Responses of photosynthetic characteristics of Phragmites australis to simulated warming in salt marshes of the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea, China.

Coastal wetlands are highly efficient in blue carbon sequestration. The impacts of climate warming on photosynthetic rates and light response characteristics of wetland plants would change the magnitude of carbon sequestration in coastal wetlands. We constructed warming observation stations in Phragmites australis (Phragmites) wetlands located in the Yellow River Delta in Dongying with dry climate, and in Yancheng by the Yellow Sea with wet climate. By using a Li-6800 photosynthesis system, we investigated the responses of simulated warming on photosynthetic characteristics of Phragmites in both wetlands, and compared the difference between months (June and August) in Dongying wetland. The results showed the photosynthetic rates of Phragmites were higher in June than in August. Warming increased net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), stomatal conductance (gs) and intercellular carbon dioxide concentration (Ci) in the two months, but the variability of Pn to warming was lower in August. The Pn and water use efficiency (WUE) of Phragmites in the Yancheng wetland were higher than Dongying wetland, and the maximum net photosynthetic rate (Pn max), light saturation point (LSP), apparent quantum efficiency (AQY), and dark respiration rate (Rd) of the former responded more positively to warming. The values of AQY, LSP and Pn max of Phragmites in the Yancheng wetlands were increased by 16.7%, 53.6% and 30.3%, respectively, in the warming plots. Our results suggested that warming could improve the utilization efficiency of weak light, the adaptability to strong light and photosynthetic potential of Phragmites under rainy and humid conditions. This study is of importance for accurately quantifying carbon sequestration of coastal wetlands at the regional and seasonal scales in the context of climate warming.

[Hydrochemical characteristics and formation mechanism of shallow groundwater in the Yellow River Delta].

Understanding the chemical characteristics of groundwater in the Yellow River Delta is very important. It can provide a useful reference for the development and construction of the Yellow River Delta High-efficiency Ecological Economic Zone and ecological regulation in the lower Yellow River. Based on partitioning the sediment environment and the recharge-runoff-discharge system, we studied the hydrochemical features and causes of shallow groundwater in the Yellow River Delta by mathematical statistics and geostatistics, Piper diagram, ion ratios and so on. Following results are obtained: 1) Major cations and anions such as Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Cl(-), SO4(2-), HCO3(-) and TDS concentrations range from 0.1-25.0 g x L(-1), 3.6-3 815.0 mg x L(-1), 5.6-3 377.0 mg x L(-1), 0.1-45.1 g x L(-1), 24.2-4 947.0 mg x L(-1), 62.6-850.0 mg x L(-1) and 0.4-80.7 g x L(-1). Average ion concentrations further indicate that Cl(-), Na+ and TDS concentrations are high while HCO3(-), CO3(2-) and K+ concentrations are very low in the study area. 2) The Cl(-) and TDS concentrations of shallow groundwater possess conspicuous directional spatial variability and gradually increase along the groundwater flow direction, showing that Cl(-) is the most critical ion of shallow groundwater. 3) From the recharge area to the discharge area, shallow groundwater changes from the Na+ -Mg2+ -Ca2+ -Cl(-) -SO4(2-) facies to the Na -Mg2 + -Ca2+ -Cl(-), Mg2+ -Na+ -Ca2+ -Cl(-) and Na+ -Mg2+ -Cl(-) facies, finally evolves into Na+ -Cl(-) facies in the coast. 4) Ion ratios indicate that the following main hydrochemical processes are inferred to control the shallow groundwater chemical composition: mixing, evaporation concentrating, mineral dissolution, cation exchange and adsorption and human activities. These findings strongly suggest that changes of the Yellow River water course and seawater intrusion are key drivers to form the chemical characteristics of shallow groundwater in the region.