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In-Situ CO2 Partitioning Measurements in a Phragmites australis Wetland: Understanding Carbon Loss through Ecosystem Respiration

  • Degradation and Ecological Restoration of Estuarine Wetlands in China
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Abstract

Common reed (Phragmites australis) is dominant vegetation of temperate coastal wetlands in northeast China. To studying the link between ecosystem respiration (Reco) and its influential factors, a multi-year in-situ experiment was carried out in a newly restored wetland during the growing seasons of 2012 to 2014. Total in-situ Reco was separated into soil microbial and belowground root respiration (Rs + r) and plant respiration (Rplant). The soil microbial respiration rate (Rs) was isolated from Rs + r, making it easier to understand each component of Reco. With the wetland restoration process, the seasonal average aboveground biomass (dry mass) increased from 411.5 g m−2 to 2048.1 g m−2 and the corresponding Reco increased from 751.78 mg CO2 m −2 h−1 to 2612.41 mg CO2 m −2 h−1. Rplant contributed averagely 69% ~ 71% to Reco on the whole seasonal scale and the plant activity was strongly seasonal. With 1 g of aboveground common reed biomass (dry weight), approximately 3.6 mg CO2 would be produced per hour during the sprouting period while it could be as low as 0.3 mg CO2 during plant senescence period. Inundation regime dominated the contribution of Rs to Reco and the flooded contribution would lower the Rs contribution to as low as 11%.

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Acknowledgements

This study was jointly funded by the National Key R&D Program of China (2016YFE0109600), Ministry of Land and Resources program: “Special foundation for scientific research on public causes” (Grant No. 201111023), National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41240022 & 40872167), China Geological Survey (Grant Nos. DD20189503, GZH201200503 and DD20160144). Funding for L. Olsson was provided by Sino-Danish Center for Education and Research and the Danish Council for Independent Research – Natural Sciences (Project 4002-00333B) via a grant to HB. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement of the U.S. Government.

We thank Guangming Zhao, Hongming Yuan, Jin Wang, Xigui Ding, Xiongyi Miao, Jin Liu and other staff of our working group for field and laboratory assistance. We also thank the staff of Reed Institute of Panjin City for the help and convenience they offered.

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Yu, X., Ye, S., Olsson, L. et al. In-Situ CO2 Partitioning Measurements in a Phragmites australis Wetland: Understanding Carbon Loss through Ecosystem Respiration. Wetlands 40, 901–914 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-020-01322-4

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