Hydrological Control of Greenhouse Gas Fluxes in a Sierra Nevada Subalpine Meadow

Blankinship, Joseph C.; Hart, Stephen C.

doi:10.1657/1938-4246-46.2.355

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…Remnant water in mineral soils, combined with the well‐drained nature of this ecosystem, might explain why there was little variation in soil CO 2 flux despite extreme intra‐ and interannual variation in soil moisture. This pattern agrees with constant CO 2 fluxes along a soil moisture gradient in a Sierra Nevada subalpine meadow (Blankinship & Hart, ). Another possible explanation for relatively constant CO 2 production is the contribution of plant root respiration.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

“…This prediction was not supported in the ecosystem we studied, likely because these well‐drained soils were relatively dry during the entire snow‐free period—regardless of snowmelt timing—thus providing few wet microsites for nitrification and few anaerobic microsites for denitrification (Bateman & Baggs, ; Bollmann & Conrad, ). Sierra Nevada soils show low rates of N 2 O emission (Blankinship & Hart, ) compared to other snow‐covered ecosystems (e.g., Groffman, Hardy, Driscoll, & Fahey, ; Filippa et al, ). Rather, nitric oxide (NO) emission from soils appears more important in the Sierra Nevada, especially during the summer dry season (Homyak & Sickman, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Quantifying the legacy of snowmelt timing on soil greenhouse gas emissions in a seasonally dry montane forest

Blankinship

McCorkle

Meadows

et al. 2018

Global Change Biology

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The release of water during snowmelt orchestrates a variety of important belowground biogeochemical processes in seasonally snow‐covered ecosystems, including the production and consumption of greenhouse gases (GHGs) by soil microorganisms. Snowmelt timing is advancing rapidly in these ecosystems, but there is still a need to isolate the effects of earlier snowmelt on soil GHG fluxes. For an improved mechanistic understanding of the biogeochemical effects of snowmelt timing during the snow‐free period, we manipulated a high‐elevation forest that typically receives over two meters of snowfall but little summer precipitation to influence legacy effects of snowmelt timing. We altered snowmelt rates for two years using black sand to accelerate snowmelt and white fabric to postpone snowmelt, thus creating a two‐ to three‐week disparity in snowmelt timing. Soil microclimate and fluxes of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) were monitored weekly to monthly during the snow‐free period. Microbial abundances were estimated by potential assays near the end of each snow‐free period. Although earlier snowmelt caused soil drying, we found no statistically significant effects (p < 0.05) of altered snowmelt timing on fluxes of CO2 or N2O, or soil microbial abundances. Soil CH4 fluxes, however, did respond to snowmelt timing, with 18% lower rates of CH4 uptake in the earlier snowmelt treatment, but only after a dry winter. Cumulative CO2 emission and CH4 uptake were 43% and 88% greater, respectively, after the dry winter. We conclude that soil GHG fluxes can be surprisingly resistant to hydrological changes associated with earlier snowmelt, likely because of persistent moisture and microbial activities in deeper mineral soils. As a result, a drier California in the future may cause seasonally snow‐covered soils in the Sierra Nevada to emit more GHGs, not less.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantifying the legacy of snowmelt timing on soil greenhouse gas emissions in a seasonally dry montane forest

Blankinship

McCorkle

Meadows

et al. 2018

Global Change Biology

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“…Presently, the extent to which Sierra meadows are net sources or sinks of GHGs remains unresolved [ 10 ]. This lack of knowledge presents a barrier to restoration strategies designed to increase C sequestration or mitigate GHG fluxes [ 11 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Building flux capacity: Citizen scientists increase resolution of soil greenhouse gas fluxes

et al. 2018

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Though citizen science programs have been broadly successful in diverse scientific fields, their adoption has lagged in some disciplines, including soil science and ecosystem ecology. Collaborations with citizen scientists may be viewed as a conundrum in these disciplines, which often require substantial labor and technical experience; citizen scientists could improve sampling capacity but may reduce sample quality or require training and oversight prior to and while performing specialized tasks. To demonstrate the feasibility of incorporating citizen scientists into soil biogeochemistry research, we conducted a proof-of-concept study in high-elevation meadows of the Sierra Nevada in California. A collaboration between university researchers and citizen scientists allowed us to assess spatial and diel patterns of soil greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes with an intensity and frequency that would otherwise be beyond the capacity of a typical research laboratory. This collaboration with citizen scientists increased our sampling intensity by over 700% while only doubling the sampling error relative to that of full-time researchers. With training and support from project scientists, citizen scientists collected data that demonstrate spatial independence of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide at scales between 1 m and 175 m. Additionally, we found a lack of temporal variation over a 24-h period for all three GHGs. Citizen scientists participating in this one-day event reported levels of satisfaction commensurate with longer-term, immersive campaigns. The place-based event also proved an effective tool for teaching intangible concepts of soil biogeochemistry and promoting local conservation. Despite perceived barriers to entry, this study demonstrates the mutual benefits of citizen science collaborations in soil science and ecosystem ecology, encouraging adoption by disciplines that have been slow to take advantage of such collaborations. Short-term, local citizen science events can provide meaningful experiences for area residents and teach global biogeochemical cycles in a place-based context.

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Earlier snowmelt accompanied by warmer soil temperatures in mid-latitude aspen forest and subalpine meadow: Implications for soil carbon

2017

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Hydrological Control of Greenhouse Gas Fluxes in a Sierra Nevada Subalpine Meadow

Cited by 4 publications

References 62 publications

Quantifying the legacy of snowmelt timing on soil greenhouse gas emissions in a seasonally dry montane forest

Quantifying the legacy of snowmelt timing on soil greenhouse gas emissions in a seasonally dry montane forest

Building flux capacity: Citizen scientists increase resolution of soil greenhouse gas fluxes

Earlier snowmelt accompanied by warmer soil temperatures in mid-latitude aspen forest and subalpine meadow: Implications for soil carbon

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