Effects of Spartina alterniflora invasion on soil respiration in the Yangtze River estuary, China

Naishun Bu; Junfeng Qu; Zhaolei Li; Gang Li; Hua Zhao; Bin Zhao; Bo Li; Jiakuan Chen; Changming Fang

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0121571

Effects of Spartina alterniflora invasion on soil respiration in the Yangtze River estuary, China

PLoS One. 2015 Mar 23;10(3):e0121571. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0121571. eCollection 2015.

Authors

Naishun Bu¹, Junfeng Qu², Zhaolei Li³, Gang Li⁴, Hua Zhao⁴, Bin Zhao³, Bo Li³, Jiakuan Chen³, Changming Fang³

Affiliations

¹ Coastal Ecosystems Research Station of the Yangtze River Estuary, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, The Institute of Biodiversity Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; School of Environmental Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, China.
² Low-carbon Energy Research Institute, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, China.
³ Coastal Ecosystems Research Station of the Yangtze River Estuary, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, The Institute of Biodiversity Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
⁴ School of Environmental Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, China.

Abstract

Many studies have found that plant invasion can enhance soil organic carbon (SOC) pools, by increasing net primary production (NPP) and/or decreased soil respiration. While most studies have focused on C input, little attention has been paid to plant invasion effects on soil respiration, especially in wetland ecosystems. Our study examined the effects of Spartina alterniflora invasion on soil respiration and C dynamics in the Yangtze River estuary. The estuary was originally occupied by two native plant species: Phragmites australis in the high tide zone and Scirpus mariqueter in the low tide zone. Mean soil respiration rates were 185.8 and 142.3 mg CO2 m(-2) h(-1) in S. alterniflora and P. australis stands in the high tide zone, and 159.7 and 112.0 mg CO2 m(-2) h(-1) in S. alterniflora and S. mariqueter stands in the low tide zone, respectively. Aboveground NPP (ANPP), SOC, and microbial biomass were also significantly higher in the S. alterniflora stands than in the two native plant stands. S. alterniflora invasion did not significantly change soil inorganic carbon or pH. Our results indicated that enhanced ANPP by S. alterniflora exceeded invasion-induced C loss through soil respiration. This suggests that S. alterniflora invasion into the Yangtze River estuary could strengthen the net C sink of wetlands in the context of global climate change.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Carbon / analysis
Carbon Dioxide / analysis
Cell Respiration
China
Climate Change
Estuaries*
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Introduced Species*
Poaceae / metabolism*
Rivers*
Soil / chemistry*
Wetlands

Substances

Soil
Carbon Dioxide
Carbon

Grants and funding

This work was supported by National Basic Research Program of China (2010CB950602), “12th Five-Year” national science and technology support program (2011BA11B06), National Major Scientific and Technological Project in China (2010BAK69B14), National Science Foundation of China (30930019) and Key Project of the Shanghai Scientific and Technological Committee (10DZ1200700). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.