Calcium constrains plant control over forest ecosystem nitrogen cycling

Groffman, Peter M.; Fisk, Melany C.

doi:10.1890/11-0461.1

Cited by 31 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…However, it is unclear whether/how much within-watershed variation there is in the degree of chemical weathering or in the availability of cations to organisms. If present, landscape-scale variation in cation availability may have ecosystem consequences, since cation availability can influence decomposition and tree growth (Tripler et al, 2006;Kaspari et al, 2009), nitrogen cycling (Groffman and Fisk, 2011), microbial activity (Whittinghill and Hobbie, 2012) and root ingrowth (Cuevas and Medina, 1988).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking geomorphology, weathering and cation availability in the Luquillo Mountains of Puerto Rico

et al. 2015

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking geomorphology, weathering and cation availability in the Luquillo Mountains of Puerto Rico

et al. 2015

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“…In contrast, Ca can reduce the mobility and solubility of dissolved organic matter (OM) in some mineral soils by forming cation bridges that stabilize OM and reduce decomposition, leading to greater OM retention (Muneer and Oades 1989, Romkens et al 1996, Chan and Heenan 1999, Oste et al 2002, Mikutta et al 2007. Recent work has also demonstrated that increased Ca availability can lead to greater N uptake by plants and reduced microbial N cycling, thereby reducing potential ecosystem N losses via leaching (Groffman and Fisk 2011a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forest liming increases forest floor carbon and nitrogen stocks in a mixed hardwood forest

Melvin

Lichstein

Goodale

2013

Ecological Applications

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In acid-impacted forests, decreased soil pH and calcium (Ca) availability have the potential to influence biotic and abiotic controls on carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling. We investigated the effects of liming on above- and belowground C and N pools and fluxes 19 years after lime addition to the Woods Lake Watershed, Adirondack Park, New York, USA. Soil pH and exchangeable Ca remained elevated in the forest floor and upper mineral soil of limed areas. Forest floor C and N stocks were significantly larger in limed plots (68 vs. 31 Mg C/ha, and 3.0 vs. 1.5 Mg N/ha), resulting from a larger mass of Oa material. Liming reduced soil basal respiration rates by 17% and 43% in the Oe and Oa horizons, respectively. Net N mineralization was significantly lower in the limed soils for both forest floor horizons. Additional measurements of forest floor depth outside of our study plots, but within the treatment and control subcatchments also showed a deeper forest floor in limed areas; however, the mean depth of limed forest floor was 5 cm shallower than that observed in our study plots. Using a differential equation model of forest floor C dynamics, we found that liming effects on C fluxes measured within our study plots could explain the small observed increase in the Oe C stock but were not large enough to explain the increase in the Oa. Our catchment-wide assessment of forest floor depth, however, indicates that our plot analysis may be an overestimate of ecosystem-scale C and N stocks. Our results suggest that the mechanisms identified in our study, primarily liming-induced reduction in decomposition rates, may account for much of the observed increase in forest floor C. These findings emphasize the importance of understanding of the effects of liming in hardwood forests, and the long-term impacts of acid deposition on forest C and N uptake and retention.

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“…Leaf element concentrations strongly affect the productivity, functioning, and nutrient cycling of plant communities, and thus the response of an ecosystem to global change (Kerkhoff et al ., 2005; Amatangelo & Vitousek, 2008; Mueller et al ., 2010). For example, calcium (Ca) constrains the ability of northern hardwood forest trees to control the availability and loss of nitrogen (Groffman & Fisk, 2011). However, leaf element concentrations are largely uncertain variables in global carbon‐cycling models (Ren et al ., 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Leaf element concentrations of terrestrial plants across China are influenced by taxonomy and the environment

Zhang

Slik

et al. 2011

Global Ecology and Biogeography

181

147

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Aim The productivity, functioning and biogeochemical cycles of terrestrial ecosystems are strongly affected by leaf element concentrations. Understanding the biological and ecological factors affecting leaf element concentrations is therefore important for modelling the productivity and nutrient fluxes of ecosystems and their responses to global change. The present study aimed to determine how leaf element concentrations are linked to taxonomy and the environment. Location China. Methods The concentrations of 10 leaf elements of 702 terrestrial plant species from different biomes were extracted from publications. The links between environmental variables, taxonomy and leaf elements were analyzed using phylogenetically comparative methods and partial Mantel tests. Results Taxonomy had stronger effects on leaf S and SiO2 than latitude, explaining 40.2–43.9% of total variation, whereas latitude had stronger effects on leaf N, P, K, Fe, Al, Mn, Na and Ca concentrations, explaining 19.5–52.1% of total variation. Leaf N, S, Al, Fe and Na concentrations were correlated with mean annual precipitation (MAP), while leaf N, P and Fe concentrations were correlated with mean annual temperature (MAT). Latitude, MAP and MAT were significantly correlated with the first axis of a principal components analysis (PCA). This first axis was associated with leaf elements involved in protein synthesis and photosynthesis. The other PCA axes, which were not correlated with MAT, latitude and MAP, were associated with leaf elements responsible for cell structure and enzymes. Main conclusions Leaf element concentrations of terrestrial plants in China were correlated with climate, latitude and taxonomy. With the exception of S and SiO2, the environmental factors were more important in explaining leaf element variation than taxonomy. Therefore, changes in temperature and precipitation will directly affect the spatial patterns of leaf elements and thus the associated nutrient fluxes and ecosystem functioning.

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Calcium constrains plant control over forest ecosystem nitrogen cycling

Cited by 31 publications

References 36 publications

Linking geomorphology, weathering and cation availability in the Luquillo Mountains of Puerto Rico

Linking geomorphology, weathering and cation availability in the Luquillo Mountains of Puerto Rico

Forest liming increases forest floor carbon and nitrogen stocks in a mixed hardwood forest

Leaf element concentrations of terrestrial plants across China are influenced by taxonomy and the environment

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