Ecosystem carbon storage in arctic tundra reduced by long-term nutrient fertilization

Global warming is predicted to be most pronounced at high latitudes, and observational evidence over the past 25 years suggests that this warming is already under way. One-third of the global soil carbon pool is stored in northern latitudes, so there is considerable interest in understanding how the carbon balance of northern ecosystems will respond to climate warming. Observations of controls over plant productivity in tundra and boreal ecosystems have been used to build a conceptual model of response to warming, where warmer soils and increased decomposition of plant litter increase nutrient availability, which, in turn, stimulates plant production and increases ecosystem carbon storage. Here we present the results of a long-term fertilization experiment in Alaskan tundra, in which increased nutrient availability caused a net ecosystem loss of almost 2,000 grams of carbon per square meter over 20 years. We found that annual aboveground plant production doubled during the experiment. Losses of carbon and nitrogen from deep soil layers, however, were substantial and more than offset the increased carbon and nitrogen storage in plant biomass and litter. Our study suggests that projected release of soil nutrients associated with high-latitude warming may further amplify carbon release from soils, causing a net loss of ecosystem carbon and a positive feedback to climate warming.     

林火干扰对广东马尾松林土壤有机碳密度及其活性有机碳的影响

【目的】森林在全球碳循环中发挥着重要作用。林火干扰是全球生物地球化学循环的关键驱动因子,影响植被结构变化及森林演替方向,从而对森林生态系统土壤有机碳密度及碳周转产生重要作用,进而影响森林碳循环与碳平衡。笔者定量研究林火干扰对森林生态系统土壤有机碳密度及其活性有机碳的影响,科学阐明林火干扰对森林生态系统土壤有机碳的影响机制,为火烧迹地恢复与森林碳减排增汇提供参考。【方法】以广东省佛冈马尾松林为研究对象,采用相邻样地比较法、化学分析法,在森林生态系统水平上,定量测定不同林火干扰强度对土壤有机碳密度、土壤活性有机碳含量和细根生物量的影响,对林火干扰后土壤有机碳密度的变化进行定量研究,探讨林火干扰对土壤有机碳密度以及活性有机碳的影响机制,深入分析森林生态系统土壤有机碳的循环与分配过程。【结果】林火干扰对马尾松林的土壤有机碳密度、活性有机碳含量和细根生物量均有影响,不同林火干扰强度下土壤有机碳密度与土壤活性有机碳含量变化趋势均表现为对照>轻度林火干扰>中度林火干扰>重度林火干扰。轻度林火干扰对土壤有机碳密度的影响差异不显著(P>0.05),而中度和重度林火干扰则显著降低土壤有机碳密度(P<0.05)。林火干扰的马尾松林土壤细根生物量均低于对照样地,变化趋势为重度林火干扰>中度林火干扰>轻度林火干扰,轻度林火干扰只显著降低土壤表层细根生物量(P<0.05),而中度和重度林火干扰显著降低了土壤表层和浅层细根生物量(P<0.05)。【结论】林火干扰减小了土壤有机碳密度,减少幅度随土壤剖面深度增加而逐渐变小。轻度林火干扰仅显著降低了表层土壤有机碳密度,而中度和重度林火干扰显著降低了土壤表层和浅层土壤有机碳密度,进而导致土壤有机碳密度显著变化。林火干扰对土壤活性有机碳含量产生了影响。林火干扰后马尾松林4种土壤活性有机碳含量均呈下降趋势,但仅中度和重度林火干扰差异显著。活性有机碳含量各组分随林火干扰强度增加沿土壤剖面递减的幅度呈现一定差异,重度林火干扰后的递减趋势最强。此外,林火干扰还降低了马尾松林土壤细根生物量。     

Fire as the dominant driver of central Canadian boreal forest carbon balance

Changes in climate, atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration and fire regimes have been occurring for decades in the global boreal forest, with future climate change likely to increase fire frequency--the primary disturbance agent in most boreal forests. Previous attempts to assess quantitatively the effect of changing environmental conditions on the net boreal forest carbon balance have not taken into account the competition between different vegetation types on a large scale. Here we use a process model with three competing vascular and non-vascular vegetation types to examine the effects of climate, carbon dioxide concentrations and fire disturbance on net biome production, net primary production and vegetation dominance in 100 Mha of Canadian boreal forest. We find that the carbon balance of this region was driven by changes in fire disturbance from 1948 to 2005. Climate changes affected the variability, but not the mean, of the landscape carbon balance, with precipitation exerting a more significant effect than temperature. We show that more frequent and larger fires in the late twentieth century resulted in deciduous trees and mosses increasing production at the expense of coniferous trees. Our model did not however exhibit the increases in total forest net primary production that have been inferred from satellite data. We find that poor soil drainage decreased the variability of the landscape carbon balance, which suggests that increased climate and hydrological changes have the potential to affect disproportionately the carbon dynamics of these areas. Overall, we conclude that direct ecophysiological changes resulting from global climate change have not yet been felt in this large boreal region. Variations in the landscape carbon balance and vegetation dominance have so far been driven largely by increases in fire frequency.     

冀北辽河源自然保护区油松林火烧迹地土壤化学性质研究

以冀北辽河源自然保护区油松林火烧迹地为研究区,研究不同土壤深度(>0~5cm、>5~10cm、>10~20cm)以及不同火强度(未火烧、轻度、中度、重度和极度)干扰下油松林土壤化学性质,对火烧迹地土壤的改良和油松林的恢复更新具有实践意义.研究结果表明:火烧1年后,土壤pH 有所升高;土壤有机碳、全氮、全钾质量分数除在极度火强度下,其他火强度下都有所升高;磷和有效磷在过火土壤中的质量分数亦增加;土壤pH、有机碳、全氮、全钾、全磷和有效磷质量分数在土层垂直分布上的状况为表层土大于深层土.因此,火烧对土壤表层产生较大影响且强度合理的火干扰可以有效提高土壤肥力.      

林业碳汇提升的主要原理和途径

降低大气CO₂含量、缓解气候变暖,已成为当今科学界和国际社会广泛关注的前沿热点问题。林业碳汇作为基于自然解决方案实现“碳达峰、碳中和”的一个重要途径,在应对全球气候变化方面发挥着基础性、战略性、独特的作用。林业碳汇不仅是森林碳汇,林产品碳汇也起着不可忽视的重要作用。林业碳汇潜力提升是一个森林生态系统净碳收支平衡和全产业链林产品碳汇的调控过程,主要包括无机碳的植物固定(光合过程、净生产力等)、土壤有机碳的周转与固定(动植物和微生物残体分解与黏土固定)、林产品碳的固持(林产品产量、木材转换效率、种类和使用寿命等)等3方面的调控原理。笔者从森林碳汇和林产品碳汇两个维度阐述了提升林业碳汇的主要原理、方法或途径。提升林业碳汇潜力的主要途径包括:①通过适地适树、适钙适树人工造林,以增加森林面积;②以完善森林经营措施来增加森林净生产力;③利用矿质黏土对有机碳的保护来增加森林土壤碳汇;④提升林产品产量和改进林产品用途以增加其寿命。在全球尺度上,增加森林面积或提高森林净生产力3.4%,或用可再生能源替换薪炭木材,再将薪炭木材用于制造锯材和人造板,都可以连续30 a每年增加1 Pg的碳汇量。减少全球森林火灾面积1/4或增加森林土壤有机碳含量0.23%,也可以增加碳汇1 Pg。此外,林业固碳还有巨大潜力可以挖掘。     

Respiration as the main determinant of carbon balance in European forests

Carbon exchange between the terrestrial biosphere and the atmosphere is one of the key processes that need to be assessed in the context of the Kyoto Protocol. Several studies suggest that the terrestrial biosphere is gaining carbon, but these estimates are obtained primarily by indirect methods, and the factors that control terrestrial carbon exchange, its magnitude and primary locations, are under debate. Here we present data of net ecosystem carbon exchange, collected between 1996 and 1998 from 15 European forests, which confirm that many European forest ecosystems act as carbon sinks. The annual carbon balances range from an uptake of 6.6 tonnes of carbon per hectare per year to a release of nearly 1 t C ha(-1) yr(-1), with a large variability between forests. The data show a significant increase of carbon uptake with decreasing latitude, whereas the gross primary production seems to be largely independent of latitude. Our observations indicate that, in general, ecosystem respiration determines net ecosystem carbon exchange. Also, for an accurate assessment of the carbon balance in a particular forest ecosystem, remote sensing of the normalized difference vegetation index or estimates based on forest inventories may not be sufficient.     

土壤与植物生态化学计量学研究进展

生态化学计量学是一门新兴科学,主要研究生态作用和生态过程中能量平衡及碳、氮、磷等多重化学元素的平衡,有机统一了生物学不同层次(分子、细胞、个体、种群、生态系统以及全球尺度)的研究理论。陆地生态系统的生态化学计量学研究具有重要意义,土壤和植物的碳、氮、磷比例关系可以表征生态系统的养分限制状况以及有机质的分解程度及其对土壤肥力的潜在贡献等。主要综述了生态化学计量学的概念、起源及研究简史,重点概述了陆地生态系统(主要为草原生态系统)中土壤与植物碳、氮、磷的生态化学计量学特征及其对气候因子及人为干扰等因素的响应。     

Acclimation of ecosystem CO2 exchange in the Alaskan Arctic in response to decadal climate warming

Long-term sequestration of carbon in Alaskan Arctic tundra ecosystems was reversed by warming and drying of the climate in the early 1980s, resulting in substantial losses of terrestrial carbon. But recent measurements suggest that continued warming and drying has resulted in diminished CO2 efflux, and in some cases, summer CO2 sink activity. Here we compile summer CO2 flux data for two Arctic ecosystems from 1960 to the end of 1998. The results show that a return to summer sink activity has come during the warmest and driest period observed over the past four decades, and indicates a previously undemonstrated capacity for ecosystems to metabolically adjust to long-term (decadal or longer) changes in climate. The mechanisms involved are likely to include changes in nutrient cycling, physiological acclimation, and population and community reorganization. Nevertheless, despite the observed acclimation, the Arctic ecosystems studied are still annual net sources of CO2 to the atmosphere of at least 40 g C m(-2) yr(-1), due to winter release of CO2, implying that further climate change may still exacerbate CO2 emissions from Arctic ecosystems.     

Nitrogen limitation of microbial decomposition in a grassland under elevated CO2

Carbon accumulation in the terrestrial biosphere could partially offset the effects of anthropogenic CO2 emissions on atmospheric CO2. The net impact of increased CO2 on the carbon balance of terrestrial ecosystems is unclear, however, because elevated CO2 effects on carbon input to soils and plant use of water and nutrients often have contrasting effects on microbial processes. Here we show suppression of microbial decomposition in an annual grassland after continuous exposure to increased CO2 for five growing seasons. The increased CO2 enhanced plant nitrogen uptake, microbial biomass carbon, and available carbon for microbes. But it reduced available soil nitrogen, exacerbated nitrogen constraints on microbes, and reduced microbial respiration per unit biomass. These results indicate that increased CO2 can alter the interaction between plants and microbes in favour of plant utilization of nitrogen, thereby slowing microbial decomposition and increasing ecosystem carbon accumulation.     

Nonlinear grassland responses to past and future atmospheric CO(2)

Carbon sequestration in soil organic matter may moderate increases in atmospheric CO(2) concentrations (C(a)) as C(a) increases to more than 500 micromol mol(-1) this century from interglacial levels of less than 200 micromol mol(-1) (refs 1 6). However, such carbon storage depends on feedbacks between plant responses to C(a) and nutrient availability. Here we present evidence that soil carbon storage and nitrogen cycling in a grassland ecosystem are much more responsive to increases in past C(a) than to those forecast for the coming century. Along a continuous gradient of 200 to 550 micromol mol(-1) (refs 9, 10), increased C(a) promoted higher photosynthetic rates and altered plant tissue chemistry. Soil carbon was lost at subambient C(a), but was unchanged at elevated C(a) where losses of old soil carbon offset increases in new carbon. Along the experimental gradient in C(a) there was a nonlinear, threefold decrease in nitrogen availability. The differences in sensitivity of carbon storage to historical and future C(a) and increased nutrient limitation suggest that the passive sequestration of carbon in soils may have been important historically, but the ability of soils to continue as sinks is limited.     

Old-growth forests as global carbon sinks

Old-growth forests remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere at rates that vary with climate and nitrogen deposition. The sequestered carbon dioxide is stored in live woody tissues and slowly decomposing organic matter in litter and soil. Old-growth forests therefore serve as a global carbon dioxide sink, but they are not protected by international treaties, because it is generally thought that ageing forests cease to accumulate carbon. Here we report a search of literature and databases for forest carbon-flux estimates. We find that in forests between 15 and 800 years of age, net ecosystem productivity (the net carbon balance of the forest including soils) is usually positive. Our results demonstrate that old-growth forests can continue to accumulate carbon, contrary to the long-standing view that they are carbon neutral. Over 30 per cent of the global forest area is unmanaged primary forest, and this area contains the remaining old-growth forests. Half of the primary forests (6 x 10(8) hectares) are located in the boreal and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. On the basis of our analysis, these forests alone sequester about 1.3 +/- 0.5 gigatonnes of carbon per year. Thus, our findings suggest that 15 per cent of the global forest area, which is currently not considered when offsetting increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations, provides at least 10 per cent of the global net ecosystem productivity. Old-growth forests accumulate carbon for centuries and contain large quantities of it. We expect, however, that much of this carbon, even soil carbon, will move back to the atmosphere if these forests are disturbed.     

西昌市云南松林区林火迹地现状与更新修复对策

林火是破坏森林生态的重大因素。西昌市云南松林区每年会形成约200~500hm2的火烧迹地。多发生于干旱春季和秋冬季,由于法规缺失和管理不到位,造成迹地生态修复滞后甚至成为盲区,成荒芜弃置状态,使得林业有害生物侵入为害,严重破坏森林生态平衡,降低森林质量。本文通过对西昌市林火迹地成因和现状的调查分析,提出生态修复的对策。     

兴安落叶松林火烧迹地土壤速效钾时空动态分析

【目的】研究不同强度火干扰下兴安落叶松林土壤速效钾含量的时空变化,探讨其变化规律与空间格局的形成原因,分析火烧迹地恢复初期土壤速效钾营养水平,为林地土壤钾营养调控与管理提供参考。【方法】在大兴安岭北部兴安落叶松林地布设固定采样点,进行林火点烧试验,分别于火烧前、火烧后、融雪季后和生长季采用土钻法在固定点位30 cm半径内采集土壤样品,采用乙酸铵法测定土壤速效钾含量,分析轻、中、重度火烧区土壤速效钾时空变化特征。【结果】①轻度火烧区,土壤速效钾含量未因火烧立即发生明显变化,但在融雪季显著上升,生长季仍维持较高水平;中、重度火烧区,则在火烧后立即升高,融雪季进一步上升,而后相对稳定;②火烧强度空间格局与土壤速效钾含量空间格局在融雪季和生长季均极显著正相关,与土壤速效钾含量变化率在火烧后的各时期均极显著正相关;原生土壤速效钾含量与火烧后各时期土壤速效钾含量及其变化率均显著相关;火烧后,土壤速效钾空间格局是原生土壤速效钾含量空间格局与火烧强度空间格局综合作用的结果。【结论】经过融雪季与生长季,兴安落叶松林轻、中、重度火烧区土壤速效钾含量显著升高,有利于火烧迹地恢复初期森林植被更新与改造。     

林火对森林生态系统碳氮磷生态化学计量特征影响研究进展

林火可以改变森林生态系统元素的生态化学计量特征,反映火后森林生态系统环境中生物地球化学循环变化模式,阐明林火干扰下森林生态系统碳(C)氮(N)磷(P)生态化学计量特征,对于理解森林生态系统对林火干扰的响应机理至关重要。笔者通过查阅大量相关文献,总结与分析了林火干扰对森林生态系统C-N-P生态化学计量特征影响模式,以及林火干扰对植物C-N-P生态化学计量特征、凋落物C-N-P生态化学计量特征、土壤C-N-P生态化学计量特征的影响,认为森林生态系统C-N-P生态化学计量特征主要受到火烧因子(火烧强度、火烧频率、火烧后恢复时间)、植被类型及土壤性质3个方面的影响,针对林火对森林生态系统生态化学计量学研究亟待解决的科学问题,从林火干扰对植物生态化学计量内稳性的影响机制、林火干扰下多重元素生态化学计量学研究、建立林火干扰下植物-凋落物-土壤复合系统生态化学计量学关系等3个方面进行了展望,以期深入了解林火干扰下植物调控策略,明确林火干扰后多重化学元素间相互耦合机制,完善以植物-凋落物-土壤为复合整体的地上地下养分输入输出的关系,对于深刻理解全球气候变化背景下森林生态系统养分循环和平衡,以及合理制定林火管理措施具有重要作用。     

珠江河口不同类型湿地土壤有机磷矿化过程及其影响因素研究

以珠江河口湿地土壤为研究对象,采用室内培养的实验方法,对研究区内3大类11种不同类型的土壤进行 恒温控湿好气培养. 通过分析土壤理化性质、土壤净磷矿化量和土壤净磷矿化速率等参数,探究珠江河口湿地土壤有机 磷矿化过程及其影响因素. 结果表明,研究区湿地土壤有机磷矿化速率在-126.47 ~99.7675 mg·kg-1·d-1范围内波 动. 在培养前15d土壤净磷矿化速率变化较大,后期趋于平缓且接近零值. 其中,围垦湿地土壤有机磷矿化率能够在短 时间内趋于稳定(15d),沟渠湿地土壤达到稳定时间相对较长(25d),而农村河流湿地土壤与城市河流湿地土壤有机磷 矿化速率在整个培养期内均呈波动变化,达到稳定时间长达40d. 在所有湿地类型中,城市河流湿地土壤有机磷的矿化 或固定作用最大,围垦湿地土壤有机磷矿化速率波动幅度相对较小,而人工湿地土壤有机磷矿化速率则在整个培养期内 无明显变化且接近于零值. 土壤有机磷净矿化速率与有机质(SOM)、总碳(TC)、总氮(TN)、总氢(TH)、总磷(TP) 的质 量分数及土壤水土质量比均呈现显著负相关关系(P<0.01),而与 pH 和微生物量碳(MBC) 等理化性质无显著相关性 (P>0.05). 研究结果可为滨海湿地的保护与管理提供理论指导.      

城市土壤的生态服务功能演变与城市生态环境保护

城市化是急剧的土地利用变化过程。在城市化过程中，土壤的服务功能经历明显的转变，即从维系植物生长的功能为主转变为滞留、转化和净化污染的功能为主，因此，城市土壤在城市生态系统中承担着重要的生态服务功能并起着保护城市环境的作用。城市土壤在功能转变的过程中，土壤质量也发生重要的转变，这些变化包括物理的、化学的和生物学的等方面。巨大的人为影响致使城市土壤的退化比较明显。物理退化方面主要体现在由于压实导致容重增加、水分入渗速率降低，从而使降雨时地表径流系数增加、非点源污染负荷升高，对城市水体污染产生明显的影响；化学退化方面主要体现在土壤中的有机和无机污染物含量显著增加，这一方面使土壤对生物健康直接影响的可能性增加，另一方面使土壤的吸附容量接近饱和丽导致污染物的移动性提高，从而具有较高的释放潜力。城市生态系统中物质循环过程不闭合的特点，决定了城市土壤是养分和污染物末端固定者，因而城市土壤是一个人为的某些元素的地球化学“垒”(barrier)。建设健康的城市生态环境需要闭合开放状态的物质循环链条，这必然需要科学的城市土壤管理策略。     

两种林木栽植对滨海重盐碱地化学特性的影响

为了比较林木对重盐碱地的改良效果,以沙枣、绒毛白蜡为试材,研究了不同季节沙枣林地、绒毛白蜡林地不同土层(0~20,20~50,50~80cm)的pH值、可溶性盐、有机质、速效钾含量及阳离子交换量的变化.结果表明:不同季节不同林木对土壤不同化学性质的改良效果不同.6月,沙枣林地各土层pH值有不同程度地降低,20~50cm pH值降低最多;20~50cm阳离子交换量明显地高于对照,但土壤含盐量、有机质和速效钾含量变化均不明显.绒毛白蜡林地各土层pH值也有不同程度地降低,20~50cm pH值降低最多;各土层速效钾含量明显增加,20~50cm阳离子交换量明显高于对照,但含盐量和有机质含量变化均不明显.10月,绒毛白蜡对pH值、有机质含量、阳离子交换量的改良效果较沙枣好,绒毛白蜡林地50cm土层的pH值降低明显、有机质含量增加较多,各土层阳离子交换量均高于对照,而沙枣林地20cm土层pH值降低明显、有机质含量和阳离子交换量增加较多;两块林地含盐量均不同程度地降低,但20cm土层的含盐量降低最多,且沙枣林地的含盐量降低的更多;两块林地0~20cm速效钾含量明显高于对照.10月测定的两块林地各土层的pH值、含盐量均低于6月的测定值,测定的有机质含量均高于6月的测定值;对于速效钾含量,沙枣林地所有土层的速效钾含量均高于6月,绒毛白蜡林地所有土层的速效钾含量均低于6月;沙枣林地除0~20cm阳离子交换量高于6月外,其它土层的阳离子交换量均低于6月,绒毛白蜡所有土层阳离子交换量均高于6月.总体而言,与沙枣林地相比,绒毛白蜡林地的pH值更低,有机质、速效钾含量、阳离子交换量均更高,但土壤含盐量也较高;两树种10月对土壤化学特性的改良效果优于6月.     

