Wang Chen-rui

Advances of study on atmospheric methane oxidation (consumption) in forest soil

Next to CO2, methane (CH4) is the second important contributor to global warming in the atmosphere and global atmospheric CH4 budget depends on both CH4 sources and sinks. Unsaturated soil is known as a unique sink for atmospheric CH4 in terrestrial ecosystem. Many comparison studies proved that forest soil had the biggest capacity of oxidizing atmospheric CH4 in various unsaturated soils. However, up to now, there is not an overall review in the aspect of atmospheric CH4 oxidation (consumption) in forest soil. This paper analyzed advances of studies on the mechanism of atmospheric CH4 oxidation, and related natural factors (Soil physical and chemical characters, temperature and moisture, ambient main greenhouse gases concentrations, tree species, and forest fire) and anthropogenic factors (forest clear-cutting and thinning, fertilization, exogenous aluminum salts and atmospheric deposition, adding biocides, and switch of forest land use) in forest soils. It was believed that CH4 consumption rate by forest soil was limited by diffusion and sensitive to changes in water status and temperature of soil. CH4 oxidation was also particularly sensitive to soil C/N, Ambient CO2, CH4 and N2O concentrations, tree species and forest fire. In most cases, anthropogenic, disturbances will decrease atmospheric CH4 oxidation, thus resulting in the elevating of atmospheric CH4. Finally, the author pointed out that our knowledge of atmospheric CH4 oxidation (consumption) in, forest soil was insufficient. In order to evaluate the contribution of forest soils to atmospheric CH4 oxidation and the role of forest played in the process of global environmental change, and to forecast the trends of global warming exactly, more researchers need to studies further on CH4 oxidation in various forest soils of different areas.

Characteristics and dynamics of sandy natural forests in sandy forest-steppe ecotone in the northern area of China

The research was carried out on sandy natural forest ecosystems in sandy forest-steppe ecotone in the northern area of China from 1980s. In this paper, we introduced the concept and origin, distribution and actuality, types and succession of sandy natural forests in the northern area of China. The conservation value and strategy for sandy natural forests were also discussed. We hope to supply some scientific basis for performing “the Natural Forest Protection Program” reasonably in China.

Soil carbon dioxide fluxes of a typical broad-leaved/Korean pine mixed forest in Changbai Mountain, China

The forest ecosystem plays an important role in the global carbon cycling. A study was conducted to evaluate soil CO2 flux and its seasonal and diurnal variation with the air and soil temperatures by using static closed chamber technique in a typical broad-leaved/Korean pine mixed forest area on the northern slope of Changbai Mountain, Jilin Province, China. The experiment was carried out through the day and night in the growing season (from June to September) in situ and sample gas was analyzed by a gas Chromatograph. Results showed that the forest floor was a large net source of carbon, and soil CO2 fluxes had an obvious law of seasonal and diel variation. The soil CO2 flux of broad-leaved/Korean pine mixed forest was in the range of 0.30–2.42 μmol·m-2·s-1 with the mean value of 0.98 μmol·m-2· s-1. An examination on the seasonal pattern of soil CO2 emission suggested that the variability in soil CO2 flux could be correlated with variations in soil temperature, and the maximum of mean CO2 flux occurred in July ((1.27±23%) μmol·m-2·s-1) and the minimum was in September ((0.50±28%) μmol·m-2·s-1). The fluctuations in diel soil CO2 flux were also correlated with changes in soil temperature; however, there existed a factor for a time lag. Soil CO2 flux from the forest floor was strongly related to soil temperature and had the highest correlation with temperature at 6-cm depth of soil. Q10 values based on air temperature and soil temperature of different soil depths were at the ranges of 2.09–3.40.

Effect of elevated CO2 concentration on growth course of tree seedlings in Changbai Mountain.

One-year-old seedlings ofPinus koraiensis, Pinus sylvestriformis, Phellodendron amurense were grown in open-top chambers (OTCs) with 700 and 500 ώmol/mol CO2 concentrations, control chamber and on open site (ambient CO2, about 350 ώmol/mol CO2) respectively at the Open Research Station of Changbai Mountain Forest Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the growth course responses of three species to elevated CO2 and temperature during one growing season was studied from May to Oct. 1999. The results showed that increase in CO2 concentration enhanced the growth of seedlings and the effect of 700 (ώmol/mol CO2 was more remarkable than 500 ώmol/mol CO2 on seedling growth. Under the condition of doubly elevated CO2 concentration, the biomass increased by 38% in average for coniferous seedlings and 60% for broad-leaved seedlings. With continuous treatment of high CO2 concentration, the monthly-accumulated biomass of shade-tolerantPinus koraiensis seedlings was bigger in July than in August and September, while those ofPinus sylvestriformis andPhellodendron amurense seedlings showed an increase in July and August, or did not decrese until September. During the hot August, high CO2 concentration enhanced the growth ofPinus koraiensis seedlings by increasing temperature, but it did not show dominance in other two species.

