Effect of climate change on C:N pools in a fringe boreal watershed: Will it complement long-term atmospheric N inputs?
Stottlemyer R. 1993. Effect of climate change on C:N pools in a fringe boreal watershed: Will it complement long-term atmospheric N inputs?. Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America. 74(2):445-446
The objective of this ongoing study is to assess if possible changes in the nitrogen cycle, as predicted from global climate scenarios for temperature and moisture, might complement long-term inorganic precipitation nitrogen (N) inputs to boreal forests of Isle Royale. Change in ecosystem c is dependent on nutrient status especially N. Present atmospheric contaminant inputs of N (>6 kg ha 1 yr- 1 ) exceed the ecological requirements of major boreal forest species. A decade of boreal watershed-level study shows strong N retention (92%) . Large organic (21% of above-ground biomass) and N reservoirs (>550 kg ha- 1) in the forest floor suggest higher content of recalcitrant compounds and high C:N ratios especially beneath conifers. Inputs of mineral atmospheric N inputs could reduce C:N ratios and accelerate N mineralization. This would accentuate atmospheric N inputs likely favoring conifers and possibly leading to N saturation.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Stottlemyer, Robert
- Units
- ISRO
- Keywords
- Acid Deposition, boreal watershed ecosystem, Ecology, Global Climate Change, Nutrient Cycling, Physical Sciences, Soils