LAUSR

Soil respiration (Rs) is an important component of the terrestrial ecosystem carbon cycle and the main pathway for carbon transfer from the ecosystem to the atmosphere. Until recently, research has focused on the relationship between environmental factors and Rs, but the effect of litter and moss on Rs is poorly understood. Litter and moss are common forest⁃ floor components, particularly in northern conifer forests and possibly affect soil respiration by regulating soil temperature, water, and carbon input. Understanding the effect of litter and moss is fundamental to accurately evaluate the global carbon efflux. To evaluate the contribution of litter and moss to total Rs, we selected the Tianlaochi catchment in the Qilian Mountains, Qinghai as our study area. Rs of soil under the spruce forest was observed for three years using an LI⁃ 8100