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Abstract: Continuous measurements of carbon dioxide using the eddy covariance (EC) technique were made in 2003 at three ChinaFLUX forest sites, including a temperate mixed forest (CBS), a subtropical evergreen coniferous plantation (QYZ) and a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest (DHS) along the North–South Transect of Eastern China (NSTEC). The three forest sites are influenced by Asian monsoon climate to varying degrees. The environmental controls on the seasonal variations of ecosystem apparent quantum yield (α), maximum photosynthesis rate (P max) and ecosystem respiration (R e) were investigated in the three forest ecosystems. At the CBS site, temperature was found to be the dominant factor controlling the seasonal patterns of ecosystem α and P max, while the phenology, which was mainly embodied by the development of LAI, also displayed important influence. The seasonal patterns of α and P max at QYZ were mainly ascribed to vapor pressure deficit (VPD). Ecosystem α decreased with increasing VPD and P max decreased below and above the optimum VPD as a result of the Asian subtropical monsoon climate which resulted in the extremely high temperature and low moisture. At the DHS site, ecosystem α only appeared weak negative correlation with temperature, while there was no obvious dominant factor controlling the seasonal pattern of ecosystem P max. The ecosystem respiration of the three forest ecosystems could be estimated well by temperature with an exponential equation. During the growing season, the ecosystem α, P max and R e at CBS were much stronger than that of QYZ and DHS. The R e at CBS was more sensitivity to temperature than that of QYZ and DHS, so its response to changing climate deserved more attention in the evaluation of the carbon budget of such ecosystem. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: As a weather element, clouds can affect CO2 exchange between terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere by altering environmental conditions, such as solar radiation received on the ground surface, temperature, and moisture. Based on the flux data measured at five typical ecosystems of China during mid-growing season (June–August) from 2003 to 2006, we analyzed the responses of net ecosystem exchange of carbon dioxide (NEE), light use efficiency (LUE, defined as Gross ecosystem photosynthesis (GEP)/Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR)), and water use efficiency (WUE, defined as GEP/Evapotranspiration (ET)) to the changes in cloudiness. The five ecological sites included Changbaishan temperate mixed forest (CBS), Dinghushan subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest (DHS), Xishuangbanna tropical rainforest (XSBN), Inner Mongolia semi-arid Leymus chinensis steppe (NMG), and Haibei alpine frigid Potentilla fruticosa shrub (HB). Our analyses show that cloudy sky conditions with cloud index (k t) values between 0.4 and 0.6 increased NEE, LUE, and WUE of the ecosystems at CBS, DHS, NMG and HB from June to August. The LUE of tropical rainforest at XSBN was higher under cloudy than under clear sky conditions, but NEE and WUE did not decrease significantly under clear sky conditions from June to August. The increase in GEP with increasing diffuse radiation received by ecosystems under cloudy skies was the main reason that caused the increases in LUE and net carbon uptake in forest ecosystem at CBS, DHS, and alpine shrub ecosystem at HB, compared with clear skies. Moreover, for the ecosystem at CBS, DHS, and HB, when sky condition became from clear to cloudy, GEP increased and ET decreased with decreasing VPD, leading to the increase in WUE and NEE under cloudy sky conditions. The decrease in R e with decreasing temperature and increase in GEP with decreasing VPD under cloudy skies led to the increase in LUE, WUE, and net carbon uptake of semi-arid steppe at NMG, compared to clear skies. These different responses among the five ecosystems are attributable to the differences in canopy characteristics and water conditions. From June to August, the peaks of the k t frequency distribution in temperate ecosystems (e.g., CBS, NMG, and HB) were larger than 0.5, but they were smaller than 0.4 in subtropical/tropical forest ecosystems (e.g., DHS and XSBN). These results suggest that the pattern of cloudiness during the years from 2003 to 2006 in the five ecosystems was not the best condition for their net carbon uptake. This study highlights the importance of cloudiness factor in the prediction of net carbon absorption in the Asia monsoon region under climate change. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Uptake and release of carbon in grassland ecosystems is very critical to the global carbon balance and carbon storage. In this study, the dynamics of net ecosystem CO2 exchange (F NEE) of two grassland ecosystems were observed continuously using the eddy covariance technique during the growing season of 2003. One is the alpine shrub on the Tibet Plateau, and the other is the semi-arid Leymus chinensis steppe in Inner Mongolia of China. It was found that the F NEE of both ecosystems was significantly depressed under high solar radiation. Comprehensive analysis indicates that the depression of F NEE in the L. chinensis steppe was the results of decreased plant photosynthesis and increased ecosystem respiration (R eco) under high temperature. Soil water stress in addition to the high atmospheric demand under the strong radiation was the primary factor limiting the stomatal conductance. In contrast, the depression of F NEE in the alpine shrub was closely related to the effects of temperature on both photosynthesis and ecosystem respiration, coupled with the reduction of plant photosynthesis due to partial stomatal closure under high temperature at mid-day. The R eco of the alpine shrub was sensitive to soil temperature during high turbulence (u * >0.2ms−1) but its F NEE decreased markedly when the temperature was higher than the optimal value of about 12°C. Such low optimal temperature contrasted the optimal value (about 20°C) for the steppe, and was likely due to the acclimation of most alpine plants to the long-term low temperature on the Tibet Plateau. We inferred that water stress was the primary factor causing depression of the F NEE in the semi-arid steppe ecosystem, while relative high temperature under strong solar radiation was the main reason for the decrease of F NEE in the alpine shrub. This study implies that different grassland ecosystems may respond differently to climate change in the future. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Variation in temperature accounts for most of the seasonal fluctuation of terrestrial ecosystem respiration. However, other factors, such as soil moisture, also influence ecosystem respiration. In this study, continuous measurement of carbon dioxide exchange was made over a subtropical Pinus plantation of southeastern China using the eddy covariance (EC) technique. The effect of soil water content on ecosystem respiration and its sensitivity to temperature (Q 10) were examined during the unusual dry summer of 2003. The results indicate that soil water content significantly affected the dynamics of respiration rate and its relationship with temperature in the drought-stressed ecosystem. The effect of soil water content on the Q 10 value of ecosystem respiration is described best by a quadratic function, instead of the commonly used multiplicative model. The regression model analysis revealed that ecosystem respiration was more sensitive to soil water content than is estimated by the multiplicative model. The multiplicative model led to an overestimation of response of the respiration to warming under the dry soil condition. Sensitivity of the ecosystem respiration to temperature was found to vary with air temperature and soil water content. This, to a considerable extent, precludes accurate estimates of the seasonal dynamics of ecosystem respiration. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]