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Understanding the Influences of Spatial Patterns on N Availability Within the Brazilian Amazon Forest.
- Source :
-
Ecosystems . Dec2008, Vol. 11 Issue 8, p1234-1246. 13p. 5 Charts, 3 Graphs. - Publication Year :
- 2008
-
Abstract
- Nitrogen variations at different spatial scales and integrated across functional groups were addressed for lowland tropical forests in the Brazilian Amazon as follows: (1) how does N availability vary across the region over different spatial scales (regional × landscape scale); (2) how are these variations in N availability integrated across plant functional groups (legume × non-legume trees). Leaf N, P, and Ca concentrations as well the leaf N isotope ratios (δ15N) from a large set of legume and non-legume tree species were measured. Legumes had higher foliar N/Ca ratios than non-legumes, consistent with the high energetic costs in plant growth associated with higher foliar P/Ca ratios found in legumes than in non-legumes. At the regional level, foliar δ15N decreased with increasing rainfall. At the landscape level, N availability was higher in the forests on clayey soils on the plateau than in forests on sandier soils. The isotope as well as the non-isotope data relationships here documented, explain to a large extent the variation in δ15N signatures across gradients of rainfall and soil. Although at the regional level, the precipitation regime is a major determinant of differences in N availability, at the landscape level, under the same precipitation regime, soil type seems to be a major factor influencing the availability of N in the Brazilian Amazon forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *NITROGEN
*FORESTS & forestry
*RAINFALL probabilities
*SOILS
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 14329840
- Volume :
- 11
- Issue :
- 8
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Ecosystems
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 35260942
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-008-9189-1