Tree biomass and soil organic carbon densities across the Sudanese woodland savannah: A regional carbon sequestration study

Mean tree biomass and soil carbon (C) densities for 39 map sheet grids (1° lat. × 1.5° long.) covering the Acacia woodland savannah region of Sudan (10–16° N; 21–36° E) are presented. Data from the National Forest Inventory of Sudan, Harmonized World Soil Database and FAO Local Climate Estimator were used to calculate C densities, mean annual precipitation (MAP) and mean annual temperature (MAT). Above-ground biomass C and soil organic carbon (SOC, 1 m) densities averaged 112 and 5453 g C m⁻², respectively. Below-ground biomass C densities, estimated using root shoot ratios, averaged 33 g C m⁻². Biomass C densities and MAP increased southwards across the region while SOC densities were lowest in the centre of the region and increased westwards and eastwards. Both above-ground biomass C and SOC densities were significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with MAP (r_s = 0.84 and r_s = 0.34, respectively) but showed non-significant correlations with MAT (r_s = −0.22 and r_s = 0.24, respectively). SOC densities were significantly correlated with biomass C densities (r_s = 0.34). The results indicated substantial under stocking of trees and depletion of SOC, and potential for C sequestration. Up-to-date regional and integrated soil and forest inventories are required for planning improved land-use management and restoration.     

Seasonal variability of phytoplankton biomass and composition in the major water masses of the Indian Ocean sector of the Southern Ocean

Long-term changes in phytoplankton biomass and community composition are important in the ecosystem and biogeochemical cycle in the Southern Ocean. We aim to ultimately evaluate changes in phytoplankton assemblages in this region on a decadal scale. However, yearly continuous data are lacking, and long-term datasets often include seasonal variability. We evaluated the seasonal changes in phytoplankton abundance/composition across latitudes in the Indian Ocean sector of the Southern Ocean via multi-ship observations along the 110°E meridian from 2011 to 2013. The chlorophyll a concentration was 0.3–0.5 mg m⁻³ in the Subantarctic Zone (40–50°S) and 0.4–0.6 mg m⁻³ in the Polar Frontal Zone (50–60°S); pico-sized phytoplankton (<10 μm), mainly haptophytes, were dominant in both zones. In the Antarctic Divergence area (60–65°S), the chlorophyll a concentration was 0.6–0.8 mg m⁻³, and nano-sized phytoplankton (>10 μm), mainly diatoms, dominated. Chlorophyll a concentrations and phytoplankton community compositions were the same within a latitudinal zone at different times, except during a small but distinct spring bloom that occurred north of 45°S and south of 60°S. This small seasonal variation means that this part of the Southern Ocean is an ideal site to monitor the long-term effects of climate change.     

Factors contributing to dust storms in source regions producing the yellow-sand phenomena observed in Japan from 1993 to 2002

Asian-dust (yellow-sand) phenomena observed in Japan have been increasing in recent years, especially from 2000 to 2002. The main cause is severe dust events in arid and semi-arid regions of northeast Asia. The dust source area in northeast Asia (target area: 35°–45°N and 100°–115°E) was identified with reference to past results, and the relationship between the yellow-sand phenomena observed in Japan and dust outbreaks in the target area was examined during the springtime (March to May) from 1993 to 2002. The annual change in the number of dust phenomena observed in Japan agreed well with the Dust Storm Frequency (DSF) in the target area (R² = 0.8796). Even though strong wind (≧7.0 m s⁻¹) has a profound effect on dust storms (R² = 0.515), coverage of the Normalized Differential Vegetation Index (NDVI), ranging from 0 to 0.1 (bare land with snow cover) and 0.1 to 0.2 (bare land) in April, also affected dust storms in the target area (R² = 0.486 and 0.418).     

