Decomposition of litter in a dry sclerophyll eucalypt forest and a Pinus radiata plantation in southeastern Australia

This study of litter decomposition was part of an extensive project examining the partitioning of rainfall, the associated chemistry, and litterfall in a dry sclerophyll eucalypt forest and a Pinus radiata plantation in southeastern Australia. The eucalypt species studied were Eucalyptus rossii, E. mannifera and E. dives. The components tested were Pinus radiata needles, leaves of the three eucalypt species, and the bark of E. rossii and E. mannifera. During the first 16 weeks of the decomposition experiment there was a rapid decrease in the concentrations of potassium, magnesium, sodium and phosphorus; this was attributed to leaching. During this period, concentrations of nitrogen and calcium increased for most components. After this period, decomposition became the dominant process, during which the concentrations of most elements increased. By the end of the experiment there was, compared with the initial values, a marked reduction in concentrations of sodium, magnesium and potassium for all eucalypt and pine litter. Calcium concentrations increased through time, with eucalypt bark showing a mid‐period decline. Phosphorus concentrations decreased for the eucalypt leaves but increased substantially for the pine needles and the eucalypt bark. For all components of both the eucalypts and pines, total nitrogen concentrations rose consistently throughout the decomposition period. This was attributed to the formation of nitrogen‐substituted lignin, which was more resistant to decomposition than the other nitrogen‐containing compounds, as well as some nitrogen being stored in the micro‐organisms responsible for decomposition. Because of loss of fragmented litter from the litter bags after 16 weeks, the weight changes could not be confidently measured after this period. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Observation and modeling of NPP for Pinus elliottii plantation in subtropical China

Based on the stem analysis of 59 individuals of Pinus elliottii in combination with tree biomass models, we calculated annual biomass increment of forest plots at Qianyanzhou Ecological Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences in subtropical China. In addition, canopy layer and community NPP were calculated based on 12 years’ litter fall data. NPP of the 21-year-old forest was estimated by using the BIOME BGC model; and both measured NPP and estimated NPP were compared with flux data. Community biomass was 10574 g · m⁻²; its distribution patterns in tree layer, shrub layer, herbaceous layer, tree root, herbaceous and shrub roots and fine roots were 7542, 480, 239, 1810, 230, 274 and 239 g · m⁻², respectively. From 1999 to 2004, the average annual growth rate and litter fall were 741 g · m⁻² · a⁻¹ (381.31 gC · m⁻² · a⁻¹) and 849 g · m⁻² · a⁻¹ (463 gC · m⁻² · a⁻¹), respectively. There was a significant correlation between annual litter fall and annual biomass increment; and the litter fall was 1.19 times the biomass increment of living trees. From 1985 to 2005, average NPP and GPP values based on BGC modeling were 630.88 (343.31–906.42 gC · m⁻² · a⁻¹) and 1 800 gC · m⁻² · a⁻¹ (1351.62–2318.26 gC · m⁻² · a⁻¹). Regression analysis showed a linear relationship (R ²=0.48) between the measured and simulated tree layer NPP values. NPP accounted for 30.2% (25.6%–32.9%) of GPP, while NEP accounted for 57.5% (48.1%–66.5%) of tree-layer NPP and 41.74% (37%–52%) of stand NPP. Soil respiration accounted for 77.0% of measured tree NPP and 55.9% of the measured stand NPP. NEE based on eddy covariance method was 12.97% higher than the observed NEP. Supported by the National Key Basic Research Special Foundation of China (Grant No. 2002CB4125), International Joint Research Project under Ministry of Science and Technology of China (Grant No. 2006DFB91920)     

Seasonal variation in carbon exchange and its ecological analysis over Leymus chinensis steppe in Inner Mongolia

