Daily timing of emersion and elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration affect photosynthetic performance of the intertidal macroalga Ulva lactuca (Chlorophyta) in sunlight

The lunar day differs in length from the solar day so that times of low tide vary from day to day. Thus, aerial exposure of intertidal seaweeds may be during the day or during the night. We measured photosynthetic CO, assimilation rates of the intertidal green macroalga Ulva lactuca during exposures of varied daily timings during sunny days of summer to establish how photosynthetic performance responds to emersion timing under varied CO2 levels [at ambient (360 ppmv) and 2x ambient (720 ppmv) atmospheric CO2 concentrations]. There was an increase in net photosynthetic rates following some duration of exposure when the initial timing of exposure occurred during early morning (06.30 h) and late afternoon (17.15 h). In contrast, net rates exhibited a sharp decline with exposure duration when the initial timing of exposure occurred at 09.30 h, 15.30 h and especially at noon (12.30 h), implying the occurrence of a severe photoinhibition resulting from mid-day insolation. Doubled atmospheric CO2 concentration significantly enhanced the emersed photosynthetic rates, indicating that the emersed photosynthesis is CO2-limited at ambient CO2 levels. However, increasing CO2 barely stimulates the emersed photosynthetic rates during mid-day insolation.

Effects of doubled atmospheric CO2 concentration on the photosynthesis and growth of Chlorella pyrenoidosa cultured at varied levels of light

Chlorella pyrenoidosa was cultured with 350 and 700 p.p.m.v. CO2 at varied levels of light to see the impacts of doubled atmospheric CO2 concentration on its growth and photosynthesis. The CO2 enrichment did not affect the growth rate (mu), but significantly increased the cell density when light was sufficiently supplied. The CO2 enrichment significantly depressed light-saturated photosynthesis and dark respiration in the cells grown under a high-light regime, but not those under a low-light regime. The light-saturating point for photosynthesis and photosynthetic efficiency was not affected by the CO2 enrichment under either the high-light or low-light conditions.

CO2浓度升高和氮肥管理对土壤线虫群落的影响

大气CO2浓度升高能够对农田生态系统产生一系列的影响。土壤线虫在农田生态系统腐屑食物网中占有重要的地位，能够对外界环境变化作出较迅速的响应。本文利用江苏省江都市小记镇的稻-麦轮作FACE系统研究平台，在2007-2008年小麦生长季，研究了大气CO2浓度升高和不同氮肥处理（高N和低N）对农田土壤线虫群落的影响。 研究结果表明：高氮肥施用情况下, CO2浓度升高显著降低了麦田土壤铵态氮和硝态氮含量。不同氮肥处理中CO2浓度升高条件下土壤可溶性碳的含量显著低于对照，而土壤总有机碳和微生物量碳含量高于对照。 大气CO2浓度升高条件下，麦田土壤线虫群落组成和多样性与对照相比表现出显著差异。CO2浓度升高显著增加了麦田土壤线虫总数、食细菌线虫、食真菌线虫和植物寄生线虫数量。在小麦拔节期和成熟期，低N和高N施用条件下，FACE处理中土壤线虫多样性指数（H’）、成熟度指数（MI和PPI）均低于对照处理，而结构指数（SI）高于对照处理。线虫生态指数的结果表明，大气CO2浓度升高条件下，土壤线虫群落多样性降低，土壤环境受到一定的干扰，食物网趋于结构化。

