Impacts of climate and disturbance on nutrient fluxes and stoichiometry in mixed-conifer forests

Yang, Yuanheng; Berhe, Asmeret Asefaw; Hunsaker, Carolyn T.; Johnson, Dale W.; Safeeq, Mohammad; Barnes, Morgan; McCorkle, E. P.; Stacy, E.; Bales, Roger; Bart, R. R.; Goulden, Michael L.; Hart, Stephen C.

doi:10.1007/s10533-021-00882-9

Cited by 3 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 99 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In seasonally dry forests, nutrient cycling processes are sensitive to changes in temperature and precipitation (Allen et al., 2017; Berner et al., 2017; Serrano‐Ortiz et al., 2015). Thus, climate warming will impact the amount of total and available N and P in soils (Hou et al., 2018; Yang et al., 2022), indirectly influencing ecosystem productivity and C storage.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate Warming Alters Nutrient Storage in Seasonally Dry Forests: Insights From a 2,300 m Elevation Gradient

Yang

Berhe

Bales

et al. 2022

Global Biogeochemical Cycles

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Understanding potential response of forest carbon (C) and nutrient storage to warming is important for climate mitigation policies. Unfortunately, those responses are difficult to predict in seasonally dry forests, in part, because ecosystem processes are highly sensitive to both changes in temperature and precipitation. We investigated how warming might alter stocks of C, nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) in vegetation and the entire regolith (soil + weathered bedrock or “saprock”) using a space‐for‐time substitution along a bioclimatic gradient in the Sierra Nevada, California. The pine‐oak and mixed‐conifer forests between 1,160–2,015 m elevation have more optimal climates (not too dry or hot) for ecosystem productivity, soil weathering, and cycling of essential elements than the oak savannah (405 m) and subalpine forest (2,700 m). We found decreases in overstory vegetation nutrient stocks with decreasing elevation because of enhanced water limitation and greater occurrence of disturbances. Stocks of C, N, and P in the entire regolith peaked at the pine‐oak and mixed‐conifer forests across the bioclimatic gradient, driven by thicker regolith profiles and greater nutrient input rates. These observations suggest long‐term warming will decrease ecosystem nutrient storage at the warmer, transitional pine‐oak zone, but will increase nutrient storage at the colder, subalpine zone. Assuming steady‐state conditions, we found the mean residence time of ecosystem C decreased with projected rising air temperatures and increased following a major drought event across the bioclimatic gradient. Our study emphasizes potentially elevation‐dependent changes in nutrient storage and C persistence with warming in seasonally dry forests.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate Warming Alters Nutrient Storage in Seasonally Dry Forests: Insights From a 2,300 m Elevation Gradient

Yang

Berhe

Bales

et al. 2022

Global Biogeochemical Cycles

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…None of the hysteresis metrics were different between the control catchment and catchments receiving prescribed fire (burn only and burn combined with thinning; Figure 6), suggesting low severity prescribed fire did not impact sediment sources and transport intensity. This again can be attributed to a combination of low‐severity prescribed fire, implementation of best management practises and the confounding drought period (Lydersen et al, 2019; USDA, 2011; Yang et al, 2022). Significant hillslope erosion and sediment transport have been observed under prescribed fire immediately followed by substantial rainfall events (Benavides‐Solorio & MacDonald, 2001; Pierson et al, 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The exponential relationships between hysteresis metrics (log-transformed) and catchment area, and the quadratic relationship between hysteresis metrics (log-transformed) and relief at the Kings River Experimental Watersheds: Minimum unit-area suspended sediment concentration (SSC) versus area (a) and relief (b); maximum unit-area SSC versus area (c) and relief (d); and the unit-area SSC speed versus area (e) and relief (f) intensity. This again can be attributed to a combination of lowseverity prescribed fire, implementation of best management practises and the confounding drought period (Lydersen et al, 2019;USDA, 2011;Yang et al, 2022). Significant hillslope erosion and sediment transport have been observed under prescribed fire immediately followed by substantial rainfall events (Benavides-Solorio & MacDonald, 2001;Pierson et al, 2009).…”

Section: Impacts Of Forest Thinning and Prescribed Fire On Sediment S...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sediment yields in headwater catchments have often been reported because of their importance to water quality, ecosystem nutrient balances and downstream habitats (Kjelland et al, 2015;Olson & Hawkins, 2017;Stacy et al, 2015Stacy et al, , 2019Yang et al, 2022). Studies of sediment yield alone, however, provide limited information on the source and transport of suspended sediment useful for managing erosion and sediment delivery.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In montane headwater basins, suspended sediment is derived from multiple sources, including: channel bed and bank erosion; raindrop splash, sheetwash, rill and gully erosion on hillslopes; erosion from unpaved roads and other disturbed areas; mass movement; and resuspension of in‐channel sediment that was previously deposited (Arismendi et al, 2017; Bryan, 2000; Gomi et al, 2005; Leonard et al, 1979). Sediment yields in headwater catchments have often been reported because of their importance to water quality, ecosystem nutrient balances and downstream habitats (Kjelland et al, 2015; Olson & Hawkins, 2017; Stacy et al, 2015, 2019; Yang et al, 2022). Studies of sediment yield alone, however, provide limited information on the source and transport of suspended sediment useful for managing erosion and sediment delivery.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Impacts of climate and forest management on suspended sediment source and transport in montane headwater catchments

