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Environmental Controls on Net Ecosystem CO2 Exchange Over a Reed (Phragmites australis) Wetland in the Yellow River Delta, China

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Abstract

Using the Eddy Covariance (EC) technique, we analyzed temporal variation in net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE) and determined the effects of environmental factors on the balance between ecosystem photosynthesis and respiration in a reed (Phragmites australis) wetland in the Yellow River Delta, China. Our results indicated that diurnal and seasonal patterns of NEE and its components (ecosystem respiration (R eco), gross primary production (GPP)) varied markedly among months for the growing season (May to October). The cumulative CO2 emission was 1,657 g CO2 m−2, while 2,612 g CO2 m−2 was approximately accumulated as GPP, which resulted in the reed wetland being a net sink of 956 g CO2 m−2. The ratio of R eco to GPP in reed wetland was 0.68, which was close to other temperate wetlands. Soil temperature and soil moisture exerted the primary controls on R eco during the growing season. Daytime NEE values during the growing season were strongly correlated with photosynthetically active radiation. Aboveground biomass showed significant linear relationships with 24-h average NEE, daytime GPP, and R eco, respectively. Thus, we conclude that the coastal wetland acted as a carbon sink during the growing season despite the variations in environmental conditions, and long-term flux measurements over these ecosystems are undoubtedly necessary.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the National Science and Technology Support Program of China (No. 2011BAC02B01), the Chinese Academy of Sciences (no. kzcx2-yw-223), the CAS/SAFEA International Partnership Program for Creative Research Teams (Representative environmental processes and resources effects in coastal zone), and the 100 Talents Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. We also thank Dr. Yuhong Liu, Xiaobing Chen, Baohua Xie, and two anonymous reviewers for their expert advice and fruitful comments.

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  1. Key Laboratory of Coastal Environment Processes, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chunhui Road 17, Laishan District, Yantai, Shandong, 264003, China

    Guangxuan Han, Liqiong Yang, Junbao Yu, Guangmei Wang & Peili Mao

  2. Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China

    Liqiong Yang

  3. Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, 77204-5007, TX, USA

    Yongjun Gao

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  1. Guangxuan Han
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Correspondence to Junbao Yu.

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Han, G., Yang, L., Yu, J. et al. Environmental Controls on Net Ecosystem CO2 Exchange Over a Reed (Phragmites australis) Wetland in the Yellow River Delta, China. Estuaries and Coasts 36, 401–413 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-012-9572-1

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