Diurnal surface temperature difference index derived from ground-based meteorological measurements for assessment of moisture availability

Droughts have become widespread in the Northern Hemisphere, including in China, where they have affected farmland resources on the Loess Plateau. Given this background, we proposed a new index, the Normalized Day-Night Surface Temperature Index (NTDI), to estimate moisture availability (m_a), defined as the ratio of actual to reference evapotranspiration. The NTDI is defined as the ratio of the difference between the maximum daytime surface temperature and the minimum nighttime surface temperature, to the difference between the maximum and minimum surface temperatures estimated from meteorological data by applying energy balance equations.To calculate the index, we used data of 20 clear-sky meteorological observations made during the 2005 growing season at a natural grassland station in the Liudaogou River basin on the Loess Plateau. The NTDI showed a significant inverse exponential correlation with m_a (R² = 0.97, p < 0.001), whereas the numerator of the index (the maximum daytime surface temperature minus the minimum nighttime surface temperature) was only weakly correlated with m_a (R² = 0.24, p = 0.03). This result indicates that normalization relative to the index denominator (maximum surface temperature − minimum surface temperature) dramatically improved the accuracy of the estimate.     

Wood biomass functions for Acacia abyssinica trees and shrubs and implications for provision of ecosystem services in a community managed exclosure in Tigray,Ethiopia

In the Ethiopian highlands, remarkable recovery of vegetation has been achieved using exclosures, protecting vegetation against livestock browsing and firewood harvesting. But these emerging forest resources require tools for sustainable use, implying knowledge on biomass stocks and growth. In this study we developed biomass functions estimating total, stem and branch biomass from diameter at stump height (DSH) and tree height (H) for an 11-year old exclosure in Tigray, Ethiopia. In a systematic grid of 55 plots, DSH and H of all trees and shrubs were recorded. 40 Acacia abyssinica trees were selected for destructive sampling. Allometric relationships using a natural log–log model were established between aboveground biomass, DSH and H. Models with only DSH were found best with R² between 0.95 and 0.98. The functions were 10 fold cross-validated and R²_{_}cv ranged from 0.94 to 0.97, indicating good model performance. The models were found well in range with those of other seasonal forests in East Africa. Total aboveground biomass was estimated 25.4 ton ha⁻¹ with an annual production of 2.3 ton ha⁻¹, allowing sustainable wood fuel use for 4 persons ha⁻¹. The presented predictive functions help to harmonize between ecological and societal objectives and are as such a first step towards an integrated planning tool for exclosures.     

Spatial precipitation and evapotranspiration in the typical steppe of Inner Mongolia,China – A model based approach using MODIS data

We present a simple method to derive spatial precipitation (P) and evapotranspiration (ET) for the typical steppe of the Xilin river catchment at 1 km and 8-day resolution during the main vegetation period (23 April to 28 August) of 2006. The hydrological model BROOK90 was parameterised from eddy covariance measurements. The daily model input data, precipitation, minimum (Ta_min) and maximum air temperature (Ta_max), were derived by manipulating MODIS leaf area index (LAI) and surface temperature data. P was estimated based on a linear regression of P measured at several sites against the mean gain of the MODIS LAI of surrounding 3 × 3 pixels areas (R² = 0.76). Ta_min and Ta_max were derived using a relationship between measured Ta_min and Ta_max and MODIS surface temperatures (R² = 0.92 and R² = 0.88, respectively). The mean precipitation was 145 mm; it varied between 52 mm in the north-western region and 239 mm in the eastern region. In spring, the modelled ET was low (<0.8 mm d⁻¹); evaporation dominated over transpiration and spatial differences were small. At the end of June, the mean ET reached its maximum (2 mm d⁻¹) and spatial differences were pronounced. From July on, transpiration dominated over declining evaporation, and spatial differences decreased in August.     

科尔沁沙地玉米(Zea mays)田垄上和垄间土壤呼吸比较

采用动态密闭气室法测定分析了科尔沁沙地典型玉米(Zea mays)农田垄上和垄间土壤呼吸速率的差异及自养和异养呼吸特征,并估算了生态系统碳平衡。结果表明:(1)垄上和垄间土壤呼吸速率存在极显著差异(p0.001),且存在线性关系(p0.05);季节水平上垄上土壤呼吸可解释垄间土壤呼吸98.4%的变异。(2)季节水平上土壤总呼吸(RS)、异养呼吸(RH)和自养呼吸(RA)的温度敏感性指数Q10大小顺序为:RA(4.35)RS(3.10)RH(2.08)。(3)RS和RH之间存在显著差异,RA与RS和RH之间不存在显著差异;RA占RS比例的季节变化范围为28.1%~71.1%,生长季RH和RA占RS的比例均值分别为44.4%和55.6%。(4)科尔沁沙地典型农田生态系统在生长季为碳汇,可净固存大气CO2-C的量为659.1g·m-2。     

