Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology >
Season dynamics of carbon use efficiency and its influencing factors in the old-growth Abies fabri forest in Gongga Mountain, western Sichuan, China
- 1Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
2University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
Received date: 2019-10-30
Accepted date: 2020-06-10
Online published: 2021-01-05
Supported by
National Key R&D Program of China(2017YFC0505004);Major Scientific and Technological Projects of Environmental Governance and Ecological Protection in Sichuan Province(2018SZDZX0031)
Abstract
Aims Carbon use efficiency (CUE), an important function parameter, reflects the carbon sequestration capacity of forest ecosystems. It is useful in analyzing the temporal dynamics of carbon budgets at the organ, individual and community scales. It can help to determine and predict the carbon sink/source of terrestrial ecosystems, which is a matter of widespread concern.
Methods Using the biometric method, we measured and calculated the respiration and net productivity dynamics of different fir organs from an old-growth Abies fabri forest on Gongga Mountain in the eastern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, China. We studied the CUE dynamics of the tree layer and its organs and analyzed their influencing factors. We also estimated the CUE of whole trees of different diameters at breast-height (DBH) classes.
Important findings (1) Monthly respiration rates in both the tree layer and its organs are positively related to temperature, and fine roots have the highest respiration rate of all. There is no significant difference in the annual respiration of whole trees with different DBH classes, and the small DBH trees (30-40 cm) have the minimum annual stem respiration. (2) The monthly net primary productivity (NPP) of the fine root and whole stem in the tree layer increases with temperature, with the fine root accounting for the largest proportion. The small trees have the greatest annual NPP, and their needle NPP is also significantly higher than that of the medium DBH (50- 60 cm) and large DBH (75-90 cm) trees. (3) The CUE of the tree layer and its organs are mostly among 0.30 to 0.60. The monthly changes in the CUE of both fine roots and stems are similar, and their CUE increases with temperature. The CUE of trees and their organs all decrease significantly with tree growth. (4) The CUE of both the stems and fine roots is positively related with the air and soil temperature, while precipitaion has a positive effect on needle CUE. Fine root CUE has negative and positive effects on stem CUE and needle CUE, respectively. The tree layer CUE depends mainly on stem and fine root CUE. These results indicate that old-growth forests have strong and sustainable carbon sink functions, and play an important role in regional carbon storage and the carbon cycle of the forest ecosystem.
Cite this article
SHU Shu-Miao, ZHU Wan-Ze, RAN Fei, SUN Shou-Qin, ZHANG Yuan-Yuan . Season dynamics of carbon use efficiency and its influencing factors in the old-growth Abies fabri forest in Gongga Mountain, western Sichuan, China[J]. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology, 2020 , 44(11) : 1127 -1137 . DOI: 10.17521/cjpe.2019.0289
References
| [1] | An X, Chen YM, Tang YK (2017). Factors affecting the spatial variation of carbon use efficiency and carbon fluxes in east Asian forest and grassland. Research of Soil and Water Conservation, 24(5), 79-87. |
| [1] | [ 安相, 陈云明, 唐亚坤 (2017). 东亚森林、草地碳利用效率及碳通量空间变化的影响因素分析. 水土保持研究, 24(5), 79-87.] |
| [2] | Ashraf M, Ahmad A, McNeilly T (2001). Growth and photosynthetic characteristics in pearl millet under water stress and different potassium supply. Photosynthetica, 39, 389-394. |
| [3] | Chambers JQ, Tribuzy ES, Toledo LC, Crispim BF, Higuchi N, dos Santos J, Araújo AC, Kruijt B, Nobre AD, Trumbore SE (2004). Respiration from a tropical forest ecosystem: partitioning of sources and low carbon use efficiency. Ecological Applications, 14, 72-88. |