CO2浓度和温度升高对红桦可溶性蛋白含量和分配的影响

随着工业化的发展，大气中二氧化碳的浓度(CO2)预测从现在的平均350μmol·mol-1升高到2030年的570μmol·mol-1，其增温作用将持续多个世纪。植被在大气二氧化碳减排以及调控区域水热状况过程中起重要作用，而其机理过程目前十分不清楚。本实验应用自控、封闭、独立生长室，研究了CO2浓度和温度升高对红桦根、茎、叶和枝可溶性蛋白含量和分配的影响，从蛋白水平上来解释川西亚地区的建群种-红桦对CO2升高和温度升高及其交互作用的响应规律，为全球气候变暖川西亚高山的植被保护和恢复提供理论依据。研究结果表明： 1. CO2浓度升高增加了可溶性蛋白的总量，改变了可溶性蛋白分配模式，即，可溶性蛋白分配到根的比例增加，分配到茎、枝、叶的比例减少。可能意味：在CO2浓度升高条件下，红桦根系的生长和营养物质吸收功能将会增强。 2. CO2浓度升高增加了根和茎的清蛋白含量，降低了叶片的清蛋白含量，叶片的球蛋白含量、醇溶蛋白含量和谷蛋白含量均增加。表明CO2浓度升高增加了清蛋白在根中积累，球蛋白、醇溶蛋白和谷蛋白大量在叶片中积累；前人研究所指出的CO2浓度升高使植物叶片可溶性蛋白的含量降低可能仅仅是由于清蛋白含量的降低造成的。 3. 温度升高使红桦幼苗整株所含可溶性蛋白总量增加，但可溶性蛋白总量的分配因红桦幼苗器官的不同而异。温度升高下根、茎、叶和枝的分配量分别占总可溶性蛋白的27.74%、35.57%、23.00%、13.68%，即茎＞根＞叶＞枝。对照的根茎叶枝的分配量分别占总可溶性蛋白的21.01%、41.41%、23.08%、14.50%，即茎＞叶＞根＞枝。表明温度升高使可溶性蛋白分配到根的比例增加，有利于根的可溶性蛋白的积累，增强了根吸收水分和矿质营养的能力，从而有利于根系的生长。 4. 温度升高处理下清蛋白和球蛋白在根中含量升高，在茎、叶和枝中含量下降，但没有达到显著水平；醇溶蛋白在根和叶中含量显著增加；谷蛋白在茎中的含量显著降低。表明温度升高增加清蛋白和球蛋白在红桦幼苗根部的积累，也有利于根和叶醇溶蛋白的积累，但不利于谷蛋白在茎的积累；温度升高条件下叶片可溶性蛋白升高是醇溶蛋白在叶片中积累的结果。 5. CO2浓度和温度同时升高条件下红桦幼苗的可溶性蛋白总量增加很少，只有分配到茎的可溶性蛋白比例增加，并且对可溶性蛋白分配规律没有影响。CO2和温度同时升高下红桦幼苗枝的可溶性蛋白含量的降低是可溶性蛋白总量的降低而不是碳水化合物稀释的结果，并且CO2和温度同时升高对红桦幼苗的生长没有明显的促进作用。 6. CO2和温度同时升高处理对可溶性蛋白含量有显著影响。清蛋白含量在根、茎、叶和枝中均降低，球蛋白含量在根中显著降低，醇溶蛋白含量在根、茎、叶和枝中均降低，谷蛋白含量在根中显著降低。表明CO2浓度和温度同时升高对根的影响显著，即降低了根的可溶性蛋白含量，可能导致根的吸收能力下降。 7. 因此，CO2和温度同时升高对可溶性蛋白影响不能简单地通过CO2和温度单因子影响机理来解释。 It is well known that atmospheric CO2 concentration and temperature are increasing as a consequence of human activities. Atmospheric CO2 concentration are predicted to increase from 350μmol·mol-1 now to 570μmol·mol-1 2030. And temperature will continue to increase for several centuries as a result of CO2 enrichment. Vegetation play a key role in reducing atmospheric CO2 and adapting and controlling warter and energy process in a certain region, while the underlying mechanism are not clear, yet. Betula albo-sinensis, as the dominating tree species of subalpine dark coniferous forest in west Sichuan province, play an important role in determing structure and function of forest ecosystem. In our study, effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration (ambient±350±25μmol·mol-1), increased temperature (ambient±2.0±0.5℃) and their combination on contents and allocation of soluble protein were studied in independent and enclosed-top chamber system under high-frigid conditions. Chambers with ambient CO2 concentration and temperature are taken as control. The results are as the following, 1) Elevated atmospheric CO2 increased the accumulation of total weight of soluble protein in whole plant and changed allocation of soluble protein in red birch by increasing its allocation to roots and reducing its allocation to stem. This caused much more accumulation of soluble protein in roots which might help to prompt growth, development and nutrient absorption ability of roots. 