Forest Floor and Mineral Soil Respiration Rates in a Northern Minnesota Red Pine Chronosequence

Powers, Matthew D.; Kolka, Randall K.; Bradford, John B.; Palik, Brian J.; Jürgensen, Martin F.

doi:10.3390/f9010016

Cited by 11 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 43 publications

(57 reference statements)

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“…Since tree height can be used as a proxy of GPP, the high SR rate in this site could be attributed to high GPP [ 11 , 31 , 71 , 84 – 86 ], which can provide substrates for root and microbial respiration through photosynthesis [ 71 , 87 ], supported by a significant positive relation between SR ref and dominant tree height ( Fig 5 and Table 5 ). Above- and below-ground tree size increases with age and, therefore, the growth of root biomass leads to higher SR as forest stands develop [ 39 , 88 – 90 ]. In this context, our findings suggest that after removing the effect of temperature, productivity and tree size are principal factors affecting SR.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil respiration variation along an altitudinal gradient in the Italian Alps: Disentangling forest structure and temperature effects

et al. 2021

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On the mountains, along an elevation gradient, we generally observe an ample variation in temperature, with the associated difference in vegetation structure and composition and soil properties. With the aim of quantifying the relative importance of temperature, vegetation and edaphic properties on soil respiration (SR), we investigated changes in SR along an elevation gradient (404 to 2101 m a.s.l) in the southern slopes of the Alps in Northern Italy. We also analysed soil physicochemical properties, including soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N) stocks, fine root C and N, litter C and N, soil bulk densities and soil pH at five forest sites, and also stand structural properties, including vegetation height, age and basal area. Our results indicated that SR rates increased with temperature in all sites, and 55–76% of SR variability was explained by temperature. Annual cumulative SR, ranging between 0.65–1.40 kg C m-2 yr-1, decreased along the elevation gradient, while temperature sensitivity (Q10) of SR increased with elevation. However, a high SR rate (1.27 kg C m-2 yr-1) and low Q10 were recorded in the mature conifer forest stand at 1731 m a.s.l., characterized by an uneven-aged structure and high dominant tree height, resulting in a nonlinear relationship between elevation and temperature. Reference SR at 10°C (SRref) was unrelated to elevation, but was related to tree height. A significant negative linear relationship was found between bulk density and elevation. Conversely, SOC, root C and N stock, pH, and litter mass were best fitted by nonlinear relationships with elevation. However, these parameters were not significantly correlated with SR when the effect of temperature was removed (SRref). These results demonstrate that the main factor affecting SR in forest ecosystems along this Alpine elevation gradient is temperature, but its regulating role can be strongly influenced by site biological characteristics, particularly vegetation type and structure, affecting litter quality and microclimate. This study also confirms that high elevation sites are rich in SOC and more sensitive to climate change, being prone to high C losses as CO2. Furthermore, our data indicate a positive relationship between Q10 and dominant tree height, suggesting that mature forest ecosystems characterized by an uneven-age structure, high SRref and moderate Q10, may be more resilient.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil respiration variation along an altitudinal gradient in the Italian Alps: Disentangling forest structure and temperature effects

et al. 2021

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“…Studies have also described effects of tree size on F CO2 in forest ecosystems, generally finding higher F CO2 in the immediate neighborhood of larger trees [25][26][27][28][29][30]. However, counterexamples exist [10,31], and several chrono sequence studies have found reduced F CO2 with stand age in even-aged plantations [32,33], or no consistent relationship [34]. Rodríguez-Calcerrada et al, [35] tested for associations between visible crown health indicators and F CO2 in an open woodland in Spain but found that increased plant recruitment near declining trees offset potential reductions in F CO2 related to tree decline.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking Soil CO2 Efflux to Individual Trees: Size-Dependent Variation and the Importance of the Birch Effect

