Nitrogen dynamics in the forest floor of interior Alaska black spruce ecosystems

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Forest Research
• Main Authors: Weber, M. G., Cleve, K. Van
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1981
• Subjects: permafrost; Subarctic; Alaska
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/x81-106; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/x81-106

Low addition levels of high enrichment isotope (>1% of the total nitrogen pool with 99 at.% excess 15 N) were used to follow nitrogen movement through selected forest floor components of permafrost-free and permafrost-dominated black spruce ecosystems in subarctic Alaska. The nitrogen pool examined in this study was the total nitrogen pool. 15 N was retained most effectively by the feather moss layer (Pleuroziumschreberi (BSG.) Mitt. and Hylocomiumsplendens (Hedw.) BSG.) on both black spruce sites. Twenty-eight months after isotope application the feather moss layer still contained over 90% of the 15 N that could be recovered. The limited movement of 15 N between feather moss layers and underlying forest floor horizons appeared to be slightly affected by climatological events. Differences in 15 N movement patterns between permafrost-free and permafrost-dominated black spruce sites are discussed in terms of precipitation, soil temperature, and biological controls.