade and canopy openings, and heterogeneity among transects was maximized at mid-canopy cover. Over time, canopy cover decreased up to 50%, creating more open savanna conditions at mid to high elevations. This decrease was associated with a 20-100 % increase in species richness and was significantly correlated with increasing richness and cover of C4 grasses and summer flowering prairie and woodland forbs. These results support a canopy cover model of fire-maintained savanna vegetation, with greater abundance of C4 grasses and prairie forb species associated with lower canopy cover, greater heterogeneity at mid-canopy cover, and species richness maximized across the light gradient. They also indicate that decreasing canopy cover caused by repeated burning increases species richness and abundance of C4 and prairie forb species.     

Seasonal soil CO2 efflux dynamics after land use change from a natural forest to Moso bamboo plantations in subtropical China

Moso bamboo plantations (Phyllostachys pubescens) are one of the most important forest types in southern China, but there is little information on the effects of their establishment and silvicultural practices on soil CO₂ efflux. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of land use change from a natural broadleaf evergreen forest to Moso bamboo plantations and their management practices on soil CO₂ efflux in a subtropical region of China using static closed chamber method. Regardless of the land uses or management practices, the effluxes over a 12-month period had a seasonal pattern, with the maximum effluxes observed in summer and the minimum in winter. Whereas there was no significant difference in the total annual soil CO₂ efflux between the natural broadleaf evergreen forest (BL) and the conventionally managed bamboo forests (CM), soil CO₂ efflux in the intensively managed bamboo forest (IM) was significantly higher. Soil temperature was the most important environmental factor affecting soil CO₂ efflux rates for all three land uses. Soil moisture also had a significant positive correlation with soil CO₂ efflux rates. Soil temperature and moisture had greater influence on soil CO₂ efflux rate in the IM than the CM and BL forests. Soil dissolved organic C had a positive correlation with soil CO₂ efflux rate in the CM, but had no significant correlation with that in the IM or the BL forests. Our study for the first time demonstrated that conversion of the natural subtropical broadleaf evergreen forest to Moso bamboo does not increase soil CO₂ efflux. However, when bamboo forests are under intensive management with regular tillage, fertiliser application and weeding, significantly more soil CO₂ emission occurs. Therefore, best management practices should be developed to reduce soil CO₂ efflux in Moso bamboo plantations in the subtropical regions of China.     

长白山白桦林地土壤呼吸的季节变化

2004年5月至9月,研究了长白山白桦林土壤呼吸以及根系呼吸对土壤呼吸的贡献随土壤温度和土壤湿度的季节变化,研究结果表明：土壤总呼吸、断根土壤呼吸和根系呼吸在生长季内有相似的季节变化趋势,夏季潮湿而且温度较高,呼吸速率也较高,春季和秋季温度较低,呼吸速率也较低。2004年5月至9月,土壤总呼吸、断根土壤呼吸和根系呼吸的平均值分别为4.44,2.30和2.14μmol&#183;m^-2s^-1,三者与土壤温度均呈指数相关,与土壤湿度呈线性相关,三者的Q10值分别为2.82,2.59和3.16,这与其他学者的结果相似。根系呼吸是土壤呼吸的一个重要组成部分,2004年5月至9月,根系呼吸对土壤总呼吸的贡献在29.3～58.7%之间。根据Q10模型估算的土壤总呼吸、断根土壤呼吸和根系呼吸的全年平均值分别为1.96、1.08和0.87μmol&#183;m^-2s^-1,即741.73、408.71和329.24gC&#183;m^-2&#183;a^-1,全年根系对土壤总呼吸的贡献为44.4%。土壤呼吸和土壤温度之间的关系模型是了解和预测长白山白桦林生态系统潜在的随森林管理和气候变化而变化的有用工具。     

亚热带地区杉木人工林和阔叶林土壤活性有机质研究(英文)

