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Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Storage in Upper Montane Riparian Meadows

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Abstract

Though typically limited in aerial extent, soils of high-elevation riparian wetlands have among the highest density of soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) of terrestrial ecosystems and therefore contribute disproportionally to ecosystem services such as water retention, forage production, wildlife habitat, and reactive N removal. Because much soil C and N is stored in labile forms in anaerobic conditions, management activities or environmental changes that lead to drying cause mineralization of labile soil organic matter, and loss of C and N. Meadows are focal points of human activities in mountain regions, often with incised stream channels from historically heavy grazing exacerbated by extreme runoff events. To quantify soil C and N stores in montane riparian meadows across hydrologic conditions, 17 meadows between 1950- and 2675-m elevation were selected in the central Sierra Nevada Range, California, that were classified using the proper functioning condition (PFC) system. Results indicate that C and N density in whole-solum soil cores were equivalent at forest edge positions of properly functioning, functioning at-risk, and nonfunctioning condition. Soils under more moist meadow positions in properly functioning meadows have at least twice the C, N, dissolved organic C, and dissolved organic N (DON) than those under nonfunctioning meadows. Densities of total N and DON, but not C, of functioning at-risk meadows are significantly lower (P < 0.05) than those of properly functioning meadows at mid-slope and stream-bank positions, suggesting accelerated loss of N early in degradation processes. Though variable, the soil attributes measured correspond well to the PFC riparian wetland classification system.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the Kearney Foundation of Soil Science, the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources analytical lab advisory committee, and the University of Wyoming College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. We thank Alex Janicki, soil scientist, and Jim Frazier, forest hydrologist, at the Stanislaus National Forest for help with the meadow classification and selection. Also thanks to Timothy Doane, Mary Innes, Jocelyn Glatthaar, Heather Enloe and Zachary Faulkner for their field and laboratory support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Renewable Resources, University of Wyoming, Dept. 3354, 1000 E. University Avenue, Laramie, Wyoming, 82071, USA

    Jay B. Norton & Hayley R. Olsen

  2. Helena National Forest, 2880 Skyway Drive, Helena, Montana, 59602, USA

    Laura J. Jungst

  3. Department of Plant Sciences, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, 82071, USA

    Urszula Norton

  4. Department of Plant Science, University of California Davis, Davis, California, 95616, USA

    Kenneth W. Tate

  5. Department of Land, Air, and Water Resources, University of California Davis, Davis, California, 95616, USA

    William R. Horwath

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  1. Jay B. Norton
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Correspondence to Jay B. Norton.

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Author Contributions

JBN and UN conceived of the study design and performed the research. Graduate students LJJ and HRO refined the study design and performed field and laboratory research. KWT and WRH contributed to the design and assisted with the research. JBN and LJJ wrote the paper with scientific and editorial review by UN, HRO, KWT, and WRH.

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Norton, J.B., Jungst, L.J., Norton, U. et al. Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Storage in Upper Montane Riparian Meadows. Ecosystems 14, 1217–1231 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-011-9477-z

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