Herbaceous marsh vegetation's above-ground mass and the pattern of its spatial distribution within China

China's Herbaceous Marsh Wetlands: A Comprehensive Study

A groundbreaking study, conducted by over 100 researchers from 12 prestigious institutions in China, has shed new light on the conditions of plant, water, and ecological benefits of wetland patches across the country. The research, published in the journal "Environmental Science & Technology", covers 440 wetland patches, providing a scientific basis for carbon sequestration evaluation and adaptive management of marsh wetlands in China.

The study reveals that the total area of herbaceous marsh in China is approximately 9.7 million square kilometres, making it the third largest in the world. The most widely distributed type of marsh in China, herbaceous marsh, plays a significant role in carbon sequestration, with a total aboveground biomass of about 22.2 teragrams of carbon (Tg C).

The study found that the aboveground biomass density of herbaceous marsh in China ranges from 12 to 1400 g C m-2. Regions such as Northeast China and the Tibetan Plateau have lower biomass due to poor climate and environmental conditions, resulting in short herbaceous plants with low coverage. Conversely, central North China and coastal regions exhibit higher biomass. In the Tibetan Plateau, the biomass of herbaceous marsh decreases with increasing elevation.

Interestingly, the study also found that in temperate arid and semi-arid regions and temperate humid and semi-humid regions, the aboveground biomass of herbaceous marsh vegetation decreases with the aggravation of drought. On the other hand, in the temperate humid and semi-humid region, the aboveground biomass of herbaceous marsh vegetation is relatively larger in warmer regions.

Aboveground biomass of vegetation is a crucial index for estimating the carbon storage of marsh vegetation. The average aboveground biomass density of China's herbaceous marsh vegetation was found to be approximately 227.5 g C m-2.

This large-scale survey on wetland resources in China involved institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences and several Chinese universities. The results of this study will undoubtedly contribute to a better understanding of China's marsh wetlands and aid in the development of effective strategies for their conservation and management.

Herbaceous marsh vegetation's above-ground mass and the pattern of its spatial distribution within China