Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Impacts of forest gaps on soil properties and processes in old growth northern hardwood-hemlock forests

  • Regular Article
  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We examined the influence of treefall gaps on soil properties and processes in old growth northern hardwood-hemlock forests in the upper Great Lakes region, USA. We found significantly greater solar radiation, soil moisture contents and soil temperatures in gaps compared to adjacent closed canopy plots. Gaps had significantly less exchangeable base cations (K, Ca, and Mg) compared to forest plots in the upper mineral soil (0–25 cm). Gaps also had significantly more dissolved organic N and extractable nitrate at depth (25–50 cm), indicating increased nutrient leaching in gaps. In-situ N mineralization was significantly greater in gaps and edge plots compared to forest plots. We found significantly greater potential N mineralization (measured in the laboratory at 25°C and 40% water holding capacity) in forest compared to gap plots. Microbial biomass N was significantly greater (ca. two-fold) in the gap edge compared to both gaps and closed forest. Using principal component analyses we found that edge plots were positively correlated with all principal components, indicating increased in-situ and potential N mineralization, microbial biomass N, soil NO −3 and NH +4 , and soil organic matter. The gap edge may be a region of optimal microclimate and substrate to enhance microbial biomass and activity within these forest ecosystems.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

PMWSP:

Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park

HMC:

Huron Mountain Club

PMN:

Potential N mineralization

MBN:

Microbial biomass N

DON:

Dissolved organic N

SOM:

Soil organic matter

Nmin :

N mineralization (in-situ)

References

  • Arunachalam A, Maithani K, Pandey HN, Tripathi RS (1996) The impacts of disturbance on detrital dynamics and soil microbial biomass of a Pinus kesiyaforest in north-east India. For Ecol Manage 88:273–282

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bauhus J, Barthel R (1995) Mechanisms for carbon and nutrient release and retention within beech forest gaps. II. The role of soil microbial biomass. Plant Soil 168–169:585–592

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bauhus J (1996) C and N mineralization in an acid forest soil along a gap-stand gradient. Soil Biol Biochem 28:923–932

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bockheim JG (2003) Genesis of bisequal soils on acidic drift in the Upper Great Lakes region, U.S.A. Soil Sci Soc Am J 67:612–619

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bormann FH, Likens GE (1979) Pattern and process in a forested ecosystem. Springer-Verlag, New York, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Brookes PC, Landman A, Pruden G, Jenkinson DS (1985) Chloroform fumigation and the release of soil nitrogen: A rapid direct extraction method to measure microbial biomass nitrogen in soil. Soil Biol Biochem 17:837–842

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brumme R (1995) Mechanisms of carbon and nutrient release and retention in beech forest gaps. Plant Soil 168–169:593–600

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Busing RT, White PS (1997) Species diversity and small-scale disturbance in an old-growth temperate forest: a consideration of gap partitioning concepts. OIKOS 78:562–568

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cabrera ML, Beare MH (1993) Alkaline persulfate oxidation for determining total nitrogen in microbial biomass estimates. Soil Sci Soc Am J 57:1007–1012

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chapin FS, Matson PA, Mooney HA (2002) Principles of terrestrial ecosystem ecology. Springer-Verlag, New York, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen J (1991) Edge effects: microclimatic pattern and biological responses in old-growth Douglas-fir forests. Ph. D. Thesis, University of Washington

  • Collins BS, Pickett STA (1987) Influence of canopy opening on the environment and herb layer in a northern hardwoods forest. Vegetation 70:3–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Cruisemaster Prisms (2006) BAF 20 prism from Forestry Suppliers, Inc.

  • Curtis JT (1959) The vegetation of Wisconsin. University of Wisconsin Press, Madison, Wisconsin, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Denslow JS, Spies T (1990) Canopy gaps in forest research: an introduction. Can J For Res 20:619

    Google Scholar 

  • Denslow JS, Ellison AM, Sanford RE (1998) Treefall gap size effects on above- and below-ground processes in a tropical wet forest. J Ecol 86:597–609

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Drinkwater LE, Cambardella CA, Reeder J, Rice CW (1996) Potentially mineralizable nitrogen as an indicator of biologically active soil nitrogen. In: Doran JW, Jones AJ (eds) Methods for assessing soil quality. ASA, Madison, WI, USA, pp 217–229

    Google Scholar 

  • Forest Densiometers 2006 Model A spherical densiometer convex at Terratech.

  • Frelich LE, Lorimer CG (1991) Natural disturbance regimes in hemlock-hardwood forests of the upper Great Lakes region. Ecol Monogr 61:145–161

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frelich LE, Calcote RR, Davis MB (1993) Patch formation and maintenance in an old-growth hemlock hardwood forest. Ecology 74:513–527

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Forman RTT, Godron M (1986) Landscape ecology, Wiley, New York, USA

  • Gardner WH (1965) Water content. In: Black CA (ed) Methods of soil analysis, Part II. Agron. Monogr. 9. ASA, Madison, WI, USA

  • Gray AN, Spies TA, Easter MJ (2002) Microclimate and soil moisture responses to gap formation in coastal Douglas-fir forests. Can J For Res 32:332–343

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gundale MJ, Jolly WM, Deluca TH (2004) Susceptibility of a northern hardwood forest to exotic earthworm invasion. Conserv Biol 19:1075–1083

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hart SC, Nason GE, Myrold DD, Perry DA (1994a) Dynamics of gross nitrogen transformations in an old-growth forest: the carbon connection. Ecology 75:880–891

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hart SC, Stark JM, Davidson EA, Firestone MK (1994b) Nitrogen mineralization, immobilization, and nitrification. In: Mickelson SH (ed) Methods of soil analysis, Part 2. Microbiological and biochemical properties. Book series number 5. ASA, Madison, WI, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Hansen AJ, di Castri F (1992) Landscape boundaries consequences for biotic diversity and ecological flows. Springer, New York, USA

  • Jenny H (1994) Factors of soil formation. A system of quantitative pedology. Dover Publications, Inc. New York, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Joergensen RG, Mueller T (1996) The fumigation-extraction method to estimate soil microbial biomass: calibration of the kEN value. Soil Biol Biochem 28:33–37

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaiser EA, Mueller T, Joergensen RG, Insam H, Heinemeyer O (1992) Evaluation of methods to estimate the soil microbial biomass and the relationship with soil texture and organic matter. Soil Biol Biochem 27:675–683

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kucharik CJ, Brye KR, Norman JM, Foley JA, Gower ST, Bundy LG (2001) Measurements and modeling of carbon and nitrogen cycling in agroecosystems of southern Wisconsin: potential for SOC sequestration during the next 50 years. Ecosystems 4:237–258

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Likens GE, Bormann FH (1995) Biogeochemistry of a forested ecosystem, 2nd edn. Springer-Verlag, New York, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • McClure JW, Lee TD (1993) Small-scale disturbance in a northern hardwoods forest: effects on tree species abundance and distribution. Can J For Res 23:1347–1360

    Google Scholar 

  • McClure JW, Lee TD, Leak WB (2000) Gap capture in northern hardwoods: patterns of establishment an height growth in four species. For Ecol Manage 127:181–189

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Midwest Laboratories, Inc. (2005) Omaha, Nebraska, USA

  • Mladenoff DJ (1987) Dynamics of nitrogen mineralization and nitrification in hemlock and hardwood treefall gaps. Ecology 68:1171–1180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mladenoff DJ (1990) The relationship of the soil seed bank and understory vegetation in old-growth northern hardwood-hemlock treefall gaps. Can J Bot 68:2714–2721

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) (1980a) Climatological data national summary 1980. Environmental Data Service, National Climatic Center, Asheville, North Carolina, USA

  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) (1980b) Climatological data annual summary—Wisconsin. Environmental Data Service, National Climatic Center, Asheville, North Carolina, USA

  • Oliver CD, Larson BC (1996) Forest stand dynamics. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Onset Computer Corporation (2003) Pocasset, Massachusetts, USA

  • Parsons WFJ, Knight DH, Miller SL (1994a) Root gap dynamics and forest disturbance theory in lodgepole pine forests: nitrogen transformations in gaps of different size. Ecol Appl 4:354–362

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parsons WFJ, Knight DH, Miller SL (1994b) Root gap dynamics in lodgepole pine forests: ectomycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal fine root activity after experimental gap formation. Can J For Res 24:1531–1538

    Google Scholar 

  • Pastor J, Broschat M (1990) The spatial pattern of a northern conifer hardwood landscape. Landscape Ecol 4:55–68

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Phillips DW, McCulloch JAW (1972) The climate of the Great Lakes Basin. Climatological Studies No. 20. Atmospheric Environment Service Environment Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

  • Platt WJ, Strong DR (1989) Gaps in forest ecology. Special feature. Ecology 70:535–576

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poulson TL, Platt WJ (1996) Replacement patterns of beech and sugar maple In: Warren Woods, Michigan. Ecology 77:1234–1253

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prevost M (2004) Predicting soil properties from organic matter content following mechanical site preparation of forest soils. Soil Sci Soc Am J 68:943–949

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Riddoch I, Lehto T, Grace J (1991) Photosynthesis of tropical tree seedlings in relation to light and nutrient supply. New Phytol 119:137–147

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ritter E, Starr M, Vesterdal L (2005) Losses of nitrate from gaps of different sizes in a managed beech (Fagus sylvatica) forest. Can J For Res 35:308–319

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ross DJ (1992) Influence of sieve mesh size on estimates of microbial carbon and nitrogen by fumigation-extraction procedures in soils under pasture. Soil Biol Biochem 24:343–350

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Runkle JR (1992) Guidelines and sample protocol for sampling forest gaps. General Techniques Reproduction PNW-GTR-283, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Resource Station

  • Salvador-Van Eysenrode D, Kockelbergh F, Bogaert J, Impens I, Van Hecke P (2001) Canopy gap edge determination and the importance of gap edges for plant diversity. Web Ecol 3:1–5

    Google Scholar 

  • SAS Institute (2005) JMP Version 6. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA

  • Scharenbroch BC, Bockheim JG (2007) Pedodiversity in an old growth northern hardwood forest in the Huron Mountains, Upper Peninsula, Michigan. Can. J. For. Res. 06–392. Accepted 12/15/06

  • Sims GK, Ellsworth TR, Mulvaney RL (1995) Microscale determination of inorganic nitrogen in water and soil extracts. Commun Soil Sci Plant Anal 26:303–316

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Soil Survey Staff (1996) Soil survey laboratory methods manual. U.S. Dept. of Agric., Nat. Res. Conserv. Serv. Soil Surv. Invest. Rep. No. 42. Version 3.0

  • Sparling GP, Feltman CW, Reynolds J, West AW, Singleton P (1990) Estimation of soil microbial C by a fumigation-extraction method: use on soils of high organic matter content, and a reassessment of the kEC factor. Soil Biol Biochem 22:30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tyrell LE, Crow TR (1994) Structural characteristics of old-growth hemlock-hardwood forests in relation to age. Ecology 75:370–386

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vitousek PM (1985) Community turnover and ecosystem nutrient dynamics. In: Pickett STA, White PS (ed) The ecology of natural disturbance and patch dynamics. Academic Press, New York, USA, pp 217–234

    Google Scholar 

  • von Wilpert K, Kohler K, Zirlewagon D (1995) The influence of stand structure and tree species on mineral cycling. In Nutrient uptake and cycling in forest ecosystems. European Commission, Luxembourg

  • Wagner GH, Wolf DC (1998) Carbon transformations and soil organic matter formation. In: Sylvia D (ed) Principles and applications of soil microbiology. Prentice Hall, New Jersey, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Webster CR, Lorimer CG (2002) Single-tree versus group selection in hemlock-hardwood forests: are smaller openings less productive? Can J For Res 32:591–604

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yamamoto SI (1992) The gap theory in forest dynamics. Bot Mag Tokyo 105:375–383

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yasuhiro K (2000) Spatial dynamics of regeneration in a conifer/broad-leaved forest in northern Japan. J. Veg Sci 11:633–640

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zane A, Chapman C (2005) Diversity of woody species in forest, treefall gaps, and edge in Kibale National Park, Uganda. Plant Ecol 178:121–139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Q, Zak JC (1995) Effects of gap size on litter decomposition and microbial activity in a subtropical forest. Ecology 76:2196–2204

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support from Hatch and McIntire-Stennis United States Department of Agriculture, Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service. Permission to work in the Huron Mountains was granted by Kerry Woods, Director of Research, on behalf of the Huron Mountain Wildlife Foundation and Club. We also thank Robert Sprague, Park Manager of the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park for his consent and technical assistance in the Porcupine Mountains.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Soil Science, University of Wisconsin, 1525 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI, 53706-1299, USA

    B. C. Scharenbroch & J. G. Bockheim

Authors
  1. B. C. Scharenbroch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. G. Bockheim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to B. C. Scharenbroch.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Bernard Nicolardet

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Scharenbroch, B.C., Bockheim, J.G. Impacts of forest gaps on soil properties and processes in old growth northern hardwood-hemlock forests. Plant Soil 294, 219–233 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-007-9248-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-007-9248-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation