Stomatal responses of terrestrial plants to global change

Quantifying the stomatal responses of plants to global change factors is crucial for modeling terrestrial carbon and water cycles. Here we synthesize worldwide experimental data to show that stomatal conductance (gs) decreases with elevated carbon dioxide (CO2), warming, decreased precipitation, and tropospheric ozone pollution, but increases with increased precipitation and nitrogen (N) deposition. These responses vary with treatment magnitude, plant attributes (ambient gs, vegetation biomes, and plant functional types), and climate. All two-factor combinations (except warming + N deposition) significantly reduce gs, and their individual effects are commonly additive but tend to be antagonistic as the effect sizes increased. We further show that rising CO2 and warming would dominate the future change of plant gs across biomes. The results of our meta-analysis provide a foundation for understanding and predicting plant gs across biomes and guiding manipulative experiment designs in a real world where global change factors do not occur in isolation

Applications of stochastic models and geostatistical analyses to study sources and spatial patterns of soil heavy metals in a metalliferous industrial district of China

An extensive soil survey was conducted to study pollution sources and delineate contamination of heavy metals in one of the metalliferous industrial bases, in the karst areas of southwest China. A total of 597 topsoil samples were collected and the concentrations of five heavy metals, namely Cd, As (metalloid), Pb, Hg and Cr were analyzed. Stochastic models including a conditional inference tree (CIT) and a finite mixture distribution model (FMDM) were applied to identify the sources and partition the contribution from natural and anthropogenic sources for heavy metal in topsoils of the study area. Regression trees for Cd, As, Pb and Hg were proved to depend mostly on indicators of anthropogenic activities such as industrial type and distance from urban area, while the regression tree for Cr was found to be mainly influenced by the geogenic characteristics. The FMDM analysis showed that the geometric means of modeled background values for Cd, As, Pb, Hg and Cr were close to their background values previously reported in the study area, while the contamination of Cd and Hg were widespread in the study area, imposing potentially detrimental effects on organisms through the food chain. Finally, the probabilities of single and multiple heavy metals exceeding the threshold values derived from the FMDM were estimated using indicator kriging (IK) and multivariate indicator kriging (MVIK). The high probabilities exceeding the thresholds of heavy metals were associated with metalliferous production and atmospheric deposition of heavy metals transported from the urban and industrial areas. Geostatistics coupled with stochastic models provide an effective way to delineate multiple heavy metal pollution to facilitate improved environmental management. 2014 Elsevier B.V

Effects of nitrogen and water addition on soil carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, and their stoichiometry along soil profile in a semi-arid steppe

Purpose: Although past studies have found well-constrained soil carbon (C)/nutrient ratios, the effects of increased nitrogen (N) and water inputs on these ratios across soil depths have rarely been assessed in semi-arid grasslands. Methods: In this study, we evaluated the contents of total C, N, phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), and their stoichiometric ratios in a 0–80 cm soil profile following 13 years of successive N (at rates of 5 and 15 g m−2 yearr−1) and water addition (180 mm per growing season) in a semi-arid grassland of the Mongolian Plateau. Results: In the 0–10 cm soil layer, long-term N addition tended to increase total C and N contents but decreased soil total P and S contents compared to the control. The effects of N addition, as observed in 0–10 cm soil, however, were not consistent with that in the deep 10–80 cm soil layers. Water addition increased the total C, N, and P contents across the entire soil profile but increased total S content only in 0–40 cm soil. Moreover, the combined addition of N and water generally had stronger effects on the four elements across the whole soil profile. For the stoichiometry of the four elements, a low rate of N addition (5 g m−2 year−1) increased soil C:N ratios and decreased soil P:S ratios in the 0–80 cm soils, but a high rate of N addition (15 g m−2 year−1) produced the opposite effect. Both N addition rates resulted in an increase in the soil C:P, C:S, N:P, and N:S ratios. Similarly, in plots that received water, water addition alone decreased the soil C:N ratios, while N addition caused higher fluctuations in these six elemental ratios. However, there was no consistent pattern of change in any one ratio, independent of the addition of water, when taking into account N addition rates and soil depths. Conclusion: Our findings showed that the effects of N addition on soil total C, N, P, and S contents and their stoichiometric ratios were highly influenced by the rate of N addition and the depth of soil, and that these effects could be modulated by increasing precipitation. These results need to be carefully considered while managing the ecological environment in semi-arid steppes

Air Quality Strategies on Public Health and Health Equity in Europe-A Systematic Review