2) Treatment EC increased content of albumin in roots and stems, reduced the content of albumin in leaves, and increased the content of globulin, promalin and glutenin in leaves. That is to say EC increased the accumulation of albumin in roots and accumulation of globulin, promalin and glutenin in leaves. The reduced soluble protein contents in plant leaves by EC, as reported by former researchers, are mainly resulted from the reduced content of albumin in leaves. 3) Elevated temperature increased the total of soluble proteins, but its allocation was dependent on organs. In treatment ET, roots, stems, leaves and branches take 27.74%, 35.57%, 23.00% and 13.68% of total weight of soluble protein. In treatment CK, roots, stems, leaves and branches take 21.01%, 41.41%, 23.08% and 14.50%. Elevated temperature changed allocation of soluble proteins in that it stimulated soluble proteins accumulation in roots and improved the uptake of water in roots. 4) Treatment ET increased the content of albumin and globulin in roots, and reduced the content of albumin and globulin in stems, leaves and branches. The content of promalin in roots and leaves was increased significantly, and the content of glutenin in stems was reduced significant. This suggested that ET stimulated the accumulation of albumin and globulin in roots and accumulation of promalin in leaves and roots; that treatment ET increased content of soluble protein in leaves was mainly resulted from the increased promalin content in leaves. 5) Regarding treatment ETC, the total of weight of soluble proteins increased, but not significantly; but increased in stems. So the combination of elevated atmospheric CO2 and temperature had not changed the allocation of soluble proteins in red birch seedling and reduced soluble proteins in branches were not the result of increased carbohydrate. 6) Treatment ETC reduced the content of albumin and promalin in roots, stems, leaves and branches, reduced the content of globulin and glutenin in roots significantly. That is to say elevated atmospheric CO2 and temperature reduced the content of soluble proteins in roots significantly which might help to prompt growth, development and nutrient absorption ability of roots. 7) The effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 and temperature on soluble protein cannot be simply interpreted through their mechanism that obtained when they were imposed on plant separately.