Eddy covariance technique was used to measure carbon flux during two growing seasons in 2003 and 2004 over typical steppe in the Inner Mongolia Plateau, China. The results showed that there were two different CO₂ flux diurnal patterns at the grassland ecosystem. One had a dual peak in diurnal course of CO₂ fluxes with a depression of CO₂ flux after noon, and the other had a single peak. In 2003, the maximum diurnal uptake and emitting value of CO₂ were −7.4 and 5.4 g·m⁻²·d⁻¹ respectively and both occurred in July. While in 2004, the maximum diurnal uptake and release of CO₂ were −12.8 and 5.8 g·m⁻²·d⁻¹ and occurred both in August. The grassland fixed 294.66 and 467.46 g CO₂·m⁻² in 2003 and 2004, and released 333.14 and 437.17 g CO₂·m⁻² in 2003 and 2004, respectively from May to September. Water availability and photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) are two important factors of controlling CO₂ flux. Consecutive precipitation can cause reduction in the ability of ecosystem carbon exchange. Under favorable soil water conditions, daytime CO₂ flux is dependent on PAR. CO₂ flux, under soil water stress conditions, is obviously less than those under favorable soil water conditions, and there is a light saturation phenomena at PAR=1200 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹. Soil respiration was temperature dependent when there was no soil water stress; otherwise, this response became accumulatively decoupled from soil temperature.

     

Seasonal variations and mechanism for environmental control of NEE of CO2 concerning the Potentilla fruticosa in alpine shrub meadow of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The study by the eddy covariance technique in the alpine shrub meadow of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in 2003 and 2004 showed that the net ecosystem carbon dioxide exchange (NEE) exhibited noticeable diurnal and annual variations, with more distinct daily changes during the warmer seasons. The CO₂ emission of the shrub ecosystem culminated in April and September while the CO₂ absorption capacity reached a maximum in July and August. The absorbed carbon dioxide during the two consecutive years was 231.4 and 274.8 g CO₂·m⁻² respectively, yielding an average of 253.1 gCO₂·m⁻² per year: that accounts for a large proportion of absorbed CO₂ in the region. Obviously, the diurnal carbon flux was negatively related to temperature, radiation and other atmospheric factors. Still, minute discrepancies in kurtosis and duration of carbon emission/absorption were detected between 2003 and 2004. It was found that the CO₂ flux in the daytime was similarly affected by photosynthetic photon flux density in both years. Temperature appears to be the most important determinant of CO₂ flux: specifically, the high temperature during the plant growing season inhibits the carbon absorption capacity. One potential explanation is that soil respiration is enhanced under such condition. Analysis of biomass revealed that the annual net carbon fixed capacity of aboveground and belowground biomass was 544.0 in 2003 and 559.4 g C·m⁻² in 2004, which coincided with the NEE absorption capacity (63.1 g C·m⁻² in 2003 and 74.9 g C·m⁻² in 2004) in the corresponding plant growing season.

     

CO2 flux evaluation over the evergreen coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest in Dinghushan,China

The Dinghushan flux observation site, as one of the four forest sites of ChinaFLUX, aims to acquire long-term measurements of CO₂ flux over a typical southern subtropical evergreen coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest ecosystem using the open path eddy covariance method. Based on two years of data from 2003 to 2004, the characteristics of temporal variation in CO₂ flux and its response to environmental factors in the forest ecosystem are analyzed. Provided two-dimensional coordinate rotation, WPL correction and quality control, poor energy-balance and underestimation of ecosystem respiration during nighttime implied that there could be a CO₂ leak during the nighttime at the site. Using daytime (PAR > 1.0 μmol⁻¹·m⁻²·s⁻¹) flux data during windy conditions (u* > 0.2 m·s⁻¹), monthly ecosystem respiration (Reco) was derived through the Michaelis-Menten equation modeling the relationship between net ecosystem C0₂ exchange (NEE) and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Exponential function was employed to describe the relationship between Reco and soil temperature at 5 cm depth (Ts05), then Reco of both daytime and nighttime was calculated respectively by the function. The major results are: (i) Derived from the Michaelis-Menten equation, the apparent quantum yield (α) was 0.0027±0.0011 mgCO₂·μmol⁻¹ photons, and the maximum photosynthetic assimilation rate (Amax) was 1.102±0.288 mgCO₂·m⁻²·s⁻¹. Indistinctive seasonal variation of α or Amax was consistent with weak seasonal dynamics of leaf area index (LAf) in such a lower subtropical evergreen mixed forest, (ii) Monthly accumulated Reco was estimated as 95.3±21.1 gC·m⁻²mon⁻¹, accounting for about 68% of the gross primary product (GPP). Monthly accumulated WEE was estimated as −43.2±29.6 gC·m⁻²·mon⁻¹. The forest ecosystem acted as carbon sink all year round without any seasonal carbon efflux period. Annual NEE of 2003 and 2004 was estimated as −563.0 and −441.2 gC·m⁻²·a⁻¹ respectively, accounting for about 32% of GPP.

