Nutrient Loss Accelerated by Clear-Cutting of a Forest Ecosystem

Bormann, Franz–Josef; Likens, Gene E.; Fisher, Donald; Pierce, Robert S.

doi:10.1126/science.159.3817.882

Cited by 222 publications

(110 citation statements)

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“…Nitrate export to stream water increases after deforestation because of reduced plant uptake, and increased rates of N mineralization and nitrification in upland soils (1, 4). Dramatic increases in streamwater NO 3 Ϫ fluxes followed whole watershed deforestation experiments in 1965-1968, 1974 -1976 , and 1983. Despite differences in the severity of the deforestation treatment, all watersheds showed a similar pattern of nitrogen loss (3, 5).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

In-stream uptake dampens effects of major forest disturbance on watershed nitrogen export

Bernhardt

Likens

Buso

et al. 2003

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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153

134

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O ne of the major findings of the long-term Hubbard BrookEcosystem Study is that disturbance of northern hardwood forests results in increased watershed losses of nitrogen (primarily as NO 3 Ϫ ) (1-4). Nitrate export to stream water increases after deforestation because of reduced plant uptake, and increased rates of N mineralization and nitrification in upland soils (1, 4). Dramatic increases in streamwater NO 3 Ϫ fluxes followed whole watershed deforestation experiments in 1965-1968, 1974 -1976 , and 1983. Despite differences in the severity of the deforestation treatment, all watersheds showed a similar pattern of nitrogen loss (3, 5). After a winter cutting or logging disturbance, NO 3 Ϫ concentrations in streams increased during the following growing season and peaked during the second growing season in a consistent pattern (Fig. 1A). The magnitude of the streamwater response varied with the type and intensity of disturbance.The ice storm that struck New England in January 1998 was the most severe of the century (6) and as such provided a natural corollary to previous deforestation experiments. After the ice storm, there was extensive tree canopy damage (Ͼ50% loss) in a narrow elevation band (600-740 m in elevation) across the south-facing watersheds (7). The impact was estimated at 30% canopy loss for two well studied watersheds (watersheds 1 and 6) at Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest (HBEF) (7,8).This natural disturbance provided us with the unique opportunity to confirm several major paradigms of our long-term studies: (i) that forest disturbance leads to reduced watershed retention of nitrogen and increased export of NO 3 Ϫ in stream water (1, 2, 9-11); (ii) that solute pulses added to streams are rapidly attenuated (12-16); and (iii) that this attenuation is often the result of in-stream retention and processing, which are important regulators of nutrient export from watersheds (14,15,(17)(18)(19). MethodsSite Description. This research was done in two south-facing watersheds within the HBEF. Both watersheds 1 (W1) and 6 (W6) are small (11.8 and 13.2 hectares, respectively) and have not had any active land use change since forest harvesting ceased around 1920. The HBEF is located in north central New Hampshire (43°56ЈN, 71°45ЈW), and has a cool continental climate. Most of the basin is forested by American beech (Fagus grandifolia), sugar maple (Acer saccharum), and yellow birch (Betula allegheniensis). Both streams drain steep forest watersheds and have a characteristic stairstep sequence of waterfalls and pools with a substrate of cobbles and boulders. Ϫ , we multiplied the volume-weighted concentration by the total annual water yield from each site. Previous work at HBEF has demonstrated a strong relationship between watershed area and stream discharge in these watersheds, thus we calculated discharge and nutrient flux (discharge times nutrient concentration) at the damage-zone sampling site by multiplying discharge at the weir by the proportional watershed area of the subwatershed above the damag...

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

In-stream uptake dampens effects of major forest disturbance on watershed nitrogen export

Bernhardt

Likens

Buso

et al. 2003

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

Self Cite

153

134

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“…It should be noted that the initial increase (June 1966) in stream water nitrate concentration in \V2 occurred 16 days before the application of the Bromacil and at the same time the nitrate concentration in the stream water from the undisturbed watershed showed the normal latespring decline (Fig. 7;Bormann, et al, 1968).…”

Section: Ammonium and Nitratementioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Forest Cutting and Herbicide Treatment on Nutrient Budgets in the Hubbard Brook Watershed‐Ecosystem

