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How is nitrogen fixation in the high arctic linked to greenhouse gas emissions?

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Abstract

Background and aims

Approximately 50 % of belowground organic carbon is present in the northern permafrost region and due to changes in climate there are concerns that this carbon will be rapidly released to the atmosphere. The release of carbon in arctic soils is thought to be intimately linked to the N cycle through the N cycle’s influence on microbial activity. The majority of new N input into arctic systems occurs through N2-fixation; therefore, N2-fixation may be the key driver of greenhouse gases from these ecosystems.

Methods

At Alexandra Fjord lowland, Ellesmere Island, Canada concurrent measurements of N2-fixation, N mineralization and nitrification rates, dissolved organic soil N (DON) and C, inorganic soil N and surface greenhouse gas fluxes (CO2, N2O and CH4) were taken in two ecosystem types (Wet Sedge Meadow and Dryas Heath) over the 2009 growing season (June-August). Using Structural Equation Modelling we evaluated the hypothesis that CO2, CH4 and N2O flux are linked to N2-fixation via the N cycle.

Results

The soil N cycle was linked to CO2 flux in the Dryas Heath ecosystem via DON concentrations, but there was no link between the soil N cycle and CO2 flux in the Wet Sedge Meadow. Methane flux was also not linked to the soil N cycle, nor surface soil temperature or moisture in either ecosystem. The soil N cycle was closely linked to N2O emissions but via nitrification in the Wet Sedge Meadow and inorganic N in the Dryas Heath, indicating the important role of nitrification in net N2O flux from arctic ecosystems.

Conclusions

Our results should be interpreted with caution given the high variability in both the rates of the N cycling processes and greenhouse gas flux found in both ecosystems over the growing season. However, while N2-fixation and other N cycling processes may play a more limited role in instantaneous CO2 emissions, these processes clearly play an important role in controlling N2O emissions.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by a NSERC Discovery to SDS, NSERC Northern Supplement to SDS, IPY CiCAT to SDS and DSC, NSTP to KJS and PCSP logistical support provided to SDS. GHR Henry’s facilitation of the Alexandra Fjord Long Term Ecological Research Station is gratefully acknowledged. Statistical advice from EG Lamb is acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Soil Science, University of Saskatchewan, 51 Campus Dr., Saskatoon, S7N 5A8, Canada

    Katherine J. Stewart, Martin E. Brummell & Steven D. Siciliano

  2. Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, V2N 4Z9, Canada

    Darwyn S. Coxson

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  1. Katherine J. Stewart
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  2. Martin E. Brummell
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  3. Darwyn S. Coxson
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  4. Steven D. Siciliano
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Correspondence to Katherine J. Stewart.

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Stewart, K.J., Brummell, M.E., Coxson, D.S. et al. How is nitrogen fixation in the high arctic linked to greenhouse gas emissions?. Plant Soil 362, 215–229 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-012-1282-8

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