Forest Calcium Depletion and Biotic Retention Along a Soil Nitrogen Gradient
Forest calcium depletion and biotic retention along a soil nitrogen gradient Steven S. Perakis, Emily R. Sinkhorn, Christina E. Catricala, Thomas D. Bullen, John A. Fitzpatrick, Justin D. Hynicka, and Kermit Cromack, Jr. 2013. Forest calcium depletion and biotic retention along a soil nitrogen gradient. Ecological Applications 23:1947–1961. doi:10.1890/12-2204.1 10.1890/12-2204.1 Ecological Society of America Version of Record http://hdl.handle.net/1957/46931 http://cdss.library.oregonstate.edu/sa-termsofuse Ecological Applications, 23(8), 2013, pp. 1947–1961 Ó 2013 by the Ecological Society of America Forest calcium depletion and biotic retention along a soil nitrogen gradient 1,4 2 1 3 3 STEVEN S. PERAKIS, EMILY R. SINKHORN, CHRISTINA E. CATRICALA, THOMAS D. BULLEN, JOHN A. FITZPATRICK, 2 2 JUSTIN D. HYNICKA, AND KERMIT CROMACK,JR. 1U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, Oregon 97331 USA 2Oregon State University, Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Corvallis, Oregon 97331 USA 3U.S. Geological Survey, National Research Program, Menlo Park, California 94025 USA Abstract. High nitrogen (N) accumulation in terrestrial ecosystems can shift patterns of nutrient limitation and deficiency beyond N toward other nutrients, most notably phosphorus (P) and base cations (calcium [Ca], magnesium [Mg], and potassium [K]). We examined how naturally high N accumulation from a legacy of symbiotic N fixation shaped P and base cation cycling across a gradient of nine temperate conifer forests in the Oregon Coast Range. We were particularly interested in whether long-term legacies of symbiotic N fixation promoted coupled N and organic P accumulation in soils, and whether biotic demands by non-fixing vegetation could conserve ecosystem base cations as N accumulated.
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