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Ecosystem carbon & nitrogen cycling across a precipitation gradient of the central Great Plains

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dc.contributor.authorKnapp, A. K., author
dc.contributor.authorLauenroth, W. K., author
dc.contributor.authorBurke, I. C., author
dc.contributor.authorMcCulley, R. L., author
dc.contributor.authorSGS-LTER, Colorado State University, publisher
dc.date.accessioned2007-01-03T07:03:16Z
dc.date.available2007-01-03T07:03:16Z
dc.date.issued2005
dc.descriptionThe SGS-LTER research site was established in 1980 by researchers at Colorado State University as part of a network of long-term research sites within the US LTER Network, supported by the National Science Foundation. Scientists within the Natural Resource Ecology Lab, Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, and Biology Department at CSU, California State Fullerton, USDA Agricultural Research Service, University of Northern Colorado, and the University of Wyoming, among others, have contributed to our understanding of the structure and functions of the shortgrass steppe and other diverse ecosystems across the network while maintaining a common mission and sharing expertise, data and infrastructure.
dc.descriptionColorado State University. Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory; Colorado State University. Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship; Colorado State University. Department of Soil and Crop Sciences; Colorado State University. Department of Biology; California State University, Fullerton; United States. Agricultural Research Service; University of Northern Colorado.
dc.description.abstractRegional analyses have shown that ecosystem pools of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) increase as precipitation increases from the semi-arid shortgrass steppe to the tallgrass prairie of the Central Great Plains. Models based on our functional understanding of biogeochemical processes predict that ecosystem C and N fluxes also increase across this community gradient; however, few field flux data exist to evaluate these predictions. We measured decomposition rates, soil respiration, and in situ net nitrogen mineralization at five sites across a precipitation gradient in the Great Plains region. Soil respiration (SResp) and the decomposition constant, k, for common substrate litter bags were significantly higher in the sub-humid mixed and tallgrass prairie (growing season average mid-day SResp = 7.20 μmol CO2 m-2 sec-1, k = 0.66 yr-1) than the semi-arid shortgrass steppe (SResp = 4.55 μmol CO2 m-2 sec-1, k = 0.32 yr-1). In contrast, in situ net nitrogen mineralization was not significantly different across sites. The C flux data concur with predictions from current biogeochemical models; however, the in situ net nitrogen mineralization results do not. We hypothesize that this discrepancy results from the difficulties associated with measuring in situ net nitrogen mineralization in soils with vastly different immobilization potentials.
dc.format.mediumborn digital
dc.format.mediumPresentation slides
dc.format.mediumposters
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10217/85106
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherColorado State University. Libraries
dc.relation.ispartofPresentations
dc.rightsCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.
dc.subjectshortgrass steppe
dc.subjectCentral Plains Experimental Range
dc.subjectPawnee National Grassland
dc.subjectlong term ecological research
dc.subjectgrassland ecology
dc.titleEcosystem carbon & nitrogen cycling across a precipitation gradient of the central Great Plains
dc.typeText

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