     

Slopewash,surface runoff and fine-litter transport in forest and landslide scars in humid-tropical steeplands,luquillo experimental forest,Puerto Rico

Rainfall, slopewash (the erosion of soil particles), surface runoff and fine-litter transport steepland sites in the Luquillo Experimental Forest, Puerto Rico (18° 20’ N, 65° 45’ W) were measured from 1991 to 1995. Hillslopes underlain by (1) Cretaceous tuffaceous sandstone and silstone in subtropical rain (tanonuco) forest with vegetation recovering from Hurricane Hugo (1989), and (2) Tertiary quartz diorite in subtropical lower mantone wet (colorado and dwarf) forest with undisturbed forest canopy were compared to recent landslide scars. Monthly surface runoff on these very steep hillslopes (24° to 43°) was only 0·2 to 0·5 per cent of monthly rainfall. Slopewash was higher in sandy loam soils whose parent material is quartz diorite (averaging 46 g m⁻² a⁻¹) than in silty clay loam soils derived from tuffaceous sandstone and siltstone where the average was 9 g m⁻² a⁻¹. Annual slopewash of 100 to 349 g m⁻² on the surfaces of two recent, small landslide scars was measured initially but slopewash decreased to only 3 to 4 g m⁻² a⁻¹ by the end of the study. The mean annual mass of fine litter (mainly leaves and twigs) transported downslope at the forested sites ranged from 5 to 8 g m⁻² and was lower at the tabonuco forest site, where post-Hurricane Hugo recovery is still in progress. Mean annual fine-litter transport was 2·5 g m⁻² on the two landslide scars. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Belowground carbon balance and carbon accumulation rate in the successional series of monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forest

The belowground part of terrestrial ecosystem is a huge carbon pool. It is believed that of the total 2500Gt carbon stored in global terrestrial ecosystem, soil carbon storage within the 1 m surface layer ac- counts for 2000Gt, which is 4-fold of vegetation car- bon storage[1,2]. Compared with the carbon in the vegetation, carbon in the deep soil layers is much more stable, and it will stay in soil profile permanentlyunless geological vicissitude occurs. Essentially, forest restoration is the…     

Dynamics in land cover and its effect on stream flow in the Chemoga watershed,Blue Nile basin,Ethiopia

The objective of this study was to analyse changes in stream flow patterns with reference to dynamics in land cover/use in a typical watershed, the Chemoga, in northwestern highland Ethiopia. The results show that, between 1960 and 1999, total annual stream flow decreased at a rate of 1 · 7 mm year⁻¹, whereas the annual rainfall decreased only at a rate of 0 · 29 mm year⁻¹. The decrease in the stream flow was more pronounced during the dry season (October to May), for which a statistically significant decline (0 · 6 mm year⁻¹) was observed while the corresponding rainfall showed no discernible trend. The wet season (June to September) rainfall and stream flow did not show any trends. Extreme low flows analysed at monthly and daily time steps reconfirmed that low flows declined with time, the changes being highly significant statistically. Between 1960 and 1999, the monthly rainfall and stream flow amounts of February (month of lowest long‐term mean flow) declined by 55% and 94% respectively. Similarly, minimum daily flows recorded during the three driest months (December to February) showed statistically highly significant declines over the same period. It declined from 0 · 6 m³ s⁻¹ to 0 · 2 m³ s⁻¹ in December, from 0 · 4 m³ s⁻¹ to 0 · 1 m³ s⁻¹ in January and from 0 · 4 m³ s⁻¹ to 0 · 02 m³ s⁻¹ in February (1 · 0 m³ s⁻¹ = 0 · 24 mm day⁻¹ in the Chemoga watershed). In contrast, extreme high flows analysed at monthly (for August) and daily (July to September) time steps did not reveal discernible trends. The observed adverse changes in the stream flow have partly resulted from changes in land cover/use and/or degradation of the watershed that involved destruction of natural vegetative covers, expansion of croplands, overgrazing and increased area under eucalypt plantations. The other contributory factor has been the increased dry‐season water abstraction to be expected from the increased human and livestock populations in the area. Given the significance of the stream flow as the only source of water to the local people, a set of measures aimed at reducing magnitudes of surface runoff generation and increasing groundwater recharge are required to sustain the water resource and maintain a balanced dry‐season flow in the watershed. Generally, an integrated watershed management approach, whereby the whole of the watershed can be holistically viewed and managed, would be desirable. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Quantifying the effects of plant litter in the topsoil on the soil detachment process by overland flow in typical grasslands of the Loess Plateau,China

