Ecological Archives E093-161-A1
P. H. Templer, M. C. Mack, F. S. Chapin, III, L. M. Christenson, J. E. Compton, H. D. Crook, W. S. Currie, C. J. Curtis, D. B. Dail, C. M. D'Antonio, B. A. Emmett, H. E. Epstein, C. L. Goodale, P. Gundersen, S. E. Hobbie, K. Holland, D. U. Hooper, B. A. Hungate, S. Lamontagne, K. J. Nadelhoffer, C. W. Osenberg, S. S. Perakis, P. Schleppi, J. Schimel, I. K. Schmidt, M. Sommerkorn, J. Spoelstra, A. Tietema, W. W. Wessel, and D. R. Zak. 2012. Sinks for nitrogen inputs in terrestrial ecosystems: a meta-analysis of 15N tracer field studies. Ecology 93:1816–1829. http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/11-1146.1
Appendix A (Table A1). Site characteristics and experimental design for 15N tracer studies included in this meta-analysis. "Ambient" includes studies that had plots with ambient levels of nitrogen availability. The amount of N added as fertilizer (+ values) or removed via blocking deposition with a roof (- values) is indicated. EU = Europe; NA = North America; SA = South America; NZ = New Zealand.
Site |
State, Country |
Continent |
Ecosystem type |
Ambient |
N added as fertilizer or removed with roof (kg·N·ha-1·yr-1) |
Total ecosystem %15N recovery |
Individual pools for %15N recovery |
References |
Abisko Nature Reserve |
Sweden | EU | Tundra | X | X | X | Grogan et al. (2004) | |
Aber | Wales | EU |
Evergreen forest |
35–75 | X | X |
Emmett et al. (1998); Nadelhoffer et al. (1999a); Tietema et al. (1998) |
|
Allt a'Mharcaidh |
Scotland | EU |
Shrubland, wetland |
X | X | X | Curtis et al. (2004, 2005) | |
Alptal | Switzerland | EU |
Evergreen forest, grassland |
X | 26 | X | X | Providoli et al. (2006) |
BearBrook |
Maine, USA |
NA |
Evergreen, Deciduous forest |
28–56 | X | Nadelhoffer et al. (1995, 1999b) | ||
Bonanza Creek |
Alaska, USA |
NA |
Evergreen, deciduous forest |
X | 50 | X | Chapin (unpublished data) | |
Brandalpynten | Norway | EU | Tundra | X | 5 | X | X | Tye et al. (2005) |
Cary Arboretum |
New York, USA |
NA | Deciduous forest | X | X | X |
Christenson et al. (2002); Lovett et al. (2002) |
|
Cascade Head |
Oregon, USA |
NA |
Evergreen, deciduous forest |
X | X | Compton (unpublished data) | ||
Catskill Mountains |
New York, USA |
NA |
Evergreen, deciduous forest |
X | 50 | X | X | Templer et al. (2005) |
Chiloe | Chile | SA |
Evergreen forest |
X | 2.5–640 | X | Perakis et al. (2005) | |
Experimental Lakes Area |
Canada | NA |
Evergreen forest |
38 | X | X | Lamontagne et al. (2000) | |
Falls Creek |
Oregon, USA |
NA |
Evergreen forest |
X | X | Compton (unpublished data) | ||
Fichtelgebirge | Germany | EU |
Evergreen forest |
X | X | X | Buchmann et al. (1996) | |
Florida scrub |
Florida, USA |
NA | Shrub | X | X | X | Hungate et al. (2006) | |
Gainesville |
Florida, USA |
NA |
Evergreen forest |
56–224 | X | X | Mead and Pritchett (1975) | |
Galbraith Lake |
Alaska, USA |
NA | Tundra | X | 30 | X | X | Chapin (unpublished data) |
Grandvillard | Switzerland | EU | Deciduous forest | X | X | X | Morier et al. (2008) | |
