Ecological responses of Stipa steppe in Inner Mongolia to experimentally increased temperature and precipitation. 4: Carbon exchange
Luomeng Chao A , Zhiqiang Wan A B , Yulong Yan A B , Rui Gu C , Yali Chen A B and Qingzhu Gao B D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China.
B Key Laboratory for Agro-Environment and Climate Change of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, CAAS, Beijing 100081, China.
C College of Grassland, Resources and Environment, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010020, China.
D Corresponding author. Email: gaoqingzhu@caas.cn
The Rangeland Journal 40(2) 159-166 https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ16080
Submitted: 20 August 2016 Accepted: 11 January 2018 Published: 9 April 2018
Abstract
Aspects of carbon exchange were investigated in typical steppe east of Xilinhot city in Inner Mongolia. Four treatments with four replicates were imposed in a randomised block design: Control (C), warming (T), increased precipitation (P) and combined warming and increased precipitation (TP). Increased precipitation significantly increased both ecosystem respiration (ER) and soil respiration (SR) rates. Warming significantly reduced the ER rate but not the SR rate. The combination of increased precipitation and warming produced an intermediate response. The sensitivity of ER and SR to soil temperature and air temperature was assessed by calculating Q10 values: the increase in respiration for a 10°C increase in temperature. Q10 was lowest under T and TP, and highest under P. Both ER and SR all had significantly positive correlation with soil moisture. Increased precipitation increased net ecosystem exchange and gross ecosystem productivity, whereas warming reduced them. The combination of warming and increased precipitation had an intermediate effect. Both net ecosystem exchange and gross ecosystem productivity were positively related to soil moisture and negatively related to soil and air temperature. These findings suggest that predicted climate change in this region, involving both increased precipitation and warmer temperatures, will increase the net ecosystem exchange in the Stipa steppe meaning that the ecosystem will fix more carbon.
Additional keywords: carbon emission and fixation, climate change, photosynthetic capacity, typical grassland ecosystem.
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