土壤活性有机质对土壤养分如氮、磷、硫的生物化学循环具有作用,其含量和质量影响土壤的初级生产力。本试验在中国科学院会同森林生态实验站通过对第一代、第二代杉木纯林和地带性阔叶林土壤活性有机质组分的对比研究,发现杉木纯林土壤活性有机质的含量低于地带性阔叶林。第一代杉木纯林易氧化有机碳、微生物生物量碳、水溶性有机碳和水溶性碳水化合物的含量分别比第二代杉木纯林高35.9%、13.7%、87.8%和50.9%,比地带性阔叶林的低15.8%、47.3%、38.1%和30.2%。在调查的三种林地内,土壤微生物生物量碳和水溶性有机碳含量下降幅度较大,其次为水溶性碳水化合物,而易氧化有机碳的变化最小。同时,杉木纯林土壤养分等理化性质也比地带性阔叶林低。这表明在杉木纯林取代地带性阔叶林以及杉木纯林连栽后林地的土壤肥力降低。图3 表2参26。     

使用Li-6400测定森林土壤呼吸应注意的几个问题

正确使用Li-6400进行森林土壤呼吸测定是保证测定精度的前提.本文以落叶松林为例,对Li-6400使用过程应该注意的问题进行了研究.结果表明:塑料圈至少应该测定前12小时进行设置,以减少土壤CO2涌出效应对呼吸的影响,而且塑料圈插入深度对测定结果影响很大:当塑料圈插入过浅时横向气体扩散及塑料圈不稳定而造成测定时CO2的再涌出效应使土壤呼吸测定值偏高;而当插入深度过深时,切断根系导致根系呼吸下降,最活跃的土壤表层呼吸受塑料圈阻隔导致的土壤微生物呼吸测定值下降,这些现象共同造成显著低估土壤呼吸测定值.此外,在晴天白天大部分时间内目标[CO2]值设定为外界相应时段的[CO2]平均值,可以保证测定误差小于5%,而在清晨和傍晚进行测定时,则应该及时调整目标值为外界[CO2]保证测量准确性.这一测定原则在实际测定中具有较高的实用性.     

Seasonal variation of soil respiration rates in a secondary forest and agroforestry systems

Agroforestry systems are widely practiced in tropical forests to recover degraded and deforested areas and also to balance the global carbon budget. However, our understanding of difference in soil respiration rates between agroforestry and natural forest systems is very limited. This study compared the seasonal variations in soil respiration rates in relation to fine root biomass, microbial biomass, and soil organic carbon between a secondary forest and two agroforestry systems dominated by Gmelina arborea and Dipterocarps in the Philippines during the dry and the wet seasons. The secondary forest had significantly higher (p < 0.05) soil respiration rate, fine root biomass and soil organic matter than the agroforestry systems in the dry season. However, in the wet season, soil respiration and soil organic matter in the G. arborea dominated agroforestry system were as high as in the secondary forest. Whereas soil respiration was generally higher in the wet than in the dry season, there were no differences in fine root biomass, microbial biomass and soil organic matter between the two seasons. Soil respiration rate correlated positively and significantly with fine root biomass, microbial biomass, and soil organic C in all three sites. The results of this study indicate, to some degree, that different land use management practices have different effects on fine root biomass, microbial biomass and soil organic C which may affect soil respiration as well. Therefore, when introducing agroforestry system, a proper choice of species and management techniques which are similar to natural forest is recommended.     

Interactive effects of temperature and precipitation on soil respiration in a temperate maritime pine forest

Soil respiration (SR) was monitored periodically throughout 2001 in a Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stand located in the Belgian Campine region. As expected for a temperate maritime forest, temperature was the dominant control over SR during most of the year. However, during late spring and summer, when soil water content (SWC) was limiting, SR was insensitive to temperature (Q(10) = 1.24). We observed that during prolonged rain-free periods, when SWC was less than 15% (v/v), SR decreased dramatically (up to 50%) and SWC took over control of SR. During such drought periods, however, rain events sometimes stimulated SR and restored temperature control over SR, even though SWC in the mineral soil was low. We hypothesize that restoration of temperature control occurred only when rain events adequately rewetted the uppermost soil layers, where most of the respiratory activity occurred. To quantify the rewetting capacity of rain events, an index (I(w)) was designed that incorporated rainfall intensity, time elapsed since the last rain event, and atmospheric vapor pressure deficit (a proxy for evaporative water losses). To simulate SR fluxes, a model was developed that included the effects of soil temperature and, under drought and non-rewetting conditions (I(w) and SWC < threshold), an SWC response function. The model explained 95% of the temporal variability in SR observed during summer, whereas the temperature function alone explained only 73% of this variability. Our results revealed that, in addition to temperature and SWC, rain plays a role in determining the total amount of carbon released from soils, even in a maritime climate.