| [4] | Chantuma P, Lacointe A, Kasemsap P, Thanisawanyangkura S, Gohet E, Clément A, Guilliot A, Améglio T, Thaler P (2009). Carbohydrate storage in wood and bark of rubber trees submitted to different level of C demand induced by latex tapping. Tree Physiology, 29, 1021-1031. |
| [5] | Chen GS, Yang YS, Guo JF, Xie JS, Yang ZJ (2011). Relationships between carbon allocation and partitioning of soil respiration across world mature forests. Plant Ecology, 212, 195-206. |
| [6] | Chen GS, Hobbie SE, Reich PB, Yang YS, Robinson D (2019). Allometry of fine roots in forest ecosystems. Ecology Letters, 22, 322-331. |
| [7] | de Lucia EH, Drake JE, Thomas RB, Gonzalez-Meler M (2007). Forest carbon use efficiency: Is respiration a constant fraction of gross primary production? Global Change Biology, 13, 1157-1167. |
| [8] | Dixon RK, Solomon AM, Brown S, Houghton RA, Trexier MC, Wisniewski J (1994). Carbon pools and flux of global forest ecosystems. Science, 263, 185-190. |
| [9] | Du Z, Gan SS, Hu J (2014). Characteristics and protection strategy of forest resources in the alpine region of southwest China. Forest Resources Management, (z1), 27-31. |
| [9] | [ 杜志, 甘世书, 胡觉 (2014). 西南高山林区森林资源特点及保护利用对策探讨. 林业资源管理, (z1), 27-31.] |
| [10] | Malhi Y, Arag?o L, Metcalfe D, PAIVA R, Quesada C, Almeida S, Anderson L, Brando P, Chambers J, Costa A, Hutyra L, Souza P, Pati?o S, Pyle E, Robertson A, Teixeira L (2009). Comprehensive assessment of carbon productivity, allocation and storage in three Amazonian forests. Global Change Biology, 15, 1255-1274. |
| [11] | Mencuccini M, Martínez-Vilalta J, Vanderklein D, Hamid H, A, Korakaki E, Lee S, Michiels B (2005). Size-mediated ageing reduces vigour in trees. Ecology Letters, 11, 1183-1190. |
| [12] | Gao SP, Li JX, Xu MC, Chen X, Dai J (2007). Leaf N and P stoichiometry of common species in successional stages of the evergreen broad-leaved forest in Tiantong National Forest Park, Zhejiang Province, China. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 27, 947-952. |
| [12] | [ 高三平, 李俊祥, 徐明策, 陈熙, 戴洁 (2007). 天童常绿阔叶林不同演替阶段常见种叶片N、P化学计量学特征. 生态学报, 27, 947-952.] |
| [13] | Gifford RM (2003). Plant respiration in productivity models: conceptualisation, representation and issues for global terrestrial carbon-cycle research. Functional Plant Biology, 30, 171-186. |
| [14] | Hu ZY, Wang GX, Sun XY, Wang J, Chen XP, Song CL, Song XY, Lin S (2019). Variations in belowground carbon use strategies under different climatic conditions. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 268, 32-39. |
| [15] | Jar?u?ka B, Barna M (2011). Plasticity in above-ground biomass allocation in Fagus sylvatica L. saplings in response to light availability. Annals of Forest Research, 54, 151-160. |
| [16] | Kalyn AL, van Rees KCJ (2006). Contribution of fine roots to ecosystem biomass and net primary production in black spruce, aspen, and jack pine forests in Saskatchewan. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 140, 236-243. |
| [17] | Liu T, Sun SQ, Qiu Y (2017). Dynamics and differences in the decomposition of litters from three dominating plants in subalpine ecosystems in Western Sichuan China. Mountain Research, 35, 663-668. |
| [17] | [ 刘涛, 孙守琴, 邱阳 (2017). 川西亚高山生态系统三种典型植物凋落物分解动态特征. 山地学报, 35, 663-668.] |
| [18] | Liu ZG, Qiu FY (1986). The main vegetation types and their distribution in the Gongga Mountainous region. Acta Phytoecologica et Geobotanica Sinica, (1), 28-36. |
| [18] | [ 刘照光, 邱发英 (1986). 贡嘎山地区主要植被类型和分布. 植物生态学与地植物学丛刊, (1), 28-36.] |
| [19] | Luyssaert S, Schulze ED, B?rner A, Knohl A, Hessenm?ller D, Law BE, Ciais P, Grace J (2008). Old-growth forests as global carbon sinks. Nature, 455, 213-215. |
| [20] | M?kel? A, Valentine HT (2001). The ratio of NPP to GPP: evidence of change over the course of stand development. Tree Physiology, 21, 1015-1030. |
| [21] | Malhi Y (2012). The productivity, metabolism and carbon cycle of tropical forest vegetation. Journal of Ecology, 100, 65-75. |
| [22] | Malhi Y, Doughty C, Galbraith D (2011). The allocation of ecosystem net primary productivity in tropical forests. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 366, 3225-3245. |