Likens¹,

Bormann²,

Johnson³

et al. 1970

Ecological Monographs

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1,075

533

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Abstract. All vegetation on Watershed 2 of the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest was cut during November and December of 1965, and vegetation regrowth was inhibited for two years by periodic application of herbicides. Annual stream-flow was increased 33 em or 39% the first year and 27 em or 28% the second year above the values expected if the watershed were not deforested.Large increases in streamwater concentration were observed for all major ions, except NH 4 +, S0 4 = and HC0 3 -, approximately five months after the deforestation. Nitrate concentrations were 41-fold higher than the undisturbed condition the first year and 56-fold higher the second. The nitrate concentration in stream water has exceeded, almost continuously, the health levels recommended for drinking water. Sulfate was the only major ion in stream water that decreased in concentration after deforestation. An inverse relationship between sulfate and nitrate concentrations in stream water was observed in both undisturbed and deforested situations. Average streamwater concentrations increased by 417% for Ca++, 408% for Mg++, 1558% forK+ and 177% for Na+ during the two years subsequent to deforestation. Budgetary net losses from Watershed 2 in kg/ha-yr were about 142 for N0 3 -N, 90 for Ca++, 36 forK+, 32 for Si0 2 -Si, 24 for AI+++, 18 for Mg++, 17 for Na+, 4 for C!-, and 0 for SOrS during 1967-68; whereas for an adjacent, undisturbed watershed (W6) net losses were 9.2 for Ca + +, 1.6 for K +, 17 for Si0 2 -Si, 3.1 for AI+++, 2.6 for Mg+ +, 7.0 for Na +, 0.1 for Cl-, and 3.3 for SO~-S. Input of nitrate-nitrogen in precipitation normally exceeds the output in drainage water in the undisturbed ecosystems, and ammonium-nitrogen likewise accumulates in both the undisturbed and deforested ecosystems. Total gross export of dissolved solids, exclusive of organic matter, was about 75 metric tons/km2 in 1966'-67, and 97 metric tons/km2 in 1967-68, or about 6 to 8 times greater than would be expected for an undisturbed watershed.The greatly increased export of dissolved .nutrients from the deforested ecosystem was due to an alteration of the nitrogen cycle within the ecosystem.The drainage streams tributary to Hubbard Brook are normally acid, and as a result of deforestation the hydrogen ion content increased by 5-fold (from pH 5.1 to 4.3).Streamwater temperatures after deforestation were higher than the undisturbed condition during both summer and winter. Also in contrast to the relatively constant temperature in the undisturbed streams, stream water temperature after deforestation fluctuated 3-4 o C during the day in summer.Electrical conductivity increased about 6-fold in the stream water after deforestation and was much more variable.Increased streamwater turbidity as a result of the deforestation was negligible; however the particulate matter output was increased about 4-fold. Whereas the particulate matter is normally 50% inorganic materials, after deforestation preliminary estimates indicate that the proportion of inorganic materials increased to 76...

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“…(2) At this stage, a major biostratigraphical change (the zone La'M. 7-8 boundary) probably represents increases in the openness of surrounding vegetation (see below); the consequential increase in run-off (Bormann et al, 1968;Chadwick, 1975;Culleton & Mitchell, 1976) may have been sufficient to inundate the peat-forming vegetation. (3) The loch is a former mill loch (Loch a'Mhuilinn = ' Loch of the mill') which may have been managed in some manner since antiquity; the uppermost two radiocarbon dates (SRR-2757 and SRR-2774) suggest a 2nd millennium B.P.…”

Section: Pollen Analysis and Stratigraphymentioning

confidence: 99%

A POST‐GLACIAL POLLEN SEQUENCE FROM LOCH A'MHUILINN, NORTH ARRAN: A RECORD OF VEGETATION HISTORY WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE HISTORY OF ENDEMIC SORBUS SPECIES

Boyd

Dickson

1987

New Phytologist

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SUMMARYA sequence of lake muds and fen peat deposits from Loch a'Mhuilinn, north Arran, contains evidence for the local vegetation history for parts of the Flandrian Interglacial. The main components of this history are as follows:Sedimentation occurred under open-water conditions during early Flandrian times. By around 5000 B.P., fen peat was accumulating, and during the 2nd millenium B.P., an unexplained reversion to open-water conditions occurred.The earliest recorded vegetation immediately predates the Corylus rise and is characterized by Betula-rich woodland with Juniperus and Salix being present in places. The Corylus rise, occurring at around 8600 B.P., marks the beginning of a period of Corylus-r'ich Betula woodland. Subsequent increases of Ulmus, Quercus, Pinus and Alnus pollen represent further forest development. Fluctuations in the composition of this mixed forest are recognized, as can a distinction between areas of Betula-Quercus, Corylus-v'ich and Alnus-rich. woodland.At around 5000 B.P., the vegetational development, previously representing broad regional changes, appears to respond to local processes. Fluctuations in the proportions of trees and Gramineae pollen may reflect vegetational disturbance, although sedimentation processes may be influencing the pollen deposition at this time. This period is followed by apparently greater woodland stability, with minor indications of human activity. By around 4000 B.P., early stages of Calluna-rich heath are apparent. The development of the heath vegetation is not recorded, but by the 2nd millenium B.P., Calluna heath and grassland appear to be well established in north Arran.The history of Sorbus spp. is examined in as much detail as the fossil evidence allows. By around 6500 B.P., Sorbus aucuparia L. is present in the area, and by around 5400 B.P., evidence for non-aucuparia Sorbus species is present. This evidence may represent the former presence of 5. rupicola (Syme) Hedl. and/or one or both of the two endemic species S. arranensis Hedl. and 5. pseudofennica E. F. Warb.

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Nutrient Loss Accelerated by Clear-Cutting of a Forest Ecosystem

Cited by 222 publications

References 10 publications

In-stream uptake dampens effects of major forest disturbance on watershed nitrogen export

In-stream uptake dampens effects of major forest disturbance on watershed nitrogen export

Effects of Forest Cutting and Herbicide Treatment on Nutrient Budgets in the Hubbard Brook Watershed‐Ecosystem

A POST‐GLACIAL POLLEN SEQUENCE FROM LOCH A'MHUILINN, NORTH ARRAN: A RECORD OF VEGETATION HISTORY WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE HISTORY OF ENDEMIC SORBUS SPECIES

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