The effect of decreasing permafrost stability on ecosystem carbon in the northeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of decreased permafrost stability on carbon storage of the alpine ecosystems in the northeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. During July and August 2013, we selected 18 sites in five types of permafrost (stable, substable, transitional, unstable, and extremely unstable) regions. We measured aboveground phytomass carbon (APC) and soil respiration (SR), soil inorganic carbon (SIC), soil organic carbon (SOC), belowground phytomass carbon, and soil properties down to 50 cm at same types of soils and grasslands. The results indicated that ecosystem carbon in cold calcic soils first decreased and then increased as the permafrost stability declined. Overall, decreasing permafrost stability was expected to reduce ecosystem carbon in

SUBMITTER: Liu W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5843650 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature