Yellow River Delta Research Station of Coastal Wetland Ecology (YRDS) is affiliated with Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and is the sole field academic station that specializes in comprehensive research of the China’s coastal wetland. YRDS, which is located in the Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve, was founded in 2009. After a three-year preparatory period, the station passed acceptance and was formally established by CAS in 2011.
The mission of YRDS is to explore the nature of the Yellow River Delta coastal zone and support its sustainable development. The major research focuses on the study of land-ocean interactions, biogeochemical processes and ecosystem stability of coastal wetlands, ecological restoration of degraded coastal wetlands in the Yellow River Delta, with particular attention to the influence of global climate change and human activities. The short-term goals of YRDS are to develop a theoretical, methodological and technological system of coastal wetland science, and to build a center of excellence in science and technology research in China. The long-term goal of YRDS is to become an internationally recognized coastal zone research platform involved in resource management, environmental protection, ecological processes, agricultural production and disaster prevention in coastal areas.
YRDS has constructed six surface observation fields from sea to land: estuarine / offshore, tidal wetland, non-tidal wetland, and farmland. In addition, along with atmospheric observation and water and salt observation, a stereoscopic observation system that covered the Yellow River Delta was formed. YRDS built 12 climate change manipulation experiments to understand the influence of global climate change and human activities on blue carbon sink of coastal wetlands.
YRDS has already made many significant achievements in natural science and sustainable development in the coastal zone and is currently undertaking hundreds of research projects supported by national, provincial and municipal governments. Especially YRDS has made remarkable achievements in “blue carbon” sink of coastal wetland. For example, based on 12 years (2010-2021) of continuous field monitoring, YRDS quantitatively assessed the blue carbon function of coastal wetlands in the Yellow River Delta. In addition, using the eddy covariance technique, YRDS investigated the response mechanism of blue carbon sink on precipitation distribution over a coastal wetland. Furthermore, based on field control experiments of natural extreme climate events, YRDS analyzed the superimposed effects of climate warming and extreme rainfall events on coastal wetland ecosystems the Yellow River Delta, and revealed the regulation mechanism of vegetation structure on ecosystem carbon cycle response to extreme climate changes in the future.
YRDS attaches great importance to international cooperation and exchange. It has built partnerships with many academic institutions and research organizations in USA, Germany, the UK and other countries. In addition, it is strengthening its cooperation with local governments, universities and large enterprises within China.
Figure 1. Field monitoring and observation
Figure 2. The campus of YRDS
(Edited by Fuchao Li)
(Editing Contact：xjz@xmu.edu.cn)