Evidence of temperature control of production and nutrient cycling in two interior Alaska black spruce ecosystems

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Forest Research
• Main Authors: Cleve, Keith Van, Barney, Richard, Schlentner, Robert
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1981
• Subjects: Ecology; Forestry; Global and Planetary Change; north slope; permafrost; Alaska
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/x81-035; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/x81-035

Selected indices of structure and function were used to evaluate the effect of differing soil thermal regimes on soil-permafrost-dominated (muskeg) and permafrost-free (north-slope) black spruce ecosystems in interior Alaska. The poorly drained, permafrost site displayed cooler soil temperatures and higher soil moisture content than were encountered on the well-drained north slope. Mineral soil nutrient pools generally were largest on the permafrost site. However, low soil temperature acted as a negative feedback control, suppressing soil biological activity, nutrient mineralization, and tree primary production to lower levels on the soil-permafrost-dominated site as compared with the permafrost-free site. Forty percent larger accumulation of tree biomass and 80% greater annual tree productivity occurred on the warmer site.