[Net ecosystem CO2 exchange and its environmental regulation mechanisms in a reed wetland in the Yellow River Delta of China during the growth season].

By using eddy covariance technique, this paper measured the net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE) in a reed (Phragmites australis) wetland in the Yellow River Delta of China during the growth season of 2011, and investigated the variation patterns of the NEE and related affecting factors. The average diurnal variation of the NEE in different months showed a U-type curve, with the maximum net CO2 uptake rate and release rate being (0.44 +/- 0.03) and (0.16 +/- 0.01) mg CO2 x m(-2) x s(-1), respectively. The NEE, ecosystem respiration (R(eco)), and gross primary productivity (GPP) were all higher in vigorous growth season (from July to September) and lower in early growth season (from May to June) and late growth season (from October to November). Both R(eco) and NEE reached their maximum values in August, while GPP reached its peak value in July. During the growth season, the ecosystem CO2 exchange was mainly dominated by photosynthetic active radiation (PAR), soil temperature (T(s)), and soil water content (SWC). There was a rectangular hyperbolic relationship between the daytime NEE and PAR. The nighttime ecosystem respiration (R(eco,n)) was exponentially correlated with the T(s) at 5 cm depth, and the temperature sensitivity of the ecosystem respiration (Q10) was 2.30. SWC and T(s) were the main factors affecting the R(eco,n). During the entire growth season, the reed wetland ecosystem in the Yellow River delta was an obvious carbon sink, with the total net carbon sequestration being 780.95 g CO2 x m(-2).

[Formation causes of wind damage to Robinia pseudoacacia plantation in Yellow River Delta].

Based on the investigation of the gale-caused damage to the Robinia pseudoacacia plantation in the Yellow River Delta in June-July 2010, this paper measured the morphological indexes and root system characteristics of fallen trees, gap sizes, and soil compactness, aimed to analyze the formation causes of the wind damage to the plantation. Wind-falling was the main form of the wind damage to the R. pseudoacacia plantation, and the damage was more serious for the trees with the diameter at breast height of 15-20 cm. For the fallen trees, their tree height and their crown width, height, and taper degree increased significantly with the increase of the diameter at breast height, while the height under branch, the ratio of crown width to height, and the ratio of the height under branch to tree height showed no significant change. With the increase of diameter class, root length had a rapid increase first but a slow increase then, while root mass increased gradually. With increasing forest gap area, the number of fallen trees decreased after an initial increase, being the maximum in the gap areas of 100-150 m2. Soil compactness increased with soil depth, but did not show significant changes with the stand diameter class. Increased tree shape factors and suppressed root growth resulting from the increased diameter could be the main factors causing wind-falling, and forest gap played a promotion role.

[Evolution process and related driving mechanisms of Yellow River Delta since the diversion of Yellow River].

Based on the 23 sheets of remote sensing images from 1976 to 2009, in combining with the water and sediment data from Lijin station and the annual precipitation data of Yellow River Basin from 1976 to 2008, this paper quantitatively analyzed the features of water and sediment discharge from Yellow River, and the evolution process of Yellow River Delta and related driving mechanisms. In 1976-2008, the annual runoff and the annual sediment discharge into sea changed largely and frequently, but overall, presented a decreasing trend. Since the course of the Yellow River changed its direction to Qingshui channel in 1976, the Delta coastline and area were generally in a silting-up state. The evolution process of the Delta could be approximately divided into three stages, i.e., 1976-1985, 1986-1995, and 1996-2009, and the increasing rate of the Delta decreased with the stages. The coastline and area of the Delta were significantly exponentially correlated to the sediment accumulated at Lijin station, and the inter-annual variation of the precipitation of the Yellow River Basin had a strong correlation with that of the sediment at Lijin station, suggesting that the annual variation of the precipitation in Yellow River Basin was the main factor affecting the runoff and sediment discharge into sea.

[Spatial distribution characteristics of organic carbon in the soil-plant systems in the Yellow River estuary tidal flat wetland].

Well-understand the organic carbon status in the Yellow River delta is the most important for studying the biogeochemical processes of the muddy-sandy coastal wetland and ecological restoration. The spatial distribution characteristics and its impact factors of organic carbon in the plant-soil systems of new-born tidal flat wetland in the Yellow River estuary were studied. The results showed that the difference of plant organic carbon content in different plant communities were not obvious, however significant difference of the plant organic carbon density was observed. Moreover, the M-shaped spatial distribution of the plant organic carbon density, which was similar to the plant biomass, was found in the study. The organic carbon contents in top soils were varied from 0.75 to 8.35 g x kg(-1), which was much lower than that in the typical freshwater marsh wetlands ecosystem. The spatial distribution trend of soil organic carbon density was similar to the soil organic carbon. The correlation analysis showed that soil organic carbon density was negatively correlated with pH, and positively correlated with TN, C/N and salinity. However, the correlations of plant organic carbon density with the soil organic carbon density, TN, C/N, pH and salinity were not significant.