Yang

Safeeq

Wagenbrenner

et al. 2022

Hydrological Processes

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Suspended sediment transport in montane headwaters is important to water quality and nutrient balances. However, predictions of sediment source and transport can be difficult, in part, because of a changing climate and increasing frequencies of disturbances. We used observations from 10 headwater streams in water year (WY; starting on 1st October ending on 30th September) 2007-2009 and 2013-2018 to determine the potential impacts of climate and forest management on suspended sediment delivery. We analysed hysteretic responses of suspended sediment for 76 events in five headwater catchments within a snow-dominated site and another five within a lower-elevation, rain-snow transition site, in the mixed-conifer zone of California's Sierra Nevada. Hysteresis patterns were predominantly clockwise at both sites, suggesting localized sediment sources such as streambeds and banks. The warmer, transition site exhibited a lower proportion of clockwise-loop events, faster transport speed and higher peak sediment concentrations than the snow-dominated site. This suggests extended sediment sources and increases in transport can occur as currently snow-dominated areas become rain-snow transitional. Over the nine water years, we observed similar hysteresis effects amongst years under drought, near-average, and extremely wet conditions. Hence, fluctuations in precipitation amounts across years may not influence sediment source area substantially. Furthermore, we compared hysteresis metrics between the control, thin only, burn only and thin combined with burn catchments during the posttreatment period (WY 2013(WY -2018. Hysteresis effects remained unchanged amongst treatments, which may be attributed to the combinations of low-intensity operations implemented with best management practises combined with a four-year drought (WY 2013(WY -2016. Taken together, sediment sources in small headwater catchments will probably remain localized with changing precipitation levels and low-intensity management operations, but it may be extended and potentially lead to higher sediment yields as the main hydrologic input shifts from primarily snow to a mix of rain and snow.

show abstract

The Median Isn’t the Message: soil nutrient hot spots have a disproportionate influence on biogeochemical structure across years, seasons, and depths

Barnes,

Johnson,

Hart

2024

Biogeochemistry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Soil nutrient distribution is heterogeneous in space and time, potentially altering nutrient acquisition by trees and microorganisms. Ecologists have distinguished “hot spots” (HSs) as areas with enhanced and sustained rates of nutrient fluxes relative to the surrounding soil matrix. We evaluated the spatial and temporal patterns in nutrient flux HSs in two mixed-conifer forest soils by repeatedly sampling the soil solution at the same spatial locations (horizontally and vertically) over multiple seasons and years using ion exchange resins incubated in situ. The climate of these forests is Mediterranean, with intense fall rains occurring following summers with little precipitation, and highly variable winter snowfall. Hot spots formed most often for NO3− and Na+. Although nutrient HSs often occurred in the same spatial location multiple times, HSs persisted more often for PO43− NH4+, and NO3−, and were more transient for Ca2+, Mg2+, and Na+. Sampling year (annual precipitation ranged from 558 to 1223 mm) impacted the occurrence of HSs for most nutrients, but season was only significant for PO43−, NH4+, NO3−, and Na+, with HSs forming more often after fall rains than after spring snowmelt. The frequency of HSs significantly decreased with soil depth for all nutrients, forming most commonly immediately below the surficial organic horizon. Although HSs accounted for less than 17% of the sampling volume, they were responsible for 56–88% of PO43−, NH4+, and NO3− resin fluxes. Our results suggest that macronutrient HSs have a disproportional contribution to soil biogeochemical structure, with implications for vegetation nutrient acquisition strategies and biogeochemical models. Graphical abstract

show abstract

Impacts of climate and disturbance on nutrient fluxes and stoichiometry in mixed-conifer forests

Cited by 3 publications

References 99 publications

Climate Warming Alters Nutrient Storage in Seasonally Dry Forests: Insights From a 2,300 m Elevation Gradient

Climate Warming Alters Nutrient Storage in Seasonally Dry Forests: Insights From a 2,300 m Elevation Gradient

Impacts of climate and forest management on suspended sediment source and transport in montane headwater catchments

The Median Isn’t the Message: soil nutrient hot spots have a disproportionate influence on biogeochemical structure across years, seasons, and depths

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About