How does sample preparation affect the δ<sup>15</sup>N values of terrestrial ecological materials?

Brearley, Francis Q.

doi:10.1002/jpln.200900005

Cited by 8 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Our drying protocol for the biomass measurements involved drying at temperatures much higher than that recommended for leaf δ 15 N analyses, e.g. Brearley () found that drying plant materials >60°C can affect the δ 15 N signatures to a significant degree. Also, soil samples were not collected simultaneously to those used for the biomass measurements.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant nitrogen and phosphorus utilization under invasive pressure in a montane ecosystem of tropical China

Lei

Tan

et al. 2018

Journal of Ecology

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Exotic plant invasion has been changing the vegetation composition and function of terrestrial ecosystems. Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are often the limiting nutrients for terrestrial plants. However, under invasive pressure, in situ plant N and P usage mechanisms remain poorly understood but are pivotal for a better understanding of plant invasion and coexistence in invaded ecosystems. Nitrogen and P concentrations, natural 15N abundance (δ15N values) were investigated in leaves and soils under different invasive pressures (here expressed as the biomass percentages of invasive plants in each plot) for two invasive species (Chromolaena odorata and Ageratina adenophora) in Xishuangbanna in tropical China. Soil N and P concentrations revealed the relatively N‐rich but P‐poor status of our study site. Under invasion, soil inorganic N (dominated by ammonium) and available P did not increase significantly. The leaf N and P of invasive plants increased, while leaf N increased but P decreased for native species. Natural δ15N mass balance between leaves and soil inorganic N sources revealed that ammonium dominated N utilization in both natives and invaders. Invasive plants showed ammonium utilization with increasing leaf N levels, while native plants under no invasion showed nitrate utilization with increasing leaf N levels. Synthesis. Increased soil ammonium availability contributed to preferential ammonium utilization by invasive plants and elevated ammonium utilization in natives, but the P competition of natives decreased in invaded ecosystems. These novel insights into nutrient dynamics in invaded ecosystems enhance our understanding of plant invasion and coexistence mechanisms.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant nitrogen and phosphorus utilization under invasive pressure in a montane ecosystem of tropical China

Lei

Tan

et al. 2018

Journal of Ecology

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“…Samples were dried at 60°C to constant mass and ground for analysis. Drying at 60 vs 105°C can alter δ 15 N values by up to 0.5‰ relative to each other and 1‰ relative to air‐dried controls (Brearley, 2009), so comparisons across sample types (foliage vs soil vs other) should take this into account.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Declining foliar and litter δ¹⁵N diverge from soil, epiphyte and input δ¹⁵N along a 120 000 yr temperate rainforest chronosequence

et al. 2011

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Summary Patterns in the natural abundance of nitrogen (N) isotopes (15N and 14N) can help in the understanding of ecosystem processes along environmental gradients, because some processes fractionate against the heavier isotope. We measured δ15N in many components of the Franz Josef soil chronosequence in New Zealand to see how each component varied along the sequence and within sites, and to see what this variation can tell us about how ecosystem processes such as N losses change with soil age. We analyzed δ15N in foliage from 18 woody species, abscised leaves from seven woody species, three soil horizons, bryophytes, lichens, bulk deposition, and nodules from the N‐fixing tree Coriaria arborea (Coriariaceae). Foliar δ15N varied significantly across plant species. Foliage and bulk litter became 15N‐depleted as soil age increased. Soil N from organic and mineral horizons was significantly more 15N‐enriched than bulk litter N at each site. Increasing precipitation also decreased foliar and soil δ15N. Comparing input and whole ecosystem δ15N revealed limited evidence for net fractionation during N losses. These trends are consistent with some combination of increasing fractionation during plant N uptake, mycorrhizal transfer, within‐plant processing, and soil decomposition as soils age.

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“…The N isotopic composition was expressed as d 15 N in parts per thousand (&; Chalk et al 2015). Prior to isotopic analysis, vegetation samples were dried at 40°C for 24 h and soil samples were separated from bulk root material and air dried (Brearley 2009). Dried samples were ground using a ball mill, and 2-4 mg of vegetation sample and 60-80 mg of soil sample packed into tin capsules.…”

Section: Natural Nitrogen Abundance and Distribution Among Frost Boilsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Salix arctica changes root distribution and nutrient uptake in response to subsurface nutrients in High Arctic deserts

Muller

Hardy

Mamet

et al. 2017

Ecology

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Moisture is critical for plant success in polar deserts but not by the obvious pathway of reduced water stress. We hypothesized that an indirect, nutrient-linked, pathway resulting from unique water/frozen soil interactions in polar deserts creates nutrient-rich patches critical for plant growth. These nutrient-rich patches (diapirs) form deep in High Arctic polar deserts soils from water accumulating at the permafrost freezing front and ultimately rising into the upper soil horizons through cryoturbated convective landforms (frost boils). To determine if diapirs provide an enhanced source of plant-available N for Salix arctica (Arctic willow), we characterized soil, root, stem, and leaf N natural abundance across 24 diapir and non-diapir frost boils in a High Arctic granitic semi-desert. When diapir horizons were available, S. arctica increased its subsurface (i.e., diapir) N uptake and plant root biomass doubled within diapir. Plant uptake of enriched N injected into organic rich soil patches was 2.5-fold greater in diapir than in non-diapir frost boils. S. arctica percent cover was often higher (7.3 ± 1.0 [mean ± SE]) on diapiric frost boils, compared to frost boils without diapirs (4.4 ± 0.7), potentially reflecting the additional 20% nitrogen available in the subsurface of diapiric frost boils. Selective N acquisition from diapirs is a mechanism by which soil moisture indirectly enhances plant growth. Our work suggests that diapirs may be one mechanism contributing to Arctic greening by shrub expansion.

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How does sample preparation affect the δ¹⁵N values of terrestrial ecological materials?

Cited by 8 publications

References 22 publications

Plant nitrogen and phosphorus utilization under invasive pressure in a montane ecosystem of tropical China

Plant nitrogen and phosphorus utilization under invasive pressure in a montane ecosystem of tropical China

Declining foliar and litter δ¹⁵N diverge from soil, epiphyte and input δ¹⁵N along a 120 000 yr temperate rainforest chronosequence

Salix arctica changes root distribution and nutrient uptake in response to subsurface nutrients in High Arctic deserts

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How does sample preparation affect the δ15N values of terrestrial ecological materials?

Cited by 8 publications

References 22 publications

Plant nitrogen and phosphorus utilization under invasive pressure in a montane ecosystem of tropical China

Plant nitrogen and phosphorus utilization under invasive pressure in a montane ecosystem of tropical China

Declining foliar and litter δ15N diverge from soil, epiphyte and input δ15N along a 120 000 yr temperate rainforest chronosequence

Salix arctica changes root distribution and nutrient uptake in response to subsurface nutrients in High Arctic deserts

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How does sample preparation affect the δ¹⁵N values of terrestrial ecological materials?

Declining foliar and litter δ¹⁵N diverge from soil, epiphyte and input δ¹⁵N along a 120 000 yr temperate rainforest chronosequence