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Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology ›› 2023, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (5): 1161-1168.doi: 10.13287/j.1001-9332.202305.019

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Altitudinal variations and seasonal dynamics of near-surface and soil temperatures in subtropical forests of Mt. Guanshan, Jiangxi Province, China

WANG Fang1, LU Yaoshun1, ZHANG Zhaochen2, CHEN Lin3, YANG Yongchuan4, ZHANG Hongwei1, WANG Xiaoran1, SHU Li1, SHANG Xiaofan1, LIU Pengcheng1, YANG Qingpei5, ZHANG Jian1*   

  1. 1School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China;
    2Lushan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jiujiang 332900, Jiangxi, China;
    3Administration of Jiangxi Guanshan National Nature Reserve, Yichun 336000, Jiangxi, China;
    4Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China;
    5Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory for Bamboo Germplasm Resources and Utilization, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China
  • Received:2022-12-06 Accepted:2023-02-13 Online:2023-05-15 Published:2023-11-15

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Abstract: Temperature lapse rate (TLR), measured as the degree of temperature change along an altitudinal gradient, is a key indicator of multiple ecological processes of mountain systems. Although many studies have examined temperature changes of open air or near-surface along altitudes, we know little about altitudinal variations of soil temperature, which play an important role in regulating growth and reproduction of organisms, as well as ecosystem nutrient cycling. Based on temperature data of near-surface (15 cm above ground) and soil layers (8 cm below ground) from 12 sampling sites of subtropical forest along an altitudinal gradient (300-1300 m) in Jiangxi Guan-shan National Nature Reserve from September 2018 to August 2021, we calculated the lapse rates of mean, maximum, and minimum temperatures, as well as accumulated temperatures by using simple linear regression for both near-surface and soil temperature. The seasonal dynamics of aforementioned variables were also evaluated. The results showed that there were large differences among mean, maximum, and minimum lapse rates for annual near-surface temperature, which were 0.38, 0.31 and 0.51 ℃·(100 m)-1, respectively. But little variation was documented for soil temperature which were 0.40, 0.38 and 0.42 ℃·(100 m)-1, respectively. The seasonal variations of temperature lapse rates for near-surface and soil layers were minor except for minimum temperature. The lapse rates of minimum temperature were deeper in spring and winter for near-surface and in spring and autumn for soil layers. For growing degree days (GDD), the accumulated temperature under both layers were negatively correlated with altitude, and the lapse rates of ≥5 ℃ were 163 ℃·d·(100 m)-1 for near-surface and 179 ℃·d·(100 m)-1 for soil. The ≥5 ℃ GDD in soil were about 15 days longer than that in near-surface at the same altitude. The results showed inconsistent patterns of altitudinal variations between near-surface and soil temperature. Soil temperature and its lapse rates had minor seasonal variations compared with the near-surface counterparts, which was related to the strong buffering capacity of soil.

Key words: forest microclimate, temperature lapse rate, seasonal dynamics, evergreen broad-leaved forest, altitudinal gradient