High Foliar and Soil Nitrogen Concentrations in Central Appalachian Forests |
| |
Authors: | S C Davis K E Dragan C R Buyarski R B Thomas |
| |
Institution: | (1) Department of Biology, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 6057, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, USA |
| |
Abstract: | Regional topography and climate variation yield differences in ecosystem attributes that make spatially scaled estimates of
forest productivity challenging. Foliar nitrogen is a primary indicator of forest ecosystem productivity and is used in regional
estimates of terrestrial productivity, but this characteristic has not been well described in the Central Appalachian region.
Here we describe foliar and soil N variation among species and elevations at two spatial scales in the Central Appalachian
region: (1) across the Elklick watershed in the Fernow Experimental Forest and (2) across the state of West Virginia. We found
higher foliar N concentrations at both scales than those previously reported for other temperate forest regions. Canopy and
soil nitrogen concentrations were also much greater in the Fernow than generally observed across West Virginia. Soil N concentrations
in the Fernow were two times greater than those observed across West Virginia. Species-related differences were observed at
both spatial scales, but were not always consistent. Canopy N ranges are generally consistent across elevations throughout
the state of West Virginia, but should be scaled according to species-related elevation effects for studies that estimate
productivity differences in response to harvest or changing species composition. The incongruence of foliar and soil N concentrations
at the Fernow Experimental Forest are not explained by elevation or species composition, but are likely a consequence of greater
historical N and H+ deposition relative to the surrounding West Virginia region. |
| |
Keywords: | soil nitrogen foliar N Central Appalachian West Virginia hardwood species spatial variation ecosystem scaling canopy N eastern U S hardwood forests topography Fernow Experimental Forest |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |