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Intact amino acid uptake by northern hardwood and conifer trees

  • Ecosystem Ecology - Original Paper
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Abstract

Empirical and modeling studies of the N cycle in temperate forests of eastern North America have focused on the mechanisms regulating the production of inorganic N, and assumed that only inorganic forms of N are available for plant growth. Recent isotope studies in field conditions suggest that amino acid capture is a widespread ecological phenomenon, although northern temperate forests have yet to be studied. We quantified fine root biomass and applied tracer-level quantities of U–13C2–15N-glycine, 15NH4 + and 15NO3 − in two stands, one dominated by sugar maple and white ash, the other dominated by red oak, beech, and hemlock, to assess the importance of amino acids to the N nutrition of northeastern US forests. Significant enrichment of 13C in fine roots 2 and 5 h following tracer application indicated intact glycine uptake in both stands. Glycine accounted for up to 77% of total N uptake in the oak–beech–hemlock stand, a stand that produces recalcitrant litter, cycles N slowly and has a thick, amino acid-rich organic horizon. By contrast, glycine accounted for only 20% of total N uptake in the sugar maple and white ash stand, a stand characterized by labile litter and rapid rates of amino acid production and turnover resulting in high rates of mineralization and nitrification. This study shows that amino acid uptake is an important process occurring in two widespread, northeastern US temperate forest types with widely differing rates of N cycling.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Great Mountain Forest Corporation, Jody Bronson and Frank Christinat for providing logistical support at the Great Mountain Forest; the state of Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, Natural Area Preserves Program for granting us access to the forests on the Canaan Mountain; Sinlan Poo for laboratory assistance. This research complies with the current laws of United States and was supported by a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture to A. C. F. A. G. B. was a collaborator, via a fellowship under the OECD Co-operative Research Programme: Biological Resource Management for Sustainable Agriculture Systems.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Street, Boston, MA, 02215, USA

    Anne Gallet-Budynek, Edward Brzostek, Vikki L. Rodgers, Jennifer M. Talbot, Sharon Hyzy & Adrien C. Finzi

  2. INRA, UMR1220 TCEM, 33883, Villenave d’Ornon, France

    Anne Gallet-Budynek

  3. Math and Science Division, Babson College, Kriebel Hall, Babson Park, MA, 02457, USA

    Vikki L. Rodgers

  4. Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of California, 361 Steinhaus Hall, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA

    Jennifer M. Talbot

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  1. Anne Gallet-Budynek
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  5. Sharon Hyzy
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  6. Adrien C. Finzi
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Correspondence to Anne Gallet-Budynek.

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Communicated by Jason Kaye.

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Gallet-Budynek, A., Brzostek, E., Rodgers, V.L. et al. Intact amino acid uptake by northern hardwood and conifer trees. Oecologia 160, 129–138 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-009-1284-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-009-1284-2

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