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Using Elevation to Test Effects of Winter Climate Change on Fates of Litter-Derived Nitrogen

Abstract Details

2017, Master of Environmental Science, Miami University, Environmental Sciences.
The health of forest ecosystems depend on the recycling of key nutrients, especially nitrogen (N) (Bormann et al. 1977). A decline in N mineralization from high to low elevation at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest has been attributed to less snowpack at low elevations and the consequent disruption of its insulating effects on microbial activity (Campbell et al. 2009). A potential mechanism by which more frequent soil freezing causes lower ecosystem N recycling is more rapid movement of N from surface horizons, where N tends to be strongly retained, into mineral soils where there is greater potential for loss. This project investigates climate effects on N cycling using an elevation gradient in northeastern hardwoods at the HBEF. Movement of labile organic N from a single-year's litterfall was sensitive to winter climate for the first two winter seasons. Potentially-mineralizable 15N was higher in mineral soils in low elevations in the first growing season, but was higher in the Oe and mineral soil of high elevation sites in the second growing season. However, inorganic 15N in the mineral soil was markedly greater in high- than low-elevation sites during the first growing season. These results suggest more efficient retention of litter-derived N at higher elevation, but do not support the hypothesis that less winter snow cover promotes losses of litter derived N from mineral soil.
Melany Fisk (Advisor)
Jonathan Levy (Committee Member)
Tom Crist (Committee Member)
16 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Tiller, J. R. (2017). Using Elevation to Test Effects of Winter Climate Change on Fates of Litter-Derived Nitrogen [Master's thesis, Miami University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami151196764477985

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Tiller, Jenna. Using Elevation to Test Effects of Winter Climate Change on Fates of Litter-Derived Nitrogen . 2017. Miami University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami151196764477985.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Tiller, Jenna. "Using Elevation to Test Effects of Winter Climate Change on Fates of Litter-Derived Nitrogen ." Master's thesis, Miami University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami151196764477985

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)