Air pollution is an important public health problem in Europe and there is evidence that it exacerbates health inequities. This calls for effective strategies and targeted interventions. In this study, we conducted a systematic review to evaluate the effectiveness of strategies relating to air pollution control on public health and health equity in Europe. Three databases, Web of Science, PubMed, and Trials Register of Promoting Health Interventions (TRoPHI), were searched for scientific publications investigating the effectiveness of strategies on outdoor air pollution control, public health and health equity in Europe from 1995 to 2015. A total of 15 scientific papers were included in the review after screening 1626 articles. Four groups of strategy types, namely, general regulations on air quality control, road traffic related emission control interventions, energy generation related emission control interventions and greenhouse gas emission control interventions for climate change mitigation were identified. All of the strategies reviewed reported some improvement in air quality and subsequently in public health. The reduction of the air pollutant concentrations and the reported subsequent health benefits were more significant within the geographic areas affected by traffic related interventions. Among the various traffic related interventions, low emission zones appeared to be more effective in reducing ambient nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter levels. Only few studies considered implications for health equity, three out of 15, and no consistent results were found indicating that these strategies could reduce health inequity associated with air pollution. Particulate matter (particularly fine particulate matter) and NO2 were the dominant outdoor air pollutants examined in the studies in Europe in recent years. Health benefits were gained either as a direct, intended objective or as a co-benefit from all of the strategies examined, but no consistent impact on health equity from the strategies was found. The strategy types aiming to control air pollution in Europe and the health impact assessment methodology were also discussed in this review

Comparative study of chemical characterization and source apportionment of PM2.5 in South China by filter-based and single particle analysis

10.1525/elementa.2021.00046Elementa914

Effects of decadal nitrogen addition on carbon and nitrogen stocks in different organic matter fractions of typical steppe soils

Recent frameworks have proposed that division of soil organic matter (SOM) into particulate and mineral-associated organic matter (POM and MAOM) can help us better understand SOM cycling and its responses to increasing atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition. However, responses of these factions to N deposition with combination of their relative distribution across soil profile remain unclear. Here we determined total N and soil organic carbon (SOC) as POM and MAOM separately in soils at depths of 0-10, 30-40 and 70-100 cm after 10-year N addition (at rates of 50, 10, 2 and 0 g m(-2) yr(-1)) in a typical steppe. We further calculated their stocks in POM, MAOM and bulk soil and detected their relationships with both physicochemical features and microbial properties. Nitrogen addition increased the stocks of SOC (POM: +23 %; MAOM: +11 %) and total N (POM: +27 %; MAOM: +10 %) in both POM and MAOM fractions in topsoil (0-10 cm), but increased only in MAOM in 30-40 cm (SOC: +24 %; total N: +24 %) and 70-100 cm (SOC: +15 %; total N: +13 %) soils. Moreover, the increasing effects were strengthened with increasing N addition rates. We found that the share of SOC and total N in the MAOM was slightly decreased by N addition in topsoil, but significantly increased in deeper soils. Soil physicochemical features exerted stronger controls than microbial properties in the distribution of SOC and total N in the two fractions regardless of soil depth. SOC and total N contents of MAOM were correlated negatively with soil pH across the soil profile, and were correlated positively with bulk soil total N, dissolved organic N and inorganic N. Our findings imply that more soil C would be stabilized as MAOM under increasing atmospheric N deposition, and therefore the C saturation level of MAOM should be a target for further studies and be considered in predicting SOM dynamics, especially in N-limited grassland ecosystems

Long-Emission-Wavelength Humic-Like Component (L-HULIS) as a Secondary Source Tracer of Brown Carbon in the Atmosphere

The optical properties of secondary brown carbon (BrC) aerosols are poorly understood, hampering quantitative assessments of their impact. We propose a new method for estimating secondary source of BrC using excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy, combined with parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) and partial least squares regression (PLSR). Experiments were conducted on a collection of PM2.5 samples from urban areas in five Chinese cities during winter and summer. The humic-like component with long-emission wavelengths (L-HULIS) was identified as a secondary source tracer of BrC. This was confirmed by correlating PARAFAC components with secondary organic aerosol tracers and molecular oxidation indices obtained from Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry analysis. Using L-HULIS as a secondary tracer of BrC, it was determined that the contribution of secondary sources to water-soluble BrC (WS-BrC) in source emission samples is significantly smaller than in PM2.5 from five Chinese cities, supporting our method. In the five cities, secondary source derived via L-HULIS contributes a dominant potion (80% +/- 3.5%) of WS-BrC at 365 nm during the summer, which is approximately twice as high as during the winter (45% +/- 4.9%). Radiocarbon isotope (14C) analysis provides additional constraints to the sources of L-HULIS-derived secondary WS-BrC in urban PM2.5, suggesting that aged biomass burning is the dominant contributor to secondary WS-BrC in winter, and biogenic emission is dominant during summer. This study is the first report on identification of secondary sources of BrC using the fluorescence technique. It demonstrates the potential of this method in characterizing non-fossil source secondary BrC in the atmosphere. Brown carbon (BrC) originates from primary combustion emissions and secondary formation, with large source-dependent uncertainties of radiative forcing. Direct measurements to separate the primary and secondary BrC are challenging due to the chemical complexity. Recent online studies have shown that excitation-emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy coupled with parallel factor (PARAFAC) analysis identified some fluorescent components that may be linked to secondary sources. However, there is a knowledge gap on whether PARAFAC components correlate closely with atmospheric secondary chemical components, particularly biogenic and anthropogenic secondary organic aerosol, as their precursors can also form secondary BrC chromophores. We established the correlations between PARAFAC components and secondary organic aerosol tracers and compound oxidations to identify the long-emission-wavelength humic-like component as a secondary source tracer of BrC. Then, we estimated non-fossil source secondary BrC in urban aerosols during the winter and summer. Our studies provide references for quantifying secondary sources of BrC in the atmosphere. A fluorescence-based method was developed to investigate secondary sources of water-soluble brown carbon in five cities in China The contribution of secondary sources to water-soluble brown carbon in the summer is approximately twice as high as during the winter This secondary water-soluble brown carbon was more associated with aging biomass burning in winter and biogenic emissions in summe