土壤微生物和酶对大气CO2浓度与温度升高的响应

土壤微生物(Soil microbes)是生态系统的重要组成部分，它参与土壤中复杂有机物质的分解和再合成，也参与C、N、S、P等的循环。土壤酶(Soil enzyme)是土壤中具有生物活性的蛋白质，它与微生物一起推动着土壤的生物化学过程，并在树木营养物质的转化中起着重要的作用。鉴于土壤微生物和土壤酶对环境变化的敏感性，它们在CO2浓度和温度升高时的反应将在很大程度上影响森林生态系统的结构和功能。因此，要全面评价大气CO2浓度和温度升高对整个生态系统的影响，有必要对CO2浓度和温度升高条件下的土壤微生物的反应进行深入的研究与探讨。本文应用自控、封闭、独立的生长室系统，研究了川西亚高山岷江冷杉（Abies faxoniana）根际、非根际土壤微生物数量，红桦（Betula albosinensis）根际微生物数量以及根际、非根际土壤酶活性对大气CO2浓度(环境CO2浓度+350±25μmol·mol-1，EC)和温度(环境温度+2.0±0.5℃，ET)升高及两者同时升高(ECT)的响应。结果表明： 1) EC和ET显著增加岷江冷杉根际微生物数量，但不同微生物种类对EC和ET的反应有所差异。6、8和10月，岷江冷杉根际微生物数量与对照(CK)相比，EC处理的根际细菌数量分别增加了35%、164%和312%，ET处理增加了30%、115%和209%；EC和ET处理对根际放线菌和根际真菌数量影响不显著。ECT处理的根际放线菌数量分别增加了49%、50%和96%，根际真菌数量增加了151%、57%和48%；而ECT对根际细菌数量影响不显著。EC、ET和ECT处理对岷江冷杉土壤微生物总数的根际效应明显，其R/S值分别为1.93、1.37和1.46(CK的R/S值为0.81)。 2) 红桦根际微生物数量对EC、ET和ECT的响应不同。生长季节(5~10月)，高密度的红桦根际细菌数量与CK 相比，EC的根际细菌数量分别增加28%、33%、423%、65%、43%和79%，而低密度的红桦根际细菌数量增加不显著。ET能显著增加根际细菌数量(7~10月)，其中高密度的根际细菌数量分别增加了377%、107%、35%、22%，而低密度的根际细菌数量分别增加了27%、27%、64%、48%；ECT对两个密度水平下根际细菌数量均未产生有显著的影响。高、低密度的红桦根际放线菌和根际真菌数量与 CK 相比，EC显著增加了低密度的红桦根际放线菌数量，而对高密度的根际放线菌数量无显著影响；ET和ECT对高低密度的红桦根际放线菌数量均未产生显著影响。EC和ET对高低密度的根际真菌数量也无显著影响，而ECT却显著增加了高低密度的根际真菌数量。 3) EC、ET和ECT处理的低密度红桦根际微生物(细菌、放线菌和真菌)数量没有显著高于或低于高密度根际微生物数量，表明短期内密度对红桦根际微生物数量不产生影响。 4) 不同种类的氧化还原酶对EC、ET和ECT的响应不同。5~10月，EC的红桦根际过氧化氢酶活性是CK 的1.44、1.06、1.11、1.10、1.12和1.24倍，差异显著(6月除外)；ET和ECT处理根际过氧化氢酶活性无显著增加。EC的红桦根际多酚氧化酶活性比CK显著增加；ET的根际多酚氧化酶活性显著高于CK(8月除外)。ECT的根际多酚氧化酶活性高于CK，差异不显著。EC的根际脱氢酶活性分别增加了46%、40%、133%、48%、17%和26%，差异显著。5~7月，ET和ECT的根际脱氢酶活性高于CK的脱氢酶活性，而8~9月则相反，差异性均不显著。 5) EC、ET和ECT对不同种类的水解酶的影响不同。EC能显著增加红桦根际脲酶活性，5~10月分别增加了29%、42%，、70%、67%、59%和57%。ET和ECT 对根际脲酶活性未产生显著影响。EC显著提高根际转化酶活性，5、6和9月EC的根际转化酶活性分别比CK高51%、42%和40%。5和10月，ET的根际转化酶活性低于CK，而其余月份却高于CK，但均具有显著性差异。ECT的根际转化酶活性与CK的根际转化酶活性有显著性差异(9月除外)，5、6和7月的根际转化酶活性分别提高了94%、198%和67%。 6) 与CK相比，EC、ET和ECT的非根际土壤微生物数量以及非根际土壤酶活性均无显著提高。EC、ET和ECT的过氧化氢酶、脲酶的根际效应明显，而多酚氧化酶和脱氢酶根际效应不明显。EC和ECT的转化酶根际效应明显，而ET的转化酶根际效应不明显。 It is well known that atmospheric CO2 concentration and temperature are increasing as a consequence of human activities. In past decades, considerable efforts had been put into investigating the effects of climate change on processes of forest ecological system. In general, studies had been mainly focused on the effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 on plant physiology and development, litter quality, and soil microorganisms. Studies showed that there was variation in the responses of root development and below-ground processes to climate between different plant communities. Since the concentration of CO2 in soil was much higher (10~50 times) than in the atmosphere, increasing levels of atmospheric CO2 may not directly in fluence below ground processes. Betula albosinensis and Abies faxoniana, as the dominated tree species of subalpine dark coniferous forest in the western Sichuan province, which play an important role in the structure and function of this kind of forest ecosystem. In our study, effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration (350±25μmol·mol-1), increased temperature (2.0±0.5℃) and both of the two on the number of rhizospheric microbe and rhizospheric enzyme activity were studied by the independent and enclosed-top chamber’ system under high-frigid conditions. Responses of rhizospheric bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi number of Betula albosinensis and Abies faxoniana under different densities(high density with 84 stems·m-2, low density with 28 stems·m-2 ), and rhizospheric enzyme activity of Betula albo-sinensis to elevated CO2 concentration and increased temperature were analyzed and discussed. The results are as the following, 1) In comparion with the control, the numbers of rhizospheric bacteria of Abies faxoniana were increased by 35%, 164% and 312% significantly in June, August and October respectively of EC, and were increased by 30%, 115% and 209% respectively of ET.However the effect of EC and ET on rhizospheric actinomycetes and fungi was not significant. The number of rhizospheric actinomycetes of ECT were increased significantly by 49%, 50% and 96% respectively, and the increment of rhizospheric fungi were 151%, 57% and 48% respectively .The effect of ECT on rhizospheric bacteria was not significant. Rhizospheric effect of soil microbe for all treatments was significant, with the R/S of 1.93, 1.27 and 1.46 for EC, ET and ECT, respectively. 