Climate as the dominant control on C<Subscript>3</Subscript> and C<Subscript>4</Subscript> plant abundance in the Loess Plateau: Organic carbon isotope evidence from the last glacial-interglacial loess-soil sequences

Two modes of photosynthesis predominate in terres-REPORTS trial plants: the C3 and C4 modes[1]. The C3 mode is used by all of trees, bushes, and cold season grasses. The C4 mode is used by the most of tropical and warm season grasses. They are disadvantaged relative to C3 plants at high CO2/O2 ratios because of the additional energy ex-pense needed to concentrate CO2 in the bundle-sheath cells. At low CO2/O2, however, C4 plants can achieve a relatively high quantum yield by suppressin…     

Activation of old carbon by erosion of coastal and subsea permafrost in Arctic Siberia

The future trajectory of greenhouse gas concentrations depends on interactions between climate and the biogeosphere. Thawing of Arctic permafrost could release significant amounts of carbon into the atmosphere in this century. Ancient Ice Complex deposits outcropping along the ~7,000-kilometre-long coastline of the East Siberian Arctic Shelf (ESAS), and associated shallow subsea permafrost, are two large pools of permafrost carbon, yet their vulnerabilities towards thawing and decomposition are largely unknown. Recent Arctic warming is stronger than has been predicted by several degrees, and is particularly pronounced over the coastal ESAS region. There is thus a pressing need to improve our understanding of the links between permafrost carbon and climate in this relatively inaccessible region. Here we show that extensive release of carbon from these Ice Complex deposits dominates (57?±?2 per cent) the sedimentary carbon budget of the ESAS, the world’s largest continental shelf, overwhelming the marine and topsoil terrestrial components. Inverse modelling of the dual-carbon isotope composition of organic carbon accumulating in ESAS surface sediments, using Monte Carlo simulations to account for uncertainties, suggests that 44?±?10 teragrams of old carbon is activated annually from Ice Complex permafrost, an order of magnitude more than has been suggested by previous studies. We estimate that about two-thirds (66?±?16 per cent) of this old carbon escapes to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, with the remainder being re-buried in shelf sediments. Thermal collapse and erosion of these carbon-rich Pleistocene coastline and seafloor deposits may accelerate with Arctic amplification of climate warming.     

Control of cation concentrations in stream waters by surface soil processes in an Amazonian watershed

The chemical composition of ground waters and stream waters is thought to be determined primarily by weathering of parent rock. In relatively young soils such as those occurring in most temperate ecosystems, dissolution of primary minerals by carbonic acid is the predominant weathering pathway that liberates Ca2+, Mg2+ and K+ and generates alkalinity in the hydrosphere. But control of water chemistry in old and highly weathered soils that have lost reservoirs of primary minerals (a common feature of many tropical soils) is less well understood. Here we present soil and water chemistry data from a 10,000-hectare watershed on highly weathered soil in the Brazilian Amazon. Streamwater cation concentrations and alkalinity are positively correlated to each other and to streamwater discharge, suggesting that cations and bicarbonate are mainly flushed from surface soil layers by rainfall rather than being the products of deep soil weathering carried by groundwater flow. These patterns contrast with the seasonal patterns widely recognized in temperate ecosystems with less strongly weathered soils. In this particular watershed, partial forest clearing and burning 30 years previously enriched the soils in cations and so may have increased the observed wet season leaching of cations. Nevertheless, annual inputs and outputs of cations from the watershed are low and nearly balanced, and thus soil cations from forest burning will remain available for forest regrowth over the next few decades. Our observations suggest that increased root and microbial respiration during the wet season generates CO2 that drives cation-bicarbonate leaching, resulting in a biologically mediated process of surface soil exchange controlling the streamwater inputs of cations and alkalinity from these highly weathered soils.