Figure 2. Diurnal changes of soil respiration rate, soil temperature and air temperature.

Complete diurnal courses of soil respiration were measured for seven alpine meadows and two alpine steppes on the Tibetan Plateau. Vertical bars indicate the standard error of the measurement mean (n = 5–7) for each time. (A), Haibei, Kobresia and Festuca mixed meadow; (B), Haibei, Kobresia tibetica meadow; (C), Haibei, Kobresia pygmaea meadow; (D) Naqu, Kobresia pygmaea meadow; (E) Naqu, Kobresia tibetica meadow; (F) Tianjun, Stipa purpurea steppe; (G) Fenghuoshan, Kobresia pygmaea meadow; (H) Qumalai, Kobresia pygmaea meadow; (I) Qumalai, Festuca steppe.