Contribution of invasive species Spartina alterniflora to soil organic carbon pool in coastal wetland: Stable isotope approach

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2015.0091

Abstract

Abstract: Aims

Spartina alterniflora was introduced into China because of its strong sedimentation promotion ability, currently, it became one of the most invasive species along coastal areas. Most researches focused on its high productivity which directly increased soil carbon (C) input. However, little is known about its indirect contribution to soil carbon via increased sedimentation.

Methods

Spartina alterniflora patches with different invasion history (4, 6, and 10 years) was selected in Chongming Dongtan wetland, and Phragmites australis and mudflat were chosen as control respectively. The plant, soil and water samples were collected for C and nitrogen (N) analysis. Based on the stable isotope ratio of C and N in plant and soil organic carbon, the contribution of soil organic carbon pool from S. alterniflora patches were estimated by using 2 and 3 sources mixing model, respectively.

Important findings

(1) The soil organic C content and stable carbon isotope ratio of S. alterniflora patches increased with time. Spartina alterniflora invasion cumulatively enhanced soil organic carbon pool. The soil C:N ratio decreased with invasion history and became close to the redfield ratio, indicating the important role of sedimentation input. (2) The contribution of invasive S. alterniflora to soil organic carbon pool increased with time, but the sedimentation contribution dropped gradually. In patch with 4 years invasion history, the contribution ratio of sedimentation was more than 90.0%. While in patch invaded 10 years ago, the sedimentation contribution reduced by 18.4%, and in comparison, S. alterniflora contributed up to 73.5% to soil organic carbon pool. These findings suggested that S. alterniflora contributed to soil organic carbon pool mainly by promoting sedimentation in early invasion period, while gradually relied on its own productivity with invasion time.

Key words: contribution ratio, mixing model, Spartina alterniflora, soil carbon pool, stable isotope

WANG Dan,ZHANG Rong,XIONG Jun,GUO Hai-Qiang,ZHAO Bin. Contribution of invasive species Spartina alterniflora to soil organic carbon pool in coastal wetland: Stable isotope approach[J]. Chin J Plan Ecolo, 2015, 39(10): 941-949.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2015.0091

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2015/V39/I10/941

Figures/Tables 8

Fig. 1 Location of the study area and sampling sites. The MF, PA, SA represent mudflat, Phragmites australis and Spartina alterniflora sampling points, respectively.

Table 1 The δ13C and δ15N values of Spartina alterniflora and Phragmites australis plants

植株 Plant	区域 Area	δ¹³C (‰)	δ¹⁵N (‰)
互花米草 Spartina alterniflora (C₄)	SA-4	-14.66	5.29
互花米草 Spartina alterniflora (C₄)	SA-6	-14.42	3.06
	SA-10	-13.59	2.18
芦苇 Phragmites australis (C₃)	PA-6	-26.04	4.65
芦苇 Phragmites australis (C₃)	PA-10	-26.24	4.74

Fig. 2 Changes in soil total carbon (16 ± 0.6) and organic carbon (12 ± 1.3) (mg·g-1 dry soil) in Spartina alterniflora patches (mean ± SE). The A, B, C and D represent the mudflat, Spartina alterniflora patches of about 4 years, 6 years and 10 years of invasion time, respectively.

Fig. 3 The soil C:N ratio in Spartina alterniflora patches.

Fig. 4 Vertical changes in the values of δ13C and δ15N of different Spartina alterniflora patches and mudflat soil (mean ± SE). The MF, SA-4, SA-6 and SA-10 represent the mudflat, S. alterniflora patches of about 4 years, 6 years and 10 years of invasion time, respectively. δ13C, stable carbon isotope ratio; δ15N, stable nitrogen isotope ratio.

Fig. 5 Proportions of soil carbon pools in Spartina alterniflora patches. The SA, POC and PA represent the proportion of S. alterniflora plant, particulate organic carbon and Phragmites australis plant, respectively.

Fig. 6 Mixing diagram for a mixing model utilizing one isotope value and two sources for the soil organic carbon pool, the triangles represent the soils of SA-4 sampling points, the POC and SA represent sediment and Spartina alterniflora plant sources, respectively.

Fig. 7 Mixing diagram for a mixing model utilizing two isotope values and tree sources for the soil organic carbon pool, the circles and small squares represent the soil of SA-6, SA-10 sampling points. The PA, SA and POC represent Phragmites australis plant, Spartina alterniflora plant, and sediment, respectively.

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