| [23] | Metcalfe DB, Meir P, Arag?o LEOC, Lobo-do-Vale R, Galbraith D, Fisher RA, Chaves MM, Maroco JP, da Costa ACL, de Almeida SS, Braga AP, Gon?alves PHL, de Athaydes J, da Costa M, Portela TTB, de Oliveira AAR, Malhi Y, Williams M (2010). Shifts in plant respiration and carbon use efficiency at a large-scale drought experiment in the eastern Amazon. New Phytologist, 187, 608-621. |
| [24] | Moles AT, Warton DI, Warman L, Swenson NG, Laffan SW, Zanne AE, Pitman A, Hemmings FA, Leishman MR (2009). Global patterns in plant height. Journal of Ecology, 97, 923-932. |
| [25] | Mollier A, Pellerin S (1999). Maize root system growth and development as influenced by phosphorous deficiency. Journal of Experimental Botany, 50, 487-497. |
| [26] | Peng L, Peng JH, Sun SQ, Wu YH, He G (2015). Characteristics of mountain ecosystem soil respiration along an elevation gradient on Gongga Mountain. Journal of Mountain Science, 33, 696-702. |
| [26] | [ 彭亮, 彭尽晖, 孙守琴, 吴艳宏, 何刚 (2015). 贡嘎山生态系统土壤呼吸带谱特征. 山地学报, 33, 696-702.] |
| [27] | Raich JW, Nadelhoffer KJ (1989). Belowground carbon allocation in forest ecosystems: global trends. Ecology, 70, 1346-1354. |
| [28] | Shu SM, Zhu WZ, Wang WZ, Jia M, Zhang YY, Sheng ZL (2019). Effects of tree size heterogeneity on carbon sink in old forests. Forest Ecology and Management, 432, 637-648. |
| [29] | Waring RH, Landsberg JJ, Williams M (1998). Net primary production of forests: a constant fraction of gross primary production? Tree Physiology, 18, 129-134. |
| [30] | Williams CA, Collatz GJ, Masek J, Huang C, Goward SN (2014). Impacts of disturbance history on forest carbon stocks and fluxes: merging satellite disturbance mapping with forest inventory data in a carbon cycle model framework. Remote Sensing of Environment, 151, 57-71. |
| [31] | Wu ML (2010). Structural Equation Model: Operation and Application of AMOS. Chongqing University Press, Chongqing. |
| [31] | [ 吴明隆 (2010). 结构方程模型: AMOS的操作与应用. 重庆大学出版社, 重庆.] |
| [32] | Xiang WH, Tian DL, Yan WD (2003). Review of researches on forest biomass and productivity. Central South Forest Inventory and Planning, 22(3), 57-64. |
| [32] | [ 项文化, 田大伦, 闫文德 (2003). 森林生物量与生产力研究综述. 中南林业调查规划, 22(3), 57-64.] |
| [33] | Yang LD, Wang GX, Yang Y, Cao Y, Li W, Guo JY (2010). Dynamics of litter fall in Abies fabric mature forest at Gongga Mountain. Acta Agriculturae Universitatis Jiangxiensis (Natural Sciences Edition), 32, 1163-1167. |
| [33] | [ 羊留冬, 王根绪, 杨燕, 曹洋, 李伟, 郭剑英 (2010). 贡嘎山峨眉冷杉成熟林凋落物量动态研究. 江西农业大学学报, 32, 1163-1167.] |
| [34] | Zhang FY, Quan Q, Ma FF, Tian DS, Zhou QP, Niu SL (2019). Differential responses of ecosystem carbon flux components to experimental precipitation gradient in an alpine meadow. Functional Ecology, 33, 889-900. |
| [35] | Zhao G (2015). The Breathing Dynamics of the Emei Fir Trunks of Gongga Mountain and Its Influence Factors. Master degree dissertation, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing. |
| [35] | [ 赵广 (2015). 贡嘎山峨眉冷杉树干呼吸时空动态及其影响因子. 硕士学位论文, 中国科学院大学, 北京.] |
| [36] | Zhou G, Liu S, Li Z, Zhang D, Tang X, Zhou C, Yan J, Mo J (2006). Old-growth forests can accumulate carbon in soils. Science, 314, 1417. DOI: 10.1126/science.1130168. |
| [37] | Zhou P, Zhu WZ, Luo J, Chen YC, Yang Y, Xie J (2013). Aboveground biomass and carbon storage of typical forest types in Gongga Mountain. Acta Botanica Boreali- Occidentalia Sinica, 33, 162-168. |
| [37] | [ 周鹏, 朱万泽, 罗辑, 陈有超, 杨阳, 谢静 (2013). 贡嘎山典型植被地上生物量与碳储量研究. 西北植物学报, 33, 162-168.] |
| [38] | Zhou T, Shi PJ, Jia GS, Li XJ, Luo YQ (2010). Spatial patterns of ecosystem carbon residence time in Chinese forests. Science China Earth Sciences, 53, 1229-1240. |
| [39] | Zhu WZ (2013). Advances in the carbon use efficiency of forest. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology, 37, 1043-1058. |
| [39] | [ 朱万泽 (2013). 森林碳利用效率研究进展. 植物生态学报, 37, 1043-1058.] |
| [40] | Zhu WZ (2020). Advances in the carbon sequestration of mature forest. Scientia Silvae Sinicae, 56(3), 117-126. |
| [40] | [ 朱万泽 (2020). 成熟森林固碳研究进展. 林业科学, 56(3), 117-126.] |