Response of seedlings growth ofPinus sylvestriformis to atmospheric CO2 enrichment in Changbai Mountain

The biomass and ratio of root-shoot ofPinus sylvestriformis seedlings at CO2 concentration of 700 μL·L−1 and 500 μL·L−1 were measured using open-top chambers (OTCs) in Changbai Mountain during Jun. to Oct. in 1999. The results showed that doubling CO2 concentration was benefit to seedling growth of the species (500 μL·L−1 was better than 700 μL·L−1) and the biomass production was increased in both above-ground and underground parts of seedlings. Carbon transformation to roots was evident as rising of CO2 concentration.

Ecophysiological responses and carbon distribution of Pinus koraiensis seedlings to elevated carbon dioxide

The net CO2 assimilation rate, stomatal conductance, RuBPcase (ribulose 1,5-biphosphate carboxylose) activity, dry weight of aboveground and belowgroud part, plant height, the length and diameter of taproot ofPinus koraiensis seedlings were measured and analyzed after six-week exposure to elevated CO2 in an open-top chamber in Changbai Mountain of China from May to Oct. 1999. Seedlings were planted in four different conditions: on an open site, control chamber, 500 μL·L−1 and 700 μL·L−1 CO2 chambers. The results showed that the total biomass of the seedlings increased whereas stomatal conductance decreased. The physiological responses and growth to 500 μL·L−1 and 700 μL·L−1 CO2 varied greatly. The acclimation of photosynthesis was downward to 700 μL·L−1 CO2 but upward to 500 μL·L−1 CO2. The RuBPcase activity, chlorophyll and soluble sugar contents of the seedlings grown at 500 μL·L−1 CO2 were higher than that at 700 μL·L−1 CO2. The concentration 500 μL·L−1 CO2 enhanced the growth of aboveground part whereas 700 μL·L−1 CO2 allocated more carbon to belowground part. Elevated CO2 changed the carbon distribution pattern. The ecophysiological responses were significantly different between plants grown under 500 μL·L−1 CO2 and 700 μL·L−1 CO2.

Effects of elevated CO2 on net photosynthetic rate of trees in Changbai Mountain

Net photosynthetic rates (NPRs) of four species seedlings,Pinus koraiensis, Pinus sylvestriformis, Fraxinus mandshurica andPhellodendron amurense, were measured at different CO2 concentrations and time respectively in Changbai Mountain during the growing season in 1999. The seedlings were cultivated in open-top chambers (OTCs), located outdoors and exposed to natural sunlight. The experimental objects were divided into four groups by tree species. CO2 concentrations in chambers were kept at 500 μL·L−1 and 700 μL·L−1 and contrast chamber and contrast field were set. The results showed that the effects of elevated CO2 on NPR of the trees strongly depended on tree species and time. NPRs ofPinus koreainsis andPinus sylvestriformis seedlings increased with the rising of CO2 concentration, while that ofPhellodendron amurense andFraxinus mandshurica increased at some time and decreased at another time.

Photosynthetic response of Pinus sylvestriformis to elevated carbon dioxide and its influential factor analysis.

The photosynthetic response of 12-year oldPinus sylvestriformis to elevated CO2 and its influential factors were tested and analyzed in the forest region of Changbai Mountain in 1999. Trees grown at the natural condition were controlled at three levels of CO2 concentration (350 μL·L−1, 500 μL·L−1 and 700 μL·L−1) by CO2 rich settlement designed by us. Net photosynthetic rates (NPR), temperature, relative humidity, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO2 concentration and photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) were measured at 6:00, 8:00, 10:00, 14:00, 16:00 and 18:00 hours a day. Experimental results showed that the NPR ofPinus sylvestriformis increased by 32.6% and 123.0% at 500 μL·L−1 and 700 μL·L−1 CO2 concentration respectively, compared to ambient atmospheric CO2 concentration (350 μL·L−1). The relations between NPR and influential factors, including temperature, relative humidity, intercellular CO2 concentration and photosynthetic active radiation, were analyzed respectively by regression analysis at different CO2 concentrations.

Effect of elevated ambient CO2 concentration on water use efficiency ofPinus sylvestriformis

Pinus sylvestriformis is an important species as an indicator of global climate changes in Changbai Mountain, China. The water use efficiency (WUE) of this species (11-year old) was studied on response to elevated CO2 concentration at 500±100 μL·L−1 by directly injecting CO2 into the canopy under natural condition in 1998–1999. The results showed that the elevated CO2 concentration reduced averagely stomatal opening, stomatal conductance and stomatal density to 78%, 80% and 87% respectively, as compared to normal ambient. The elevated CO2 reduced the transpiration and enhances the water use efficiency (WUE) of plant.