Green Mountain |
Canada | NA |
Evergreen forest |
200 | X | X | Preston et al. (1990) | |
Harvard forest |
MA, USA |
NA |
Evergreen, deciduous forest |
X | 50 | X | X |
Currie et al (1999, 2002); Micks et al. (2004), Nadelhoffer et al. (1999a,b, 2004) |
Helmer's Ridge |
Alaska, USA |
NA |
Evergreen forest |
X | X | X | Mack (unpublished data) | |
Howland |
Maine, USA |
NA |
Evergreen forest |
18 | X | X | Dail et al. (2009) | |
Ivantjarnsheden | Sweden | EU |
Evergreen forest |
100 | X | X | Melin et al. (1983) | |
Kaingaroa forest |
New Zealand | NZ |
Evergreen forest |
200 | X | Worsnop and Will (1980) | ||
Kirby Canyon |
California, USA |
NA | Grassland | X | X | X |
Hooper (1996); Hooper and Vitousek (1997) |
|
Klosterhede | Denmark | EU |
Evergreen forest |
X | 35 | X | X |
Gundersen (1998); Tietema et al. (1998) |
Lucas |
WA, USA |
NA |
Evergreen forest |
224 | X | X |
Heilman et al. (1982a,b) |
|
Melby | Denmark | EU | Shrub | X | X | Andresen and Michelsen (2005) | ||
Mols | Denmark | EU | Grassland | X | X | X |
Beier et al. (2004); Schmidt et al. (2004) |
|
Niwot Ridge |
Colorado, USA |
NA | Tundra | X | 20–60 | X | X |
Bowman and Seastedt (2001); Holland (2005) |
Ny-London | Norway | EU | Tundra | 5 | X | X | Tye et al. (2005) | |
Pawnee |
Colorado, USA |
NA | Grassland | 10–535 | X | X |
Clark (1977), Delgado et al. (1996), Epstein et al. (1998, 2001), Schimel et al. (1986) |
|
Pellston |
Michigan, USA |
NA | Deciduous forest | 30 | X | X |
Zak et al. (2004), Zogg et al. (2000) |
|
Pluvius |
WA, USA |
NA |
Evergreen forest |
224 | X | X |
Heilman et al. (1982a, b) |
|
Plynlimon | Wales | EU |
Grassland, shrubland, wetland |
X | X | X |
Crook (2004), Curtis et al. (2004, 2005) |
|
Rangiora | New Zealand | NZ |
Evergreen forest |
330 | X | X | Clinton and Mead (1994) | |
River Etherow |
England | EU | Shrub | X | X | X | Curtis et al. (2004, 2005) | |
Scoat Tarn | England | EU | Grassland | X | X | X | Curtis et al. (2004, 2005) | |
Speuld | Netherlands | EU |
Evergreen forest |
X | -39 | X | X | Koopmans et al. (1996, 1997) |
Spillimacheen | Canada | NA |
Evergreen forest |
100 | X | X | Preston and Mead (1994) | |
Stockholm | Sweden | EU |
Evergreen forest |
60 | X | X | Björkman et al. (1967) | |
Toad Creek |
Oregon, USA |
NA |
Evergreen forest |
X | X | Compton (unpublished data) | ||
Toms Point |
California, USA |
NA | Grassland | X | X | X | D'Antonio and Corbin (unpublished data) | |
Toolik Lake |
Alaska, USA |
NA | Tundra | X | 30–100 | X | X |
Hobbie and Chapin (unpublished data); Nadelhoffer et al. (1996); Nordin et al. (2004); Schmidt (unpublished data) |
Vosges | France | EU | Deciduous forest | X | X | X | Zeller et al. (2000) | |
Waquoit CS |
MA, USA |
NA |
Evergreen, deciduous forest |
X | X | X | Seely and Lajtha (1997) | |
Ysselsteyn | Netherlands | EU |
Evergreen forest |
X | -47 | X | Koopmans et al. (1996, 1997) |
Literature Cited
Andresen, L. C., and A. Michelsen. 2005. Off-season uptake of nitrogen in temperate heath vegetation. Oecologia 144:585–597.
Beier, C., I. K. Schmidt, and H. L. Kristensen. 2004. Effects of climate and ecosystem disturbances on biogeochemical cycling in a semi-natural terrestrial ecosystem. Water, Soil, Air Pollution: Focus 4:191–206.
Björkman, E., G. Lundeberg, and H. Nömmik. 1967. Distribution and balance of 15N labelled fertilizer nitrogen applied to young pine trees (Pinus silvestris L.). Studia forestalia Suecica 48:5–23.
Bowman, W. D., and T. R. Seastedt. 2001. Structure and Function of an Alpine Ecosystem: Niwot Ridge, Colorado. Oxford University Press, New York, New York, USA.
Buchmann, N., G. Gebauer, and E.-D. Schulze. 1996. Partitioning of 15N-labeled ammonium and nitrate among soil, litter, below- and above-ground biomass of trees and understory in a 15-year-old Picea abies plantation. Biogeochemistry 33:1–23.
Christenson, L. M., G. M. Lovett, M. J. Mitchell, and P. M. Groffman. 2002. The fate of nitrogen in gypsy moth frass deposited to an oak forest floor. Oecologia 131:444–452.
Clinton, P. W., and D. J. Mead. 1994. Competition for nitrogen between Pinus radiata and pasture. I. Recovery of 15N after one growing season. Canadian Journal forest Research 24:882–888.
Clark, F. E. 1977. Internal cycling of 15N in shortgrass prairie. Ecology 58:1322–1333.
Crook, H. D. 2004. Carbon and nitrogen cycling in upland wetlands: impacts of changing climate and atmospheric nitrogen deposition. PhD thesis. University of Reading, UK.
Currie, W. S., K. J. Nadelhoffer, and J. D. Aber. 1999. Soil detrital processes controlling the movement of 15N tracers to forest vegetation. Ecological Applications 9:87–102.
Currie, W. S., K. J. Nadelhoffer, and B. Colman. 2002. Long-term movement of 15N tracers into fine woody debris under chronically elevated N inputs. Plant and Soil 238:313–323.
Curtis, C. J., B. A. Emmett, B. Reynolds, and J. Shilland. 2004. Nitrate leaching from moorland soils: can soil C:N ratios indicate N saturation? Water, Air and Soil Pollution: Focus 4:359–369.
Curtis, C. J., B. A. Emmett, H. Grant, M. Kernan, B. Reynolds, and E. Shilland. 2005. Nitrogen saturation in UK moorlands: the critical role of bryophytes and lichens in determining retention of atmospheric N deposition. Journal of Applied Ecology 42:507–517.
Dail, D. B., D. Y. Hollinger, E. A. Davidson, I. Fernandez, H. C. Sievering, N. A. Scott, and E. Gaige. 2009. Distribution of nitrogen-15 tracers applied to the canopy of a mature spruce-hemlock stand, Howland, Maine, USA. Oecologia 160:589–599.
Delgado, J. A., A. R. Mosier, D. W. Valentine, D. S. Schimel, and W. J. Parton. 1996. Long term 15N studies in a catena of the shortgrass steppe. Biogeochemistry 32:41–52.
Emmett, B. A., O. J. Kjønaas, P. Gundersen, C. J. Koopmans, A. Tietema, and D. Sleep. 1998. Natural abundance of 15N in forests across a nitrogen deposition gradient. forest Ecology and Management 101:9–18.
Epstein, H. E., I. C. Burke, and A. R. Mosier. 1998. Plant effects on spatial and temporal patterns of nitrogen cycling in shortgrass steppe. Ecosystems 1:374–385.
Epstein, H. E., I. C. Burke, and A. R. Mosier. 2001. Plant effects on nitrogen retention in the shortgrass steppe 2 years after 15N addition. Oecologia 128:422–430.
Grogan, P., A. Michelson, P. Ambus, and S. Jonasson. 2004. Freeze-thaw regime effects on carbon and nitrogen dynamics in sub-arctic heath tundra mesocosms. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 36:641–654.
Gundersen, P. 1998. Effects of enhanced nitrogen deposition in a spruce forest at Klosterhede, Denmark, examined by moderate NH4NO3 addition. forest Ecology and Management 101:251–268.