Quantifying the variability and allocation patterns of aboveground carbon stocks across plantation forest types,structural attributes and age in sub-tropical coastal region of KwaZulu Natal,South Africa using remote sensing

Quantifying the variability and allocation patterns of aboveground carbon stocks across plantation forests is central in deriving accurate and reliable knowledge and understanding of the extent to which these species contribute to the global carbon cycle and towards minimizing climate change effects. The principal objective of this study was to quantify the variability and allocation patterns of aboveground carbon stocks across Pinus and Eucalyptus plantation forests, tree-structural attributes (i.e. stems, barks, branches and leaves) and age groups, using models developed based on remotely sensed data. The results of this study demonstrate that aboveground carbon stocks significantly (α = 0.05) vary across different plantation forest species types, structural attributes and age. Pinus taeda and Eucalyptus grandis species contained aboveground carbon stocks above 110 t C ha⁻¹, and Eucalyptus dunii had 20 t C ha⁻¹. Across plantation forest tree structural attributes, stems contained the highest aboveground carbon stocks, when compared to barks, branches and leaves. Aboveground carbon stock estimates also varied significantly (α = 0.05) with stand age. Mature plantation forest species (i.e. between 7 and 20 years) contained the highest aboveground carbon stock estimates of approximately 120 t C ha⁻¹, when compared to younger species (i.e. between 3 and 6 years), which had approximately 20 t C ha⁻¹. The map of aboveground carbon stocks showed distinct spatial patterns across the entire study area. The findings of this study are important for understanding the contribution of different plantation forest species, structural attributes and age in the global carbon cycle and possible climate change moderation measures. Also, this study demonstrates that data on vital tree structural attributes, previously difficult to obtain, can now be easily derived from cheap and readily-available satellite data for inventorying carbon stocks variability.     

The influence of air–sea–ice interactions on an anomalous phytoplankton bloom in the Indian Ocean sector of the Antarctic Zone of the Southern Ocean during the austral summer, 2011

An anomalous phytoplankton bloom was recorded in the Indian Ocean sector of the Antarctic Zone (AZ) of the Southern Ocean (SO) during the austral summer, 2011. Possible mechanisms for the triggering of such a large bloom were analyzed with the help of in situ and satellite data. The bloom, which formed in January 2011, intensified during February and weakened by March. High surface chlorophyll (Chl) concentrations (0.76 mg m⁻³) were observed in the area of the bloom (60°S, 47°E) with a Deep Chlorophyll Maximum (DCM) of 1.15 mg m⁻³ at a depth of 40–60 m. During 2011, both the concentration and spatial extent of sea ice were high on the western side of the bloom, between 0°E and 40°E, and enhanced freshwater influx was observed in the study area as a result of melting ice. A positive Southern Annular Mode (SAM) (with a resultant northward horizontal advection) and an intense La Niña during 2010–2011 are possible reasons for the high sea-ice concentrations. The enhanced Chl a observed in the study region, which can be attributed to the phytoplankton bloom, likely resulted from the influx of nutrient-laden freshwater derived from melting sea ice.     

High belowground biomass allocation in an upland black spruce (Picea mariana) stand in interior Alaska

The root system of forest trees account for a significant proportion of the total forest biomass. However, data is particularly limited for forests in permafrost regions. In this study, therefore, we estimated the above- and belowground biomass of a black spruce (Picea mariana) stand underlain with permafrost in interior Alaska. Allometric equations were established using 4–6 sample trees to estimate the biomass of the aboveground parts and the coarse roots (roots >5 mm in diameter) of P. mariana trees. The aboveground biomass of understory plants and the fine-root biomass were estimated by destructive sampling. The aboveground and coarse-root biomasses of the P. mariana trees were estimated to be 3.97 and 2.31 kg m^?2, respectively. The aboveground biomass of understory vascular plants such as Ledum groenlandicum and the biomass of forest floor mosses and lichens were 0.10 and 0.62 kg m^?2, respectively. The biomass of fine roots <5 mm in diameter was 1.27 kg m^?2. Thus, the above- and belowground biomasses of vascular plants in the P. mariana stand were estimated to be 4.07 and 3.58 kg m^?2, respectively, indicating that belowground biomass accounted for 47% of the total biomass of vascular plants. Fine-root biomass was 36% of the total root biomass, of which 90% was accumulated in the surface organic layer. Thus, this P. mariana stand can be characterized as having extremely high belowground biomass allocation, which would make it possible to grow on permafrost with limited soil resource availability.     

Relationships between stand density and canopy structure in a dryland forest as estimated by ground-based measurements and multi-spectral spaceborne images

This paper describes evaluation of forest stand density combining satellite imagery with forest inventory data set. The degree of canopy cover is described in terms of fractional vegetation cover (FVC) obtained by a linear mixture model applied on multi-spectral IKONOS image and canopy cover (CC). CC was calculated from field measurements of crown width of 646 standing trees sited within 72 circular (200 m²) plots. A comparison between CC and FVC shows that the former can be accurately represented by the latter linking in-situ measured forest characteristics with surface reflectance measured by a satellite.Stand density expressed as an absolute term (number of trees per unit area) showed high and significant positive correlation to FVC (R² = 0.96) and to relative density measure (Crown Competition Factor; R² = 0.89).In order to show the applicability of the presented approach for managerial practices, a map of the spatial distribution of stand density within the forest was produced using the above-mentioned correlations. Its quality was verified against an independent data set of ground measurements. The correlation between field- and map-based number of trees per unit area was found to be satisfactory (R² = 0.4; p < 0.05), even though a slight lack of sensitivity was evident for low-density stands.     

Chironomid-based inference models for estimating mean July air temperature and water depth from lakes in Yakutia,northeastern Russia

We investigated the subfossil chironomid fauna of 150 lakes situated in Yakutia, northeastern Russia. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between chironomid assemblage composition and the environment and to develop chironomid inference models for quantifying past regional climate and environmental changes in this poorly investigated area of northern Russia. The environmental data and sediment samples for chironomid analysis were collected in 5 consecutive years, 2003–2007, from several regions of Yakutia. The lakes spanned wide latitudinal and longitudinal ranges and were distributed through several environmental zones (arctic tundra, typical tundra, steppe-tundra, boreal coniferous forest), but all were situated within the zone of continuous permafrost. Mean July temperature (T_July) varied from 3.4°C in the Laptev Sea region to 18.8°C in central Yakutia near Yakutsk. Water depth (WD) varied from 0.1 to 17.1 m. T_July and WD were identified as the strongest predictor variables explaining the chironomid communitiy composition and distribution of the taxa in our data set. Quantitative transfer functions were developed using two unimodal regression calibration techniques: simple weighted averaging (WA) and weighted averaging partial least squares (WA-PLS). The two-component T_July WA-PLS model had the best performance. It produced a strong coefficient of determination (r ² _boot = 0.87), root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP = 1.93), and max bias (max bias_boot = 2.17). For WD, the one-component WA-PLS model had the best performance (r ² _boot = 0.62, RMSEP = 0.35, max bias_boot = 0.47).     

Potassium alum and aluminum sulfate micro-inclusions in polar ice from Dome Fuji,East Antarctica

Water-soluble trace constituents affect the physicochemical properties of polar ice. Their structural distribution provides important insights into the formation history of ice and inclusions. We report the first finding of KAl(SO₄)₂·12H₂O (potassium alum) and Al₂(SO₄)₃·nH₂O (aluminum sulfate) micro-inclusions in the Dome Fuji ice core, East Antartica, using a micro-Raman technique. Eutectic temperatures of these water-soluble species determined using thermal analysis were −0.4 °C for potassium alum and −8.0 °C for aluminum sulfate. Although the formation process of the aluminum-bearing sulfates remains unclear, the occurrence of these salts largely depends on ice depth.     

Egg production rates of two common copepods in the Barents Sea in summer

Small copepod species play important roles in the pelagic food webs of the Arctic Ocean, linking primary producers to higher trophic levels. The egg production rates (EPs) and weight-specific egg production rates (SEPs) of two common copepods, Acartia longiremis and Temora longicornis, were studied under experimental conditions in Dalnezelenetskaya Bay (southern Barents Sea) during summer. The average EP and SEP at 5–10 °C were 4.7 ± 0.4 eggs female⁻¹ day⁻¹ and 0.025 ± 0.002 day⁻¹, respectively, for A. longiremis and 13.1 ± 0.9 eggs female⁻¹ day⁻¹ and 0.075 ± 0.006 day⁻¹, respectively, for T. longicornis. EP and SEP were significantly higher at 10°C than at 5°C for both species. The mean egg diameter correlated positively and significantly with female prosome length (PL) in each species. SEP of T. longicornis correlated negatively and significantly with PL. Daily EP and SEP were similar to rates recorded for other Acartia and Temora species in temperate and warm regions. The influence of environmental factors (temperature, salinity, and phytoplankton concentration) on EP of both species is discussed. We conclude that temperature is the main factor determining the reproduction rate and timing in A. longiremis and T. longicornis in the Barents Sea.     

Carbon exchange rates in Polytrichum juniperinum moss of burned black spruce forest in interior Alaska

The Boreal black spruce forest is highly susceptible to wildfire, and postfire changes in soil temperature and substrates have the potential to shift large areas of such an ecosystem from a net sink to a net source of carbon. In this paper, we examine CO₂ exchange rates (e.g., NPP and Re) in juniper haircap moss (Polytrichum juniperinum) and microbial respiration in no-vegetation conditions using an automated chamber system in a five-year burned black spruce forest in interior Alaska during the fall season of 2009. Mean ± standard deviation microbial respiration and NEP (net ecosystem productivity) of juniper haircap moss were 0.27 ± 0.13 and 0.28 ± 0.38 gCO₂/m²/hr, respectively. CO₂ exchange rates and microbial respiration showed temporal variations following fluctuation in air temperature during the fall season, suggesting the temperature sensitivity of juniper haircap moss and soil microbes after fire. During the 45-day fall period, mean NEP of P. juniperinum moss was 0.49 ± 0.28 MgC/ha following the five-year-old forest fire. On the other hand, simulated microbial respiration normalized to a 10 °C temperature might be stimulated by as much as 0.40 ± 0.23 MgC/ha. These findings demonstrate that the fire-pioneer species juniper haircap moss is a net C sink in the burned black spruce forest of interior Alaska.     

Synergic effect of salinity and light-chilling on photosystem II photochemistry of the halophyte,Sarcocornia fruticosa

Laboratory experiments were conduced to assess the synergic effect of chilling and light on photosystem II photochemistry of the halophyte, Sarcocornia fruticosa, grown at different salinity concentrations (0, 170, 340, 510 and 1030 mM). Chlorophyll fluorescence was measured after chilling (at 5 °C in darkness) and light-chilling (at 5 °C and 700 μmol m^?2 s^?1) treatments, and after 24 h of recovery (at 20 °C and 75 μmol m^?2 s^?1). At 5 °C and 700 μmol m^?2 s^?1, plants grown with 0 and 170 mM NaCl showed the lowest F_v/F_m values, whereas quantum efficiency of PSII (Φ_PSII) was higher for plants grown at 170 and 340 mM NaCl, these results being consistent after two exposures to chilling treatments. Susceptibility to photoinhibition decreases when low temperature and high light are combined with high salinity. Therefore, populations of S. fruticosa that occur in arid environments with salinities c. 340 mM could show a higher tolerance to light-chilling.     

Growth and physiological responses of larch trees to climate changes deduced from tree-ring widths and δ13C at two forest sites in eastern Siberia

Tree-ring chronologies of ring width and stable carbon isotope ratios (δ¹³C) over the past 160 years were developed using living larch trees at two forest sites, each with different annual precipitation, in eastern Siberia: Spasskaya Pad (SP) (62°14′N, 129°37′E); and Elgeeii (EG) (60°0′N, 133°49′E). Intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE) was derived from tree-ring δ¹³C. The physiological responses of the larch trees to climate varied between these sites and over time. Ring widths correlated negatively with summer temperatures at SP, where summer precipitation is lower than at EG, probably due to temperature-induced water stress. Since the 1990s, however, the negative effect of warming has been more severe at EG, where the productivity of larch trees is higher than at SP. A greater reduction of larch tree growth and higher increase rate of iWUE at EG reflects greater temperature-induced water stress, which is incident to the larger forest biomass. Our results suggest that effect of increase in atmospheric CO₂ on larch tree growth is not sufficient to compensate for temperature-induced water stress on larch growth in eastern Siberia and differences in precipitation and forest productivity largely affect the larch tree response to changing climate in eastern Siberia.     

