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Contrasting nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics across an elevational gradient for subarctic tundra heath and meadow vegetation

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Abstract

Aims

This study explores soil nutrient cycling processes and microbial properties for two contrasting vegetation types along an elevational gradient in subarctic tundra to improve our understanding of how temperature influences nutrient availability in an ecosystem predicted to be sensitive to global warming.

Methods

We measured total amino acid (Amino-N), mineral nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations, in situ net N and P mineralization, net Amino-N consumption, and microbial biomass C, N and P in both heath and meadow soils across an elevational gradient near Abisko, Sweden.

Results

For the meadow, NH4 + concentrations and net N mineralization were highest at high elevations and microbial properties showed variable responses; these variables were largely unresponsive to elevation for the heath. Amino-N concentrations sometimes showed a tendency to increase with elevation and net Amino-N consumption was often unresponsive to elevation. Overall, PO4-P concentrations decreased with elevation and net P immobilization mostly occurred at lower elevations; these effects were strongest for the heath.

Conclusions

Our results reveal that elevation-associated changes in temperature can have contrasting effects on the cycling of N and P in subarctic soils, and that the strength and direction of these effects depend strongly on dominant vegetation type.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank The Abisko Scientific Research Station (ANS), Gesche Blume-Werry, Mathias Seibert, Tyler Logan, Thomas Westin and Helena Gustafsson for help in the field and laboratory. This project was funded by the Centre for Environmental Research in Umeå (CMF).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 901 83, Umeå, Sweden

    Maja K. Sundqvist & David A. Wardle

  2. Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, 901 87, Umeå, Sweden

    Maja K. Sundqvist, Andrea Vincent & Reiner Giesler

  3. Climate Impacts Research Centre, Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, 981 07, Abisko, Sweden

    Reiner Giesler

Authors
  1. Maja K. Sundqvist
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  2. David A. Wardle
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  3. Andrea Vincent
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  4. Reiner Giesler
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maja K. Sundqvist.

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Responsible Editor: Zucong Cai.

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Sundqvist, M.K., Wardle, D.A., Vincent, A. et al. Contrasting nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics across an elevational gradient for subarctic tundra heath and meadow vegetation. Plant Soil 383, 387–399 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-014-2179-5

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