Plant litter can be incorporated into topsoil by a natural process, affecting the soil erosion process. This is a widespread phenomenon in erosion-prone areas. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of litter incorporation on the process of soil detachment on the Loess Plateau, China. Four common plant litters (Bothriochloa ischaemum L. Keng., Artemisia sacrorum Ledeb., Setaria viridis L. Beauv., and Artemisia capillaris Thunb.) were collected, then incorporated into the silt loam soil at five rates (0.1, 0.4, 0.7, 1.0, and 1.3 kg m⁻²) on the basis of our field investigation. Twenty litter–soil treatments and one bare soil control were prepared. After 50 days of natural stabilization, 30 soil samples of each treatment were collected. We used a flume test to scour the soil samples under six flow shear stress conditions (5.66, 8.31, 12.21, 15.55, 19.15, and 22.11 Pa). The results showed that the different incorporated litter masses and morphological characteristics, such as litter tissue density (ranging from 0.52 to 0.68 g cm⁻³), length density (2.34 to 91.00 km m⁻³), surface area density (LSAD; 27.9 to 674.2 m² m⁻³), and volume ratio (0.003 to 0.050 m³ m⁻³), caused varied soil detachment capacities (0.043 to 4.580 kg·m⁻²·s⁻¹), rill erodibilities (0.051 to 0.237 s m⁻¹), and critical shear stresses (2.02 to 6.83 Pa). The plant litter incorporated within the soil reduced the soil detachment capacities by 38%–59%, lowered the rill erodibilities by 32%–46%, and increased the critical shear stresses by 98%–193% compared with the bare soil control. The soil containing B. ischaemum (L.) Keng. litter was more resistant to erosion. By comparing different parameters, we found that the contact area between the litter and soil was the main factor affecting the soil detachment process. The soil erosion resistance increased with the increasing contact area between the soil and litter. Furthermore, the litter incorporation effect on rill erodibility can be comprehensively reflected by LSAD (R² = .93; Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency = 0.79), which could be used to adjust the rill erodibility parameter in physical process-based soil erosion models.     

Influences of grass and moss on runoff and sediment yield on sloped loess surfaces under simulated rainfall

It is important to evaluate the impacts of grasses on soil erosion process so as to use them effectively to control soil and water losses on the Loess Plateau. Laboratory-simulated rainfall experiments were conducted to investigate the runoff and sediment processes on sloped loess surfaces with and without the aboveground parts of grasses and moss (GAM: grass and moss; NGAM: no grass and moss) under slope gradients of 5°, 10°, 15°, 20°, 25° and 30°. The results show that runoff from GAM and NGAM plots increased up to a slope gradient of 10° and decreased thereafter, whereas the runoff coefficients increased with gradient. The average runoff rates and runoff coefficients of NGAM plots were less than those of GAM plots except for the 5° slope. This behaviour may be due to the reduction in water infiltration under moss. The difference between GAM and NGAM plots in average runoff rates varied from 1·4 to 8%. At the same gradients, NGAM plots yielded significantly (α = 0·05) more sediment than GAM plots. Average sediment deliveries for different slopes varied from 0·119 to 3·794 g m⁻² min⁻¹ from GAM plots, and from 0·765 to 16·128 g m⁻² min⁻¹ from NGAM plots. Sediment yields from GAM plots were reduced by 45 to 85%, compared with those from the NGAM plots. Plots at 30° yielded significantly higher sediments than at the other gradients. Total sediments S increased with slope gradients G in a linear form, i.e. S = 9·25G − 39·6 with R² = 0·77*, for the GAM plots, and in an exponential model, i.e. S = 40·4 exp(0·1042G) with R² = 0·93**, for the NGAM plots. In all cases, sediment deliveries decreased with time, and reached a relative steady state at a rainfall duration of 14 min. Compared with NGAM plots, the final percentage reductions in sediment delivery from GAM plots were higher than those at the initial time of rainfall at all slopes. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sediment-transport competence of rain-impacted interrill overland flow

Laboratory experiments to determine the maximum size of sediment transported in shallow, rain-impacted flow were conducted in a recirculating flume 4·80 m long and 0·50 m wide. Rainfall intensities were varied between 51 and 138 mm h⁻¹, flow was introduced from a header tank into the flume at rates ranging from 0 to 0·64 l s⁻¹, and experiments were conducted on gradients between 3·5 and 10°. The following equation was developed: ML = (REFE)^1·6363 in which M is particle mass, L is distance moved in unit time (cm min⁻¹), RE is rainfall energy (J m⁻² s⁻¹) and FE is flow energy (J m⁻² s⁻¹). This equation can be used to predict sediment-transport competence of interrill overland flow. The equation is limited in its utility insofar as it has been developed using quartz grains and takes no account of variations in absorption of rain energy by natural ground surfaces. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seasonal dynamics of CO2 fluxes from subtropical plantation coniferous ecosystem

As one component of ChinaFLUX, the measurement of CO₂ flux using eddy covariance over subtropical planted coniferous ecosystem in Qianyanzhou was conducted for a long term. This paper discusses the seasonal dynamics of net ecosystem exchange (NEE), ecosystem respiration (RE) and gross ecosystem exchange (GEE) between the coniferous ecosystem and atmosphere along 2003 and 2004. The variations of NEE, RE and GEE show obvious seasonal variabilities and correlate to each other, i.e. lower in winter and drought season, but higher in summer; light, temperature and soil water content are the main factors determining NEE; air temperature and water vapor pressure deficit (VPD) influence NEE with stronger influence from VPD. Under the proper light condition, drought stress could decrease the temperature range for carbon capture in planted coniferous, air temperature and precipitation controlled RE; The NEE, RE, and GEE for planted coniferous in Qianyanzhou are −387.2 g C·m⁻² a⁻¹, 1223.3 g C·m⁻² a⁻¹, −1610.4 g C·m⁻² a⁻¹ in 2003 and −423.8 g C·m⁻² a⁻¹, 1442.0 g C·m⁻² a⁻¹, −1865.8 g C·m⁻² a⁻¹ in 2004, respectively, which suggest the intensive ability of plantation coniferous forest on carbon absorbing in Qianyanzhou.

     

Rainfall interception by trees of Pinus radiata,and Eucalyptus viminalis,in a 1300 mm rainfall area of southeastern New South Wales: I. Gross losses and their variability

Interception loss, I, was determined by continuous concurrent measurements of the canopy precipitation balances of a mature seed orchard tree of Pinus radiata, and a dominant tree of Eucalyptus viminalis at a mountainous high rainfall site (900 m a.s.l.) in Tallaganda State Forest of the Upper Shoalhaven Catchment. Approximate canopy storage capacity (Sc) of the pine was 54 l, and that of the eucalypt was 11·3 l. Gross pine I was 26·5 per cent and eucalypt I was 8·3 per cent of total incident rainfall over a period of 18 months, from June 1975 to December 1976. The exponential model that provided the best fit to overall data relating I to gross rainfall (P_g) was of good precision for the pine (r² = 0·73) but rather poor precision for the eucalypt (r² = 0·27). A consistent pattern in interception data of the two canopy types suggested that variation in I was related to change in pervasive conditions influencing rates of evaporation from wet canopies during rainfall. Multiple regression analyses confirmed that factors such as rainfall intensity and windspeed explained some of the variation in eucalypt I but little in pine I. Negative eucalypt I and corresponding low values of pine I over a wide range of P_g (up to 20 mm) suggest that capture of wind-borne precipitation (cloud, mist, or fog) had also complicated the canopy precipitation balances.     

