The effect of repeated hurricanes on the age of organic carbon in humid tropical forest soil

Mayer, Allegra C.; McFarlane, Karis J.; Silver, Whendee L.

doi:10.1111/gcb.17265

Title: The effect of repeated hurricanes on the age of organic carbon in humid tropical forest soil

Journal Article · 30 March 2024 · Global Change Biology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.17265 · OSTI ID:2331348

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Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management University of California Berkeley Berkeley California USA, Center for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Livermore California USA, Physical and Life Sciences Directorate Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Livermore California USA
Center for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Livermore California USA
Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management University of California Berkeley Berkeley California USA

Abstract Increasing hurricane frequency and intensity with climate change is likely to affect soil organic carbon (C) stocks in tropical forests. We examined the cycling of C between soil pools and with depth at the Luquillo Experimental Forest in Puerto Rico in soils over a 30‐year period that spanned repeated hurricanes. We used a nonlinear matrix model of soil C pools and fluxes (“soilR”) and constrained the parameters with soil and litter survey data. Soil chemistry and stable and radiocarbon isotopes were measured from three soil depths across a topographic gradient in 1988 and 2018. Our results suggest that pulses and subsequent reduction of inputs caused by severe hurricanes in 1989, 1998, and two in 2017 led to faster mean transit times of soil C in 0–10 cm and 35–60 cm depths relative to a modeled control soil with constant inputs over the 30‐year period. Between 1988 and 2018, the occluded C stock increased and δ ¹³ C in all pools decreased, while changes in particulate and mineral‐associated C were undetectable. The differences between 1988 and 2018 suggest that hurricane disturbance results in a dilution of the occluded light C pool with an influx of young, debris‐deposited C, and possible microbial scavenging of old and young C in the particulate and mineral‐associated pools. These effects led to a younger total soil C pool with faster mean transit times. Our results suggest that the increasing frequency of intense hurricanes will speed up rates of C cycling in tropical forests, making soil C more sensitive to future tropical forest stressors.

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Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

OSTI ID:: 2331348

Journal Information:: Global Change Biology, Journal Name: Global Change Biology Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 30; ISSN 1354-1013

Publisher:: Wiley-BlackwellCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United Kingdom

Language:: English

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