2) Treatment EC improved the number of rhizospheric bacteria of Betula albosinensis under high density significantly in comparison with the control, over the growing season, the greatest increment of rhizospheric bacteria was from July. However, EC had no effect on the number of rhizospheric bacteria under low density. Except May and June, treatment ET improved the number of rhizospheric signifcantly. The effect of treatment ECT on the number of rhizospheric bacteria under different densities was not significant. Of treatment EC, the number of rhizospheric actinomycetes of Betula albosinensis under low density were increased significantly, however, treatment EC did not stimulate the number of rhizospheric actinomycetes under high density. Simultaneously, treatment ET and ECT did not stimulate the number of rhizospheric actinomycetes. Finally, in treatment ECT, the number of rhizospheric fungi under high density were increased significantly, however treatment EC and ET did not stimulate the number of rhizospheric fungi under different densities. 3) Of treatment EC, ET and ECT, the number of rhizospheric microbe of Betula albosinensis under low density were not more or fewer than that of microbe under hign density along the growing season, which showed that plant density had no effect on the nmber of microbe. 4) From May to October, 2004，rhizospheric catalase activity of Betula albosinensis of treatment EC was 1.44, 1.06, 1.11, 1.10, 1.12 and 1.24 times as treatment CK respectively, and the difference was statistically significant(except June). Treatment ET and ECT did not increase rhizospheric catalase activity significantly. In treatment EC, the rhizospheric pohyphenol oxidase activity was higher than treatment CK significantly. The rhizospheric pohyphenol oxidase activity of treatment ET was higher than CK significantly (except August). The rhizospheric pohyphenol oxidase activity of treatment ECT was higher than CK, but the difference was not statistically significant. Over the growing period, the rhizospheric dehydrogenase activity were increased 46%, 40%, 133%, 48%, 17% and 26% respectively by treatment EC, and the difference was statistically significant. From May to July, the rhizospheric dehydrogenase activity in treatment ET and ECT was higher than CK, but from August to October, the rhizospheric dehydrogenase activity was lower than CK, the difference was not significant. 5) Treatment EC increased rhizospheric urease activity significantly, from May to October, rhizospheric urease activity were increased 29%, 42%, 70%, 67%, 59% and 57% respectively by EC. Treatment ET and ECT had no effect on rhizospheric urease activity. Treatment EC improved rhizospheric invertase activity significantly, in May, June and September, the rhizospheric invertase activity of treatment EC were increased 51%, 42% and 40% in comparison with the control. Except May and October, the rhizospheric invertase activity of treatment ET was markly higher than CK. The rhizospheric invertase activity of treatment ECT was significantly different from CK (except September), in May, June and July treatment ECT increased rhizospheric invertase activity by 94%, 198% and 67% respectively. 6) In comparison with the control, treatment EC, ET, and ECT had no effect on the number of non-rhizospheric microbe and non-rhizospheric enzyme activity. Rhizospheric effect of catalase and urease for all treatments was significant, but rhizospheric effect of pohyphenol oxidase and dehydrogenase was not significant. Rhizospheric effect of invertase of EC and ECT was significant, but rhizospheric effect of invertase of ET was not significant.