Heilman, P. E., T. Dao, H. H. Cheng, S. R. Webster, and S. S. Harper. 1982a. Comparison of fall and spring applications of 15N-labeled urea to Douglas-Fir: I. Growth response and nitrogen levels in foliage and soil. Soil Science Society of America Journal 46:1293–1299.
Heilman, P. E., T. Dao, H. H. Cheng, S. R. Webster, and L. Christensen. 1982b. Comparison of fall and spring applications of 15N-labeled urea to Douglas-fir: II. Fertilizer nitrogen recovery in trees and soil after 2 years. Soil Science Society of America Journal 46:1300–1304.
Holland, K. J. 2005. Fate of nitrogen in alpine tundra. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA.
Hooper, D. U. 1996. The effects of plant functional group diversity on nutrient cycling in a California serpentine grassland. Ph.D. thesis. Stanford University, Stanford, California,
USA.
Hooper, D. U., and P. M. Vitousek. 1997. The effects of plant composition and diversity on ecosystem processes. Science 277:1302–1305.
Hungate, BA, DW Johnson, P Dijkstra, GJ Hymus, P Stiling, JP Megonigal, A Pagel, JL Moan, F Day, J-H Li, CR inkle, and BG Drake. 2006. Nitrogen cycling during seven years of atmospheric CO2 enrichment. Ecology 87:26–40.
Koopmans, C. J., A. Tietema, and A. W. Boxman. 1996. The fate of 15N enriched throughfall in two coniferous forest stands at different nitrogen deposition levels. Biogeochemistry 34:19–44.
Koopmans, C. J. , D. van Dam, A. Tietema, and J. M. Verstraten. 1997. Natural 15N abundance in two nitrogen saturated forest ecosystems. Oecologia 111:470–480.
Lamontagne, S., S. L. Schiff, and R. J. Elgood. 2000. Recovery of 15N-labelled nitrate applied to a small upland boreal forest catchment. Canadian Journal forest Research 30:1165–1177.
Lovett, G. M., L. M. Christenson, P. M. Groffman, C. G. Jones, J. E. Hart, and M. J. Mitchell. 2002. Insect defoliation and nitrogen cycling in forests. BioScience 52:335–341.
Mead, D. J., and W. L. Pritchett. 1975. Fertilizer movement in a slash pine ecosystem II. N distribution after two growing seasons. Plant and Soil 43:467–478.
Melin, J., H. Nömmik, U. Lohm, and J. Flower-Ellis. 1983. Fertilizer nitrogen budget in a Scots pine ecosystem attained by using root-isolated plots and 15N tracer technique. Plant and Soil 74:249–263.
Micks, P., M. R. Downs, A. H. Magill, K. J. Nadelhoffer, and J. D. Aber. 2004. Decomposing litter as a sink for 15N-enriched additions to an oak forest and a red pine plantation. forest Ecology and Management 196:71–87.
Morier, I., C. Guenat, R. Siegwolf, J.-C. Vedy, and P. Schleppi. 2008. Dynamics of atmospheric nitrogen deposition in a temperate calcareous forest soil. Journal of Environmental Quality 37:2012–2021.
Nadelhoffer, K. J., M. R. Downs, B. Fry, J. D. Aber, A. H. Magill, and J. M. Melillo. 1995. The fate of 15N-labelled nitrate additions to a northern hardwood forest in eastern Maine, USA. Oecologia 103:292–301.
Nadelhoffer, K. J., G. R. Shaver, B. Fry, A. E. Giblin, L. C. Johnson, and R. B. McKane. 1996. 15N natural abundances and N use by tundra plants. Oecologia 107:386–394.
Nadelhoffer, K. J., B. A. Emmett, P. Gundersen, O. J. Kjønaas, C. J. Koopmans, P. Schleppi, A. Tietema, and R. F. Wright. 1999a. Nitrogen deposition makes a minor contribution to carbon sequestration in temperate forests. Nature 398:145–148.
