Effect of climate change on C:N pools in a fringe boreal watershed: Will it complement long-term atmospheric N inputs

Conference · Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993 · Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America; (United States)

OSTI ID:6142646

Stottlemyer, R ^[1]

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1. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO (United States)

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 dependant on nutrient status especially N. Present atmospheric contaminant inputs of N (>6 kg ha[sup [minus]1] yr[sup [minus]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[sup [minus]1]) in the forest floor suggest higher content of recalcitrant compounds and high 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.

• OSTI ID: 6142646
• Report Number(s): CONF-930798-; CODEN: BECLAG
• Journal Information: Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America; (United States), Vol. 74:2; Conference: 78. annual Ecological Society of America (ESA) meeting, Madison, WI (United States), 31 Jul - 4 Aug 1993; ISSN 0012-9623
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BOREAL REGIONS
NITROGEN CYCLE
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
CLIMATIC CHANGE
BIOMASS
CONIFERS
FORESTS
ISLANDS
LAKE SUPERIOR
MINERALIZATION
ENERGY SOURCES
GREAT LAKES
LAKES
PINOPHYTA
PLANTS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SURFACE WATERS
540220* - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
540120 - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)