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Tree physiological responses to above-ground herbivory directly modify below-ground processes of soil carbon and nitrogen cycling.

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Tree physiological responses to above-ground herbivory directly modify below-ground processes of soil carbon and nitrogen cycling. / Ayres, Edward; Heath, James; Possell, Malcolm et al.
In: Ecology Letters, Vol. 7, No. 6, 06.2004, p. 469-479.

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Ayres E, Heath J, Possell M, Black HIJ, Kerstiens G, Bardgett RD. Tree physiological responses to above-ground herbivory directly modify below-ground processes of soil carbon and nitrogen cycling. Ecology Letters. 2004 Jun;7(6):469-479. doi: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2004.00604.x

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Ayres, Edward ; Heath, James ; Possell, Malcolm et al. / Tree physiological responses to above-ground herbivory directly modify below-ground processes of soil carbon and nitrogen cycling. In: Ecology Letters. 2004 ; Vol. 7, No. 6. pp. 469-479.

Bibtex

@article{417147c3f549487a9f9f02e3c92ca880,
title = "Tree physiological responses to above-ground herbivory directly modify below-ground processes of soil carbon and nitrogen cycling.",
abstract = "Above-ground herbivory is ubiquitous in terrestrial ecosystems, yet its impacts on below-ground processes and consequences for plants remain ambiguous. To examine whether physiological responses of individual trees may potentially modify soil nutrient availability, we subjected Fagus sylvatica L. (European beech) and Abies alba Mill. (silver fir) to simulated foliar herbivory over two growing seasons. Above-ground herbivory enhanced N mineralization and inorganic N availability in the soil. The total input of C from the plant roots to the soil is not known; however, carbon sequestration in the soil, measured using stable isotopic techniques, was unaffected by herbivory. Fagus responded to herbivory by producing larger leaves, with increased photosynthetic capacity and N content, which largely compensated for the loss of biomass; Abies exhibited no such response. We conclude that despite large interspecific differences in the growth response, tree physiological responses to foliar herbivory are capable of directly modifying soil biological processes.",
keywords = "carbon sequestration, forests, herbivory, microbial activity, nitrogen mineralization, nutrient cycling, photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, YELLOWSTONE-NATIONAL-PARK, MICROBIAL BIOMASS, EXTRACTION METHOD, MOUNTAIN FORESTS, MOOSE HERBIVORY, DEFOLIATