| Abstract: | Effects of anthropogenic nitrogen (N) deposition and the ability of terrestrial ecosystems to store carbon (C) depend in part on the amount of N retained in the system and its partitioning among plant and soil pools. We conducted a meta-analysis of studies at 48 sites across four continents that used enriched 15N isotope tracers in order to synthesize information about total ecosystem N retention (i.e., total ecosystem 15N recovery in plant and soil pools) across natural systems and N partitioning among ecosystem pools. The greatest recoveries of ecosystem 15N tracer occurred in shrublands (mean, 89.5%) and wetlands (84.8%) followed by forests (74.9%) and grasslands (51.8%). In the short term (<1 week after 15N tracer application), total ecosystem 15N recovery was negatively correlated with fine-root and soil 15N natural abundance, and organic soil C and N concentration but was positively correlated with mean annual temperature and mineral soil C:N. In the longer term (3–18 months after 15N tracer application), total ecosystem 15N retention was negatively correlated with foliar natural-abundance 15N but was positively correlated with mineral soil C and N concentration and C: N, showing that plant and soil natural-abundance 15N and soil C:N are good indicators of total ecosystem N retention. Foliar N concentration was not significantly related to ecosystem 15N tracer recovery, suggesting that plant N status is not a good predictor of total ecosystem N retention. Because the largest ecosystem sinks for 15N tracer were below ground in forests, shrublands, and grasslands, we conclude that growth enhancement and potential for increased C storage in aboveground biomass from atmospheric N deposition is likely to be modest in these ecosystems. Total ecosystem 15N recovery decreased with N fertilization, with an apparent threshold fertilization rate of 46 kg N·ha-1·yr-1 above which most ecosystems showed net losses of applied 15N tracer in response to N fertilizer addition. |
| Genre: | Article |
| ProdID: | 70039616 |
| Citation Author: | Templer, P. H.; Mack, M. C.; Chapin, F. S., III; Christenson, L. M.; Compton, J. E.; Crook, H. D.; Currie, W. S.; Curtis, C. J.; Dail, D. B.; D'Antonio, C. M.; Emmett, B. A.; Epstein, H. E.; Goodale, C. L.; Gundersen, P. ; Hobbie, S. E.; Holland, K.; Hooper, D. U.; Hungate, B. A.; Lamontagne, S.; Nadelhoffer, K. J.; Osenberg, C. W.; Perakis, S. S.; Schleppi, P.; Schimel, J.; Schmidt, I. K.; Sommerkorn, M.; Spoelstra, J.; Tietema, A.; Wessel, W. W.; Zak, D. R. |
| Citation Contributing Office: | Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center |
| Citation Datum: | |
| Citation Day: | |
| Citation Edition: | |
| Citation Editor: | |
| Citation End Page: | 1829 |
| Citation Issue: | 8 |
| Citation Keywords: | |
| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Ecology |
| Citation LatN: | |
| Citation LatS: | |
| Citation LonE: | |
| Citation LonW: | |
| Citation Month: | |
| Citation No Pagination: | |
| Citation Number Of Pages: | 14 |
| Citation Online Only Flag: | |
| Citation Phsyical Description: | 14 p. |
| Citation Projection: | |
| Citation Public Comments: | |
| Citation Publisher: | ESA |
| Citation Series: | |
| Citation Series Code: | |
| Citation Series Number: | |
| Citation Search Results Text: | Sinks for nitrogen inputs in terrestrial ecosystems: a meta-analysis of 15N tracer field studies; 2012; Article; Journal; Ecology; Templer, P. H.; Mack, M. C.; Chapin, F. S., III; Christenson, L. M.; Compton, J. E.; Crook, H. D.; Currie, W. S.; Curtis, C. J.; Dail, D. B.; D‘Antonio, C. M.; Emmett, B. A.; Epstein, H. E.; Goodale, C. L.; Gundersen, P. ; Hobbie, S. E.; Holland, K.; Hooper, D. U.; Hungate, B. A.; Lamontagne, S.; Nadelhoffer, K. J.; Osenberg, C. W.; Perakis, S. S.; Schleppi, P.; Schimel, J.; Schmidt, I. K.; Sommerkorn, M.; Spoelstra, J.; Tietema, A.; Wessel, W. W.; Zak, D. R. |
| Citation Start Page: | 1816 |
| Citation Volume: | 93 |
| Citation Year: | 2012 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Sinks for nitrogen inputs in terrestrial ecosystems: a meta-analysis of 15N tracer field studies; 2012; Article; Journal; Ecology; Templer, P. H.; Mack, M. C.; Chapin, F. S., III; Christenson, L. M.; Compton, J. E.; Crook, H. D.; Currie, W. S.; Curtis, C. J.; Dail, D. B.; D‘Antonio, C. M.; Emmett, B. A.; Epstein, H. E.; Goodale, C. L.; Gundersen, P. ; Hobbie, S. E.; Holland, K.; Hooper, D. U.; Hungate, B. A.; Lamontagne, S.; Nadelhoffer, K. J.; Osenberg, C. W.; Perakis, S. S.; Schleppi, P.; Schimel, J.; Schmidt, I. K.; Sommerkorn, M.; Spoelstra, J.; Tietema, A.; Wessel, W. W.; Zak, D. R. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| URL (DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER): | http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/11-1146.1 |
| Date Other: | Tue, 14 Aug 2012 12:44 -0500 |
| Publisher: | ESA |
