The role of stream water carbon dynamics and export in the carbon balance of a tropical seasonal rainforest, southwest China.

Abstract

A two-year study (2009 ~ 2010) was carried out to investigate the dynamics of different carbon (C) forms, and the role of stream export in the C balance of a 23.4-ha headwater catchment in a tropical seasonal rainforest at Xishuangbanna (XSBN), southwest China. The seasonal volumetric weighted mean (VWM) concentrations of total inorganic C (TIC) and dissolved inorganic C (DIC) were higher, and particulate inorganic C (PIC) and organic C (POC) were lower, in the dry season than the rainy season, while the VWM concentrations of total organic C (TOC) and dissolved organic C (DOC) were similar between seasons. With increased monthly stream discharge and stream water temperature (SWT), only TIC and DIC concentrations decreased significantly. The most important C form in stream export was DIC, accounting for 51.8% of the total C (TC) export; DOC, POC, and PIC accounted for 21.8%, 14.9%, and 11.5% of the TC export, respectively. Dynamics of C flux were closely related to stream discharge, with the greatest export during the rainy season. C export in the headwater stream was 47.1 kg C ha(-1) yr(-1), about 2.85% of the annual net ecosystem exchange. This finding indicates that stream export represented a minor contribution to the C balance in this tropical seasonal rainforest.

• Authors: Wen-Jun Zhou, Yi-Ping Zhang, Douglas A Schaefer, Li-Qing Sha, Yun Deng, Xiao-Bao Deng, Kai-Jie Dai
• Journal: PloS one (PLoS One) Vol. 8 Issue 2 Pg. e56646 ( 2013) ISSN: 1932-6203 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 23437195 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Water
• Carbon
• Nitrogen

Topics

• Carbon (chemistry)
• China
• Ecosystem
• Nitrogen (chemistry)
• Rain
• Rivers
• Seasons
• Temperature
• Trees (physiology)
• Tropical Climate
• Water (chemistry)