Abstract: Carbon cycling in the alpine tundra of Changbai Mountains plays a unique role in the climate change of this region.In 2003,a field study was conducted to investigate the carbon distribution and storage in the plant,litter and soil of alpine tundra ecosystems at the elevations from 1950 to 2650 m.Four sampling plots were set up along the elevation transect,with an interval of 100 m.The plot size was 0.2?0.2 m,and all the plants in the plot were harvested.Soil bulk density was determined by the cutting-ring method at the depths of 5 cm and 15 cm.The results showed that the carbon storage of vegetation communities was typical alpine tundra(TT) > stony alpine tundra(ST) > meadow alpine tundra(MT) > swamp alpine tundra(WT) > rock sea alpine tundra(RT).The biomass of litter was 0.991 kg穐m^-2穣r^-1 in average,which was decreased in order of TT>ST>MT>RT>WT.The net storage of organic carbon was 3.6471?10⁵ t in the plant-soil system of Changbai Mountains,and the carbon storage of vegetation,litter and soil pool was(3.3457?10⁴t),(1.5053?10⁴ t) and(3.1620?10⁵ t),respectively.Plant stored(1.7251?10⁴t) carbon each year,and(1.5043?10⁴ t) of them entered into soil through litter-fall.The annual soil respiration rate was(1.4105?10⁴ t)穣r^-1.After vegetation succession stabilized,the average carbon storage was 3146 t穣r^-1.The alpine tundra of Changbai Mountains was the sink of CO₂.

Key words: Degrading bacterium, Methyl parathion, Pesticide residue, Degrading rate