Precipitation trend increases the contribution of dry reduced nitrogen deposition

Abstract Given the leveling off in oxidized nitrogen emissions around the world, the atmospheric deposition of reduced nitrogen (NH x  = NH3 + NH4 +) has become progressively critical, especially dry deposition, which presents great threats to plant growth. A combination of historical deposition data of measured wet NH x and modeled dry NH x in China suggests that dry NHx deposition has been increasing substantially (4.50% yr−1, p < 0.05) since 1980. Here, chemical transport model (WRF-EMEP) results indicate that variation in NH3 emissions is not a dominant factor resulting in the continually increasing trends of dry NH x deposition, while climate change-induced trends in precipitation patterns with less frequent light rain and more frequent consecutive rain events (with ≥2 consecutive rainy days) contribute to the increase in dry NH x deposition. This will continue to shift NH x deposition from wet to dry form at a rate of 0.12 and 0.23% yr−1 (p < 0.05) for the period of 2030–2100 in China under the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios, respectively. Further analysis for North America and Europe demonstrates results similar to China, with a consistent increase in the contribution of dry NHx deposition driven by changing precipitation patterns from ~30% to ~35%. Our findings, therefore, uncover the change of precipitation patterns has an increasing influence on the shifting of NH x deposition from wet to dry form in the Northern Hemisphere and highlight the need to shift from total NH x deposition-based control strategies to more stringent NH3 emission controls targeting dry NH x deposition in order to mitigate the potential negative ecological impacts

Model for Predicting Toxicities of Metals and Metalloids in Coastal Marine Environments Worldwide

Metals can pose hazards to marine species and can adversely affect structures and functions of communities of marine species. However, little is known about how structural properties of metal atoms combined with current geographical and climatic conditions affect their toxic potencies. A mathematical model, based on quantitative structure–activity relationships and species sensitivity distributions (QSAR-SSD) was developed by use of acute toxicities of six metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, and Zn) to eight marine species and accessory environmental conditions. The model was then used to predict toxicities of 31 metals and metalloids and then to investigate relationships between acute water quality criteria (WQC) and environmental conditions in coastal marine environments. The model was also used to predict WQC in the coastal areas of different countries. Given global climate change, the QSAR-SSD model allows development of WQC for metals that will be protective of marine ecosystems under various conditions related to changes in global climate. This approach could be of enormous benefit in delivering an evidence-based approach to support regulatory decision making in management of metal and metalloids in marine waters

Probabilistic modeling of aggregate lead exposure in children of urban China using an adapted IEUBK model

Lead, a ubiquitous pollutant throughout the environment, is confirmed to be neurotoxic for children by pulmonary and oral routes. As preschool children in China continue to be exposed to lead, we analyzed the available biomonitoring data for preschool children in urban China collected in the period 2004–2014 through a literature review. To identify apportionment of lead exposure sources for urban children in China, we modified the IEUBK model with a Monte Carlo module to assess the uncertainty and variability of the model output based on limited available exposure data and compared the simulated blood lead levels with the observed ones obtained through literature review. Although children's blood lead levels in urban China decreased statistically over time for the included studies, changes in blood lead levels in three economic zones and seven age groups except for two age-specific groups were no longer significant. The GM-predicted BLLs and the GM-observed BLLs agreed within 1 μg/dL for all fourteen cities. The 95% CIs for the predicted GMs and the observed distribution (GM ± GSD) overlapped substantially. These results demonstrated the plausibility of blood lead prediction provided by the adapted IEUBK model. Lead exposure estimates for diet, soil/dust, air, and drinking water were 12.01 ± 6.27 μg/day, 2.69 ± 0.89 μg/day, 0.20 ± 0.15 μg/day, and 0.029 ± 0.012 μg/day, respectively. These findings showed that the reduction of lead concentrations in grains and vegetables would be beneficial to limit the risk of dietary lead exposure for a large proportion of preschool children in urban China