CH4 and N2O dynamics of a Larix gmelinii forest in a continuous permafrost region of central Siberia during the growing season

Forest soils are generally sinks of CH₄ and sources of N₂O. To characterize the dynamics of these major greenhouse gases in central Siberia during the growing season, we measured fluxes from forest soil and assessed the relationships between CH₄ and N₂O fluxes and forest floor vegetation types, soil temperature, and moisture conditions. At the soil surface, both CH₄ uptake and emission (−6.6 to 3.1 μg CH₄–C m⁻² h⁻¹) were observed, and CH₄ fluxes did not differ among vegetation types. CH₄ flux was positively correlated with soil moisture, but not with soil temperature. The small CH₄ uptake compared with previous reports was due to CH₄ production in response to high precipitation. N₂O was also emitted and taken up by soil (−0.2 to 0.4 μg N₂O–N m⁻² h⁻¹), and N₂O fluxes did not differ among vegetation types. N₂O flux was negatively correlated with soil moisture and not correlated with soil temperature. Our findings suggest that high soil moisture and low availability of mineral nitrogen resulted in N₂O uptake due to denitrification. Furthermore, both CH₄ and N₂O were emitted from a river at the site; these were produced in the basin of the riverbank rather than deep in the soil.     

Effects of seasonal grazing,drought, fire,and carbon enrichment on soil microarthropods in a desert grassland

This study was designed to test hypotheses about the combined effects of short-term, seasonal grazing with seasonal drought, fire, and carbon enrichment on soil microarthropod communities in a Chihuahuan Desert grassland. The study was conducted in eighteen 0.5 ha plots following three consecutive years of treatment: six plots intensively grazed in summer, six in winter, and six not grazed. There was no difference in perennial grass cover on the summer-grazed and winter-grazed plots. Intensive seasonal grazing had no effect on the abundance and community composition of soil microarthropods. Within each plot there were six subplots: summer rain-out, winter rain-out, burned, glucose amendment, rain-out control and burn-glucose control. Fire and carbon enrichment had no significant effect on soil microarthropod abundance or community composition. The average number of microarthropods ranged from 8915 ± 1422 m⁻² in the ungrazed, unburned plots to 7175 ± 1232 m⁻² in the winter-grazed, unburned plots. Microarthropod densities in the glucose-amended plots were 8917 ± 4902 m⁻² in the winter-grazed plots and 10,731 ± 863 m⁻² in the glucose-amended, summer-grazed subplots.The prostigamatid mite, Tydeus sp., was the most abundant microarthropod taxon in all treatment plots.     

Fine root dynamics and longevity of Artemisia halodendron reflect plant growth strategy in two contrasting habitats

Fine root dynamics and longevity may reflect the results of plant adaptation. The minirhizotron technique was applied to investigate the fine root dynamics and longevity of Artemisia halodendron Turcz. ex Bess. in the mobile and fixed sand dunes in Inner Mongolia, Northern China. For over two years of study, the cumulative fine root length production and turnover were all significantly higher in the mobile than the fixed sand dunes at soil depths of 0–20, 20–40, and 40–60 cm. The annual fine root production (8.46 mm cm⁻² y⁻¹) and annual fine root turnover (7.38 mm cm⁻² y⁻¹) of shrubs in the mobile sand dunes are about 38 and 70 percent higher than those in the fixed sand dunes. The fine root lifespan is higher for those in the fixed (47 days) than in the mobile (33 days) sand dunes, consistent with the higher ratio of first- (distal) to second-order roots of the former. The root production and lifespan are consistent with the adaptive responses of A. halodendron in the two habitats. The differences in root dynamics and lifespan between the mobile and fixed sand dunes may significantly explain the changes in the C fixation rate with the restoration of desert soils.