Influences of the degradation of swamp and alpine meadows on CO2 emission during growing season on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Abstract

CO2 emission fluxes of two types of ecosystem, swamp meadow and alpine meadow, in the Fenghuoshan region of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau were studied by the static chamber-portable infrared chromatographic method. The results showed that there was large difference in the CO2 emission fluxes between the two ecosystems and in the same ecosystem of different degradation degrees. CO2 emission flux of the swamp meadow gradually decreased with increasing degradation degree, while that of the alpine meadow gradually increased with increasing degradation degree except in May. The CO2 emission flux of undegraded swamp meadow was 65.1%–80.3% higher than that of undegraded alpine meadow; and the CO2 emission flux of moderately degraded swamp meadow was 22.1%–67.5% higher than that of alpine meadow; but the CO2 emission flux of severely degraded alpine meadow was 14.3%–29.5% higher than that of swamp meadow. The soil moisture content and temperature in the upper 5 cm soil layer and above-ground biomass were significantly correlated with the CO2 emission fluxes and regarded as the main environment factors to control the CO2 emission.