Advances in research on methane from tree stems

doi:10.12302/j.issn.1000-2006.202003006

JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY ›› 2021, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (5): 235-241.doi: 10.12302/j.issn.1000-2006.202003006

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Advances in research on methane from tree stems

GUO Liang(), DING Jiuming, XU Xia^*()

College of Biology and the Environment, Co-Innovation Center for the Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China

Received:2020-03-03 Accepted:2021-02-25 Online:2021-09-30 Published:2021-09-30
Contact: XU Xia E-mail:lguo1992@163.com;xuxia.1982@yahoo.com

Abstract

Abstract:

Methane (CH₄) as the second most important greenhouse gas in terrestrial ecosystems after carbon dioxide (CO₂) has received extensive attention in the context of global warming. With the same quantity (number of moles) of greenhouse gas, the greenhouse effect of CH₄ in 100 years is 28 to 34 times that of CO₂, and atmospheric CH₄ is responsible for approximately 20% to 30% of global warming. Reports of a discrepancy between emissions-based estimates and satellite-based estimates of CH₄ sources in tropical forests have generated interest in tree surfaces as a neglected source. Numerous studies in recent years have also proved that trees are an important source and sink of forest CH₄ budget. By review in published literatures, this paper comprehensively analyzed the source, flux size, influencing factors of CH₄ in tree stems and its impact on terrestrial carbon budget. We found that: ① CH₄ released by the stems was produced in the soil or in the heartwood of the tree, and then diffused through the stems into the air.② The flux range of stems CH₄ was from(-37.5±18.75) to (16 937.50±6 812.50) μmol/(m²·h).③ The CH₄ flux on the surface of the stems had a large spatiotemporal difference, which mainly comes from the species, age, tissue type, site characteristics and environmental conditions. ④ The CH₄ released from forest wetland (or woody swamp) might be underestimated, while the CH₄ absorption from dryland or alpine forests might be overestimated, without considering the CH₄ flux from the stems. As a new member of the terrestrial carbon cycle, tree-stems methane should be given sufficient attention, which was of great significance for predicting future global climate change.

Key words: stems methane, greenhouse gases, carbon cycle, terrestrial ecosystem

CLC Number:

S718

GUO Liang, DING Jiuming, XU Xia. Advances in research on methane from tree stems[J]. JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY, 2021, 45(5): 235-241.

Figures/Tables 2

Fig. 1

Table 1

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森林类型 forest type	植物群落 plant community	地理位置 geographical position	树干测量位置/cm emission surface	通量/ (μmol·m^-2·h^-1) flux	文献 Reference
亚热带红树林	秋茄 Kandelia obovata	23°53'N, 117°30'E	20~50	(0.71±0.24)~(91.19 ±16.63)	[38]
温带落叶林	水曲柳 Fraxinus mandshurica	43°22'N, 141°36'E	15 15 70	5.06~81.56 11.00 6.06	[41] [42]
温带落叶林	北美鹅掌楸 Liriodendron tulipifera等	38°51'N, 78°32'W	30~60	(4.3±0.81) ~(35.49±10.91) 1.59±0.88	[20,22]
温带落叶林	欧洲桤木 Alnus glutinosa	52°0'N, 0°28'W	20~50	(6.71±0.83)~ (9.79 ±1.29)	[33]
热带雨林	8种被子植物	2°20'S, 113°55'E	20~130	(1.06±0.9)~(11.56 ±0.44)	[13]
热带雨林	多种被子植物	2°20'S~3°20'S, 54°55'~61°0'E	15~140	(1.00±2.50)~(16 937.50± 6 812.50)	[12]
温带落叶林	北美鹅掌楸 L. tulipifera等	39°42'N, 75°50'W	130	0.40±0.18	[43]
暖温带森林	山杨 Populus davidiana等	39°58'N, 115°26'E	130	12.63~20.73, 5.33~6.44	[11,19]
温带森林	欧洲水青冈 Fagus sylvatica	48°1'N,7°57'E	120	1.87±3.31	[23]
寒温带森林	欧洲赤松 Pinus sylvestris	61°51'N, 24°17'E	20	0.000 31~0.006 3	[21]
温带森林	欧洲桤木 Alnus glutinosa	52°00'N, 00°28'W	30	0.26~6.31	[10]
温带森林	苦味山核桃 Carya cordiformis	39°5'N, 75°26'W	75 150	0.46±0.03 0.28±0.02	[44]
温带森林	无梗花栎 Quercus petraea	48°29'N, 6°41'E	25~45	0.032±0.022	[45]
亚热带森林	落羽杉 Taxodium distichum	32°08'N, 81°25'W	<30, >300	2.34±0.78	[46]
热带红树林	白骨壤 Avicenna marina	17°27'S, 140°48'E	10~170	0.013~ 21.00, -3.77 ~168.15(死亡株)	[47]
温带森林湿地	多种被子植物(死亡株)	35°54'N, 76°09'W	10-100	吸收-37.5±18.75,25.0±6.25	[48]

Advances in research on methane from tree stems

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