Schurman

Thomas

2021

Soil Systems

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Soil CO2 efflux (FCO2) is a major component of the terrestrial carbon (C) cycle but challenges in explaining local variability hamper efforts to link broad-scale fluxes to their biotic drivers. Trees are the dominant C source for forest soils, so linking tree properties to FCO2 could open new avenues to study plant-soil feedbacks and facilitate scaling; furthermore, FCO2 responds dynamically to meteorological conditions, complicating predictions of total FCO2 and forest C balance. We tested for proximity effects of individual Acer saccharum Marsh. trees on FCO2, comparing FCO2 within 1 m of mature stems to background fluxes before and after an intense rainfall event. Wetting significantly increased background FCO2 (6.4 ± 0.3 vs. 8.6 ± 0.6 s.e. μmol CO2 m−2s−1), with a much larger enhancement near tree stems (6.3 ± 0.3 vs. 10.8 ± 0.4 μmol CO2 m−2s−1). FCO2 varied significantly among individual trees and post-rain values increased with tree diameter (with a slope of 0.058 μmol CO2 m−2s−1cm−1). Post-wetting amplification of FCO2 (the ‘Birch effect’) in root zones often results from the improved mobility of labile carbohydrates and further metabolization of recalcitrant organic matter, which may both occur at higher densities near larger trees. Our results indicate that plant-soil feedbacks change through tree ontogeny and provide evidence for a novel link between whole-system carbon fluxes and forest structure.

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“…However, counterexamples exist [e.g., 10,31], and several chronosequence studies have found reduced FCO2 with stand age in even-aged plantations [e.g., 32,33], or no consistent relationship [e.g., 34]. Rodríguez-Calcerrada et al, [35] [36], and there is evidence for declines in whole-tree leaf area through ontogeny [37].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking Soil CO<sub>2</sub> Efflux to Individual Trees: Size-Dependent Variation and the Importance of the Birch Effect

Thomas¹,

Schurman²

2020

Preprint

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Soil CO2 efflux (FCO2) plays a dominant role in the terrestrial carbon (C) cycle but interpreting constraints on local observations is impeded by challenges in disentangling belowground CO2 sources. Trees contribute most C to forest soils, so linking aboveground properties to FCO2 could open new avenues to study plant-soil feedbacks and facilitate scaling; furthermore, FCO2 responds dynamically to meteorological conditions, complicating predictions of total FCO2 and forest C balance. We tested for proximity effects of individual Acer saccharum Marsh. trees on FCO2, comparing FCO2 within 1 m of mature stems to background fluxes before and after an intense rainfall event. Wetting significantly increased background FCO2 (6.4±0.3 vs. 8.6±0.6 s.e. μmol CO2 m-2s-1), with a much larger enhancement near tree stems (6.3±0.3 vs. 10.8±0.4 μmol CO2 m-2s-1). FCO2 varied significantly among individual trees and post-rain values increased with tree diameter (with a slope of 0.058 μmol CO2 m-2s-1 cm-1). Post-wetting amplification of FCO2 (the ‘Birch effect’) in root zones often results from the improved mobility of labile carbohydrates and further metabolization of recalcitrant organic matter, which may both occur at higher densities near larger trees. Our results indicate that plant-soil feedbacks change through tree ontogeny and provide evidence for a novel link between whole-system carbon fluxes and forest structure.

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Forest Floor and Mineral Soil Respiration Rates in a Northern Minnesota Red Pine Chronosequence

Cited by 11 publications

References 43 publications

Soil respiration variation along an altitudinal gradient in the Italian Alps: Disentangling forest structure and temperature effects

Soil respiration variation along an altitudinal gradient in the Italian Alps: Disentangling forest structure and temperature effects

Linking Soil CO2 Efflux to Individual Trees: Size-Dependent Variation and the Importance of the Birch Effect

Linking Soil CO<sub>2</sub> Efflux to Individual Trees: Size-Dependent Variation and the Importance of the Birch Effect

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