The role of cryptogams in runoff and erosion control on bariland in the Nepal Middle Hills of the Southern Himalaya

Cryptogams are communities of non-vascular plants that live on the soil surface. Numerous functions have been attributed to these crusts, including changes in soil fertility and nutrient status, soil hydrology and soil erosion. Most significant for this paper is the reported benefit of cryptogams in reducing soil erosion by water in semi-arid areas. However, to date there have been few attempts to understand the soil conservation value of cryptogams in subsistence agricultural systems or in humid mountain environments. This paper investigates the potential of cryptogams in soil erosion by water on agricultural hillslope terraces (bariland) in the Nepal Middle Hills of the southern monsoonal Himalaya. The research is significant because the loss of fertile topsoil is considered by some to be the biggest threat to the livelihoods of subsistence farmers in the area in the medium and long term. The current study was conducted in the field between two of the weeding events that take place under maize cover, grown in the traditional manner. Three groundcover types which represented (i) maize only (types A), (ii) maize and weed cover (types B), and (iii) maize and cryptogam cover (types C) were monitored utilizing multiple microerosion plots. Measurements of runoff and soil loss data were collected sequentially on a storm-by-storm basis throughout the monitored period from 24 July 1997 to 29 August 1997. Measurements of infiltration rates were also taken on each of the groundcover types at selected times. Results collected from the erosion plots demonstrate that runoff and soil losses over distances of <2 m can be significantly reduced by up to 50 per cent with cryptogam cover, compared to maize-only canopies. Mean runoff for all storm events sampled from plot types A, B and C were 3·4 l m⁻², 1·6 l m⁻² and 1·5 l m⁻² respectively. For soil loss, the results were 21·7 g m⁻², 11·3 g m⁻² and 10·2 g m⁻² respectively. Therefore, cryptogams would appear to offer a similar degree of protection to the soil surface from runoff and raindrop erosion, to that afforded by weed cover. Weed and cryptogam covers protect the soil surface from rainfall kinetic energies and work to preserve surface microtopographies, depressional storage and surface water detention. Terminal infiltration rates taken at the end of the monitored period showed that well developed maize- and cryptogam-covered soil surfaces (types C) have a mean terminal infiltration rate of 35·0 mm h⁻¹ compared to 44·5 mm h⁻¹ for comparable maize- and weed-covered soil surfaces (types B), and 15·5 mm h⁻¹ for maize-only soil surfaces (types A). These results show that cryptogams and weeds also have relatively higher infiltration rates than comparable maize-only covered plots, devoid of groundcover. The findings in this study may have implications for traditional weed management practices used by local hill farmers, which often destroy cryptogam soil coatings two to three times during the maize growing period. However, further work needs to be done to ascertain farmers' understandings of cryptogams. It is hoped that conservationists will benefit from incorporating cryptogams into the design of future soil erosion studies relating to development programmes. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seasonal and annual variation of CO2 flux above a broad-leaved Korean pine mixed forest

Long-term measurement of carbon metabolism of old-growth forests is critical to predict their behaviors and to reduce the uncertainties of carbon accounting under changing climate. Eddy covariance technology was applied to investigate the long-term carbon exchange over a 200 year-old Chinese broad-leaved Korean pine mixed forest in the Changbai Mountains (128°28′E and 42°24′N, Jilin Province, P. R. China) since August 2002. On the data obtained with open-path eddy covariance system and CO₂ profile measurement system from Jan. 2003 to Dec. 2004, this paper reports (i) annual and seasonal variation of F _NEE, F _GPP and R _E; (ii) regulation of environmental factors on phase and amplitude of ecosystem CO₂ uptake and release Corrections due to storage and friction velocity were applied to the eddy carbon flux.

L_AI and soil temperature determined the seasonal and annual dynamics of F_GPP and R_E separately. V_PD and air temperature regulated ecosystem photosynthesis at finer scales in growing seasons. Water condition at the root zone exerted a significant influence on ecosystem maintenance carbon metabolism of this forest in winter.

