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Spatial distributions of plants and gross N transformation rates in a forest soil

Bengtson, Per LU ; Falkengren-Grerup, Ursula LU and Bengtsson, Göran LU (2006) In Journal of Ecology 94(4). p.754-764
Abstract
1 This work demonstrates that spatial distribution of understorey vegetation and gross N transformation rates in a mixed beach-oak forest is closely correlated within a distance of a few metres. The findings imply that plant diversity and productivity have a major influence on gross rates of N transformation and vice versa.

2 A geostatistical analysis was used to evaluate the spatial relationships between abundance and species composition of the understorey vegetation and in situ gross N mineralization, NH4+ immobolization and nitrification rates.



3 The gross N transformation rates and the plants spatial variation were correlated within the forest, but plant distribution was more dependent on the fraction of... (More)
1 This work demonstrates that spatial distribution of understorey vegetation and gross N transformation rates in a mixed beach-oak forest is closely correlated within a distance of a few metres. The findings imply that plant diversity and productivity have a major influence on gross rates of N transformation and vice versa.

2 A geostatistical analysis was used to evaluate the spatial relationships between abundance and species composition of the understorey vegetation and in situ gross N mineralization, NH4+ immobolization and nitrification rates.



3 The gross N transformation rates and the plants spatial variation were correlated within the forest, but plant distribution was more dependent on the fraction of mineralized N that was nitrified than on individual N transformation rates.



4 The total cover of the understorey vegetation varied more in space than the species composition, and was higher in areas with high N transformation rates.



5 Plant species benefiting from high net nitrification rates were more common in areas with a low activity of mineralizing and nitrifying microorganisms, possibly because the net and gross rates were independent of each other. In fact, those species occurred most often in areas in which a large fraction of mineralized N was nitrified.



6 Beech and oak trees also had an effect on the spatial variation of the understorey vegetation. Beech trees provided conditions more suitable for plants benefiting from NO3-, whereas the vascular plant cover was greater under oak trees, probably in response to a higher light interception than under beech trees.



7 Oak generally had a positive impact on gross N transformation rates compared with beech, perhaps reflecting differences in litter quality and climate caused by the two species.



8 The influence of trees alone could not explain the full magnitude of the variation of N transformation rates or the presence of overlapping areas with high mineralization and immobilization rates. These were probably caused by other factors, such as soil moisture content.



9 This work sheds new light on the small-scale spatial links between above-ground plant diversity and abundance, and below-ground microbial N transformations. (Less)
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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of Ecology
volume
94
issue
4
pages
754 - 764
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • wos:000237972700004
  • scopus:33745256485
ISSN
1365-2745
DOI
10.1111/j.1365-2745.2006.01143.x
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
8426acfd-22fe-4b9c-a534-31a23b1c0c5c (old id 159620)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:03:21
date last changed
2024-01-08 06:40:41
@article{8426acfd-22fe-4b9c-a534-31a23b1c0c5c,
  abstract     = {{1 This work demonstrates that spatial distribution of understorey vegetation and gross N transformation rates in a mixed beach-oak forest is closely correlated within a distance of a few metres. The findings imply that plant diversity and productivity have a major influence on gross rates of N transformation and vice versa. <br/><br>
2 A geostatistical analysis was used to evaluate the spatial relationships between abundance and species composition of the understorey vegetation and in situ gross N mineralization, NH4+ immobolization and nitrification rates.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
3 The gross N transformation rates and the plants spatial variation were correlated within the forest, but plant distribution was more dependent on the fraction of mineralized N that was nitrified than on individual N transformation rates.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
4 The total cover of the understorey vegetation varied more in space than the species composition, and was higher in areas with high N transformation rates.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
5 Plant species benefiting from high net nitrification rates were more common in areas with a low activity of mineralizing and nitrifying microorganisms, possibly because the net and gross rates were independent of each other. In fact, those species occurred most often in areas in which a large fraction of mineralized N was nitrified.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
6 Beech and oak trees also had an effect on the spatial variation of the understorey vegetation. Beech trees provided conditions more suitable for plants benefiting from NO3-, whereas the vascular plant cover was greater under oak trees, probably in response to a higher light interception than under beech trees.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
7 Oak generally had a positive impact on gross N transformation rates compared with beech, perhaps reflecting differences in litter quality and climate caused by the two species.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
8 The influence of trees alone could not explain the full magnitude of the variation of N transformation rates or the presence of overlapping areas with high mineralization and immobilization rates. These were probably caused by other factors, such as soil moisture content.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
9 This work sheds new light on the small-scale spatial links between above-ground plant diversity and abundance, and below-ground microbial N transformations.}},
  author       = {{Bengtson, Per and Falkengren-Grerup, Ursula and Bengtsson, Göran}},
  issn         = {{1365-2745}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{754--764}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Journal of Ecology}},
  title        = {{Spatial distributions of plants and gross N transformation rates in a forest soil}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2745.2006.01143.x}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/j.1365-2745.2006.01143.x}},
  volume       = {{94}},
  year         = {{2006}},
}