Abstract
Floodplain habitats of the Xilin River in Inner Mongolia, China, were overgrazed by sheep and cattle until fencing of the floodplains was implemented
in 2000. Carbon cycling of three plant communities of differing floodplain elevation after fencing showed that biomass in low-elevation
wetlands increased fastest until reaching its maximum at 20 years in the future, while a slower increase in biomass existed in high-elevation and
‘hummock’ wetlands.Modelling and field experiments revealed differences between the three plant communities that were primarily attributed to
different elevation levels and inundation periods. This study also determined the carbon sequestration capacity of the three floodplain wetland
types (0.18 kg C m2 year1 in low-elevation wetlands, 0.09 kg C m2 year1 in high-elevation wetlands, and 0.05 kg C m2 year1 in hummock
wetlands).
in 2000. Carbon cycling of three plant communities of differing floodplain elevation after fencing showed that biomass in low-elevation
wetlands increased fastest until reaching its maximum at 20 years in the future, while a slower increase in biomass existed in high-elevation and
‘hummock’ wetlands.Modelling and field experiments revealed differences between the three plant communities that were primarily attributed to
different elevation levels and inundation periods. This study also determined the carbon sequestration capacity of the three floodplain wetland
types (0.18 kg C m2 year1 in low-elevation wetlands, 0.09 kg C m2 year1 in high-elevation wetlands, and 0.05 kg C m2 year1 in hummock
wetlands).
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 858-866 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | River Research and Applications |
| Volume | 31 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2014 |
Keywords
- Xilin River
- floodplain grazing
- wetland plant communities
- carbon sequestration
- elevation