Nadelhoffer, K. J., M. R. Downs, and B. Fry. 1999b. Sinks for 15N-enriched additions to an oak forest and a red pine plantation. Ecological Applications 9:72–86.
Nadelhoffer, K. J., B. P. Colman, W. S. Currie, A. Magill, and J. D. Aber. 2004. Decadal-scale fates of 15N tracers added to oak and pine stands under ambient and elevated N inputs at the Harvard forest (USA). forest Ecology and Management 196:89–107.
Nordin, A., I. K. Schmidt, and G. R. Shaver. 2004. Nitrogen uptake by arctic soil microbes and plants in relation to soil nitrogen supply. Ecology 85:955–962.
Perakis, S. S., J. E. Compton, and L. O. Hedin. 2005. Nitrogen retention across a gradient of 15N additions to an unpolluted temperate forest soil in Chile. Ecology 86:96–105
Preston, C. M., V. G. Marshall, K. McCullough, and D. J. Mead. 1990. Fate of 15N-labelled fertilizer applied on snow at two forest sites in British Columbia. Canadian Journal of forest Research 20:1583–1592.
Preston, C. M., and D. J. Mead. 1994. Growth response and recovery of 15N-fertilizer one and eight growing seasons after application to lodgepole pine in British Columbia. forest Ecology and Management 65:219–229.
Providoli, I., H. Bugmann, R. Siegwolf, N. Buchmann, and P. Schleppi. 2006. Pathways and dynamics of 15NO3- and 15NH4+ applied in a mountain Picea abies forest and in a nearby meadow in central Switzerland. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 38:1645–1657.
Schimel, D. S., W. J. Parton, F. J. Adamsen, R. G. Woodmansee, R. L. Senft, and M. A. Stillwell. 1986. The role of cattle in the volatile loss of nitrogen from a shortgrass steppe. Biogeochemistry 2:39–52.
Schmidt, I. K., A. Tietema, D. Williams, P. Gundersen, C. Beier, B. A. Emmett, and M. Estiarte. 2004. Soil solution chemistry and element fluxes in three EUan heathlands and their response to warming and drought. Ecosystems 7:638–649.
Seely, B., and K. Lajtha. 1997. Application of a 15N tracer to simulate and track the fate of atmospherically deposited N in the coastal forests of the Waquoit Bay Watershed, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Oecologia 112:393–402.
Templer, P. H., G. Lovett, K. Weathers, S. Findlay, and T. Dawson. 2005. Influence of tree species on forest nitrogen retention in the Catskill Mountains, New York, USA. Ecosystems 8:1–16.
Tietema, A., B. A. Emmett, P. Gundersen, O. J. Kjønaas, and C. J. Koopmans. 1998. The fate of 15N-labelled nitrogen deposition in coniferous forest ecosystems. forest Ecology and Management 101:19–27.
Tye, A. M., S. D. Young, N. M. J. Crout, H. M. West, L. M. Stapleton, P. R. Poulton, and J. Laybourn-Parry. 2005. The fate of 15N added to high Arctic tundra to mimic increased inputs of atmospheric nitrogen released from a melting snowpack. Global Change Biology 11:1640–1654.
Worsnop, G., and G. M. Will. 1980. Fate of 15N urea fertiliser applied to a recently thinned Radiata pine stand on a pumice soil. New Zealand Journal of forestry Science 10:381–394.
Zak, D. R., K. S. Pregitzer, W. E. Holmes, A. J. Burton, and G. P. Zogg. 2004. Anthropogenic N deposition and the fate of 15NO3- in a northern hardwood ecosystem. Biogeochemistry 69:143–157.
Zeller, B., M. Colin-Belgrand, E. Dambrine, F. Martin, and P. Bottner. 2000. Decomposition of 15N-labelled beech litter and fate of nitrogen derived from litter in a beech forest. Oecologia 123:550–559.
Zogg, G. P., D. R. Zak, K. S. Pregitzer, and A. J. Burton. 2000. Microbial immobilization and the retention of anthropogenic nitrate in northern hardwood forests. Ecology 81:1858–1866.