Research methodology on carbon pool dynamics in the typical wetland of Yangtze river estuary

Wetlands play an important role in carbon balance of nature and global climate regulation. In China, the huge area of wetlands in Yangtze River estuary is internationally recognized as the eco-sensitive zone. Of this region, taking Chongming Dongtan wetland, which is the typical ecosystem of Yangtze River estuary, as the representative site for the long-term research on carbon pool and the establishment of experiment station. Based on the objective of estimation of the interrelationship and response mechanism between dynamic carbon pool and climate change, we brought forward and set up the research methodology and experimental facilities focusing on carbon process through "Soil-Plant-Atmosphere" continuum, stand carbon/water/energy flux (by eddy-covariance monitoring), environment-controlled experiments on vegetation growth (by open top chambers), application of process-based model on the effects of climate change on wetland carbon cycle (by validation and re-test with multi-resource dataset). Accordingly, the purpose of this work are (1) to understand the spatial and temporal characteristics of carbon pool dynamics in the estuarial wetland of Yangtze River; (2) to investigate the key factors influencing the fluctuation of carbon balance in the wetland; (3) to evaluate the responses of carbon pools in Yangtze River estuary to climate change, further, to provide the suggestions on conservation and management strategies of carbon pools in the east coast of China.