Oceanic iron fertilization: one of strategies for sequestration atmospheric CO2

Carbon cycle is connected with the most important environmental issue of Global Change. As one of the major carbon reservoirs, oceans play an important part in the carbon cycle. In recent years, iron seems to give us a good news that oceanic iron fertilization could stimulate biological productivity as CO2 sink of human-produced CO2. Oceanic iron fertilization experiments have verified that adding iron into high nutrient low chlorophyll (HNLC) seawaters can increase phytoplankton production and export organic carbon, and hence increase carbon sink of anthropogenic CO2, to reduce global warming. In sixty days, the export organic carbon could reach 10 000 times for adding iron by model prediction and in situ experiment, i.e. the atmospheric CO2 uptake and inorganic carbon drawdown in upper seawaters also have the same magnitude. Therefore, oceanic iron fertilization is one of the strategies for increasing carbon sink of anthropogenic CO2. The paper is focused on the iron fertilization, especially in situ ocean iron experiments in order that the future research is more efficient.

Extreme weathering/erosion during the Miocene Climatic Optimum: Evidence from sediment record in the South China Sea

Investigating the interplay between continental weathering and erosion, climate, and atmospheric CO2 concentrations is significant in understanding the mechanisms that force the Cenozoic global cooling and predicting the future climatic and environmental response to increasing temperature and CO2 levels. The Miocene represents an ideal test case as it encompasses two distinct extreme climate periods, the Miocene Climatic Optimum (MCO) with the warmest time since 35 Ma in Earth's history and the transition to the Late Cenozoic icehouse mode with the establishment of the east Antarctic ice sheet. However the precise role of continental weathering during this period of major climate change is poorly understood. Here we show changes in the rates of Miocene continental chemical weathering and physical erosion, which we tracked using the chemical index of alteration ( CIA) and mass accumulation rate ( MAR) respectively from Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Site 1146 and 1148 in the South China Sea. We found significantly increased CIA values and terrigenous MARs during the MCO (ca. 17-15 Ma) compared to earlier and later periods suggests extreme continental weathering and erosion at that time. Similar high rates were revealed in the early-middle Miocene of Asia, the European Alps, and offshore Angola. This suggests that rapid sedimentation during the MCO was a global erosion event triggered by climate rather than regional tectonic activity. The close coherence of our records with high temperature, strong precipitation, increased burial of organic carbon and elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration during the MCO argues for long-term, close coupling between continental silicate weathering, erosion, climate and atmospheric CO2 during the Miocene. Citation: Wan, S., W. M. Kurschner, P. D. Clift, A. Li, and T. Li (2009), Extreme weathering/ erosion during the Miocene Climatic Optimum: Evidence from sediment record in the South China Sea, Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L19706, doi: 10.1029/2009GL040279.

Ecophysiological characteristics of four intertidal marine macroalgae during emersion along Shantou coast of China, with a special reference to the relationship of photosynthesis and CO2

Intertidal marine macroalgae experience periodical exposures during low tide due to their zonational distribution. The duration of such emersion leads to different exposures of the plants to light and aerial CO2, which then affect the physiology of them to different extents. The ecophysiological responses to light and CO2 were investigated during emersion in two red algae Gloiopeltis furcata and Gigartina intermedia, and two brown algae Petalonia fascia and Sargassum hemiphyllum, growing along the Shantou coast of China. The light-saturated net photosynthesis in G. furcata and P. fascia showed an increase followed by slightly desiccation, whereas that in G. intermedia and S. hemiphyllum exhibited a continuous decrease with water loss. In addition, the upper-zonated G. furcata and P. fascia, exhibited higher photosynthetic tolerance to desiccation and required higher light level to saturate their photosynthesis than the lower-zonated G. intemedia and S. hemiphyllum. Desiccation had less effect on dark respiration in these four algae compared with photosynthesis. The light-saturated net photosynthesis increased with increased CO2 concentrations, being saturated at CO2 concentrations higher than the present atmospheric level in G. furcata, G. intermedia and S. hemiphyllum during emersion. It was evident that the relative enhancement of photosynthesis by elevated CO, in those three algae increased, though the absolute values of photosynthetic enhancement owing to CO2 increase were reduced when the desiccation statuses became more severe. However, in the case of desiccated P. fascia (water loss being greater than 20 %), light saturated net photosynthesis was saturated with current ambient atmospheric CO2 level. It is proposed that increasing atmospheric CO2 will enhance the daily photosynthetic production in intertidal macroalgae by varied extents that were related to the species and zonation.