The forest was a net sink of atmospheric CO₂ and sequestered −449 g C·m⁻² during the study period; −278 and −171 gC·m⁻² for 2003 and 2004 respectively. F _GPP and F _RE over 2003 and 2004 were −1332, −1294 g C·m⁻². and 1054, 1124 g C·m⁻² respectively. This study shows that old-growth forest can be a strong net carbon sink of atmospheric CO₂.

There was significant seasonal and annual variation in carbon metabolism. In winter, there was weak photosynthesis while the ecosystem emitted CO₂. Carbon exchanges were active in spring and fall but contributed little to carbon sequestration on an annual scale. The summer is the most significant season as far as ecosystem carbon balance is concerned. The 90 days of summer contributed 66.9, 68.9% of F _GPP, and 60.4, 62.1% of R _E of the entire year.

     

Zur Rolle der Stickstoffixation im Stoffhaushalt eines geschichteten Sees

In the dimict lake Arend (5.1 km², 146 hm³, 49.5 m z_max), nitrogen is production-limiting with concentrations below the detection limit during the production period. Phytoplankton achieves biomasses of up to 18 mg/l fresh matter, essential contributions being made by Aphanizomenon with 2 mg/l and Anabaena with up to 10 mg/l. Nitrogen fixation was measured by the ethine reduction technique (acetylene reduction) during periods of the occurrence of heterocystforming Cyanophyceae and achieved peak values up to 6.59 μg N² · h^?1 · l^?1 or 14.87 m^?2 · h^?1 g N₂ · m^?2 · h^?1. The rates of fixation show a safe correlation with the biomass of heterocyst-containing Cyanophyceae (r = 0.88), their development beginning at values below the N : P-ratio of 2.66.     

Bed material transport estimated from the virtual velocity of sediment

This study evaluates the possibility of determining bed material transport using the virtual rate of travel of individual particles, dimensions of the active layer of the streambed, and porosity and density of streambed material. Magnetically tagged stones and scour indicators were employed in Carnation Creek, British Columbia, to quantify transport rates. Observations cover flows up to 36 m³ s⁻¹ (τ* = 0·081). Transport rates, ranging from 0·090 to 9·7 kg s⁻¹ (0·12–13·2 m³ h⁻¹), display a relatively sensitive trend with maximum stream power, as expected. Error analysis indicates that uncertainty in virtual velocity covers the majority of sample variance. An evaluation of the two measurement techniques used to delineate active layer dimensions, magnetically tagged stones and scour indicators, indicates that they yield comparable depths, widths and transport rates over the range of flows observed. Issues for further study are discussed. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Potentials and limitations of modelling vertical distributions of root water uptake of an Austrian pine forest on a sandy soil

Root water uptake patterns are often studied with simulation models of the unsaturated soil water flow, as they are difficult to measure directly. Calibration of these models is not straightforward and causes uncertainties in simulated uptake distributions. In this paper we study how uncertainties in the calibration of the SWIF model affect uncertainty intervals in simulated uptake patterns of an Austrian pine stand (Pinus nigra var. nigra) on a sandy soil. After calibrating and validating SWIF with a large data set of more than 125 000 measured soil water contents over a three year period, uncertainty ranges in simulated soil water dynamics and root water uptake distributions were estimated with a Monte Carlo analysis. In general, uncertainties in root uptake patterns were small (typically <2 10⁻⁴ m³ m⁻³ day⁻¹) and were higher for trees with a shallow rooting system (0·8 m) than for trees with a deep rooting system (2·5 m). Uncertainties arose mainly from uncertainties in simulated soil water fluxes and from variations in the reduction of uptake during periods of drought. Uncertainties in soil water contents were far higher (typically 0·01 m³ m⁻³) than uncertainties in uptake, illustrating that uncertainties in uptake parameters and those in the distribution of water uptake hardly affect the modelling of soil water dynamics. Root water uptake models should therefore be validated against measured uptake distributions, which can be determined on sandy soils during dry periods with a high water use when soil fluxes are negligible to uptake. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Periphyton communities in Amazonian black- and whitewater habitats: Community structure, biomass and productivity

Chlorophyll a-concentrations, AFWD (ash-free-dry-weight) and photosynthesis rates were estimated for periphyton assemblages in Amazonian black-and white-water habitats over 14 months. Cellulose-acetate strips were incubated in situ and showed few major differences in periphyton quality as compared to natural substrata. The only exceptions were submersed Igapó forest leaves, which exhibited higher proportions of green algae and cyanobacteria though not producing differences in total periphyton biomass. Enclosure experiments showed a considerable nutrient release by inundated non-senescent Igapó forest leaves. Periphyton biomass and productivity were found to be highest in black-and white water mixing zones, where biomass peaked at 41.6 mg Chla/m² and 19.8 g/m² AFDW. Production was estimated to be 380 gC/m²·a. Maximum biomass of periphyton in floating meadows was 46 mg Chla/m² and 10.6 g/m² AFDW, with an annual production of 170 gC/m²·a. Solimões main channel periphyton values were low: maximum Chla was 7.1 mg/m², AFDW 0.8 g/m² and annual production was estimated to be 30 gC/m². Blackwater periphyton values were lower compared to whitewater and mixed water values but an enlarged trophogenic zone has to be taken into account. Highest Chla content reached 30.9 mg/m², AFDW 1.43 g/m². Estimated annual production was 110 gC/m². Observed mean periphyton productivity of Amazonian blackwater habitats approximately corresponded to mesotrophic attached algae productivity in temperate zones, whereas productivity of whitewater periphyton approached those of temperate eutrophic lakes. The role of periphyton in the Amazon food web is discussed.     

Sedimentation in arctic proglacial lakes: Mittivakkat Glacier,south‐east Greenland

Several sediment cores were collected from two proglacial lakes in the vicinity of Mittivakkat Glacier, south‐east Greenland, in order to determine sedimentation rates, estimate sediment yields and identify the dominant sources of the lacustrine sediment. The presence of varves in the ice‐dammed Icefall Lake enabled sedimentation rates to be estimated using a combination of X‐ray photography and down‐core variations in ¹³⁷Cs activity. Sedimentation rates for individual cores ranged between 0·52 and 1·06 g cm⁻² year⁻¹, and the average sedimentation rate was estimated to be 0·79 g cm⁻² year⁻¹. Despite considerable down‐core variability in annual sedimentation rates, there is no significant trend over the period 1970 to 1994. After correcting for autochthonous organic matter content and trap efficiency, the mean fine‐grained minerogenic sediment yield from the 3·8 km² basin contributing to the lake was estimated to be 327 t km⁻² year⁻¹. Cores were also collected from the topset beds of two small deltas in Icefall Lake. The deposition of coarse‐grained sediment on the delta surface was estimated to total in excess of 15 cm over the last c. 40 years. In the larger Lake Kuutuaq, which is located about 5 km from the glacier front and for which the glacier represents a smaller proportion of the contributing catchment, sedimentation rates determined for six cores collected from the centre of the lake, based on their ¹³⁷Cs depth profiles, were estimated to range between 0·05 and 0·11 g cm⁻² year⁻¹, and the average was 0·08 g cm⁻² year⁻¹. The longer‐term (c. 100–150 years) average sedimentation rate for one of the cores, estimated from its unsupported ²¹⁰Pb profile, was 0·10–0·13 g cm⁻² year⁻¹, suggesting that sedimentation rates in this lake have been essentially constant over the last c. 100–150 years. The average fine‐grained sediment yield from the 32·4 km² catchment contributing to the lake was estimated to be 13 t km⁻² year⁻¹. The ¹³⁷Cs depth profiles for cores collected from the topset beds of the delta of Lake Kuutuaq indicate that in excess of 27 cm of coarse‐grained sediment had accumulated on the delta surface over the last approximately 40 years. Caesium‐137 concentrations associated with the most recently deposited (uppermost) fine‐grained sediment in both Icefall Lake and Lake Kuutuaq were similar to those measured in fine‐grained sediment collected from steep slopes in the immediate proglacial zone, suggesting that this material, rather than contemporary glacial debris, is the most likely source of the sediment deposited in the lakes. This finding is confirmed by the ¹³⁷Cs concentrations associated with suspended sediment collected from the Mittivakkat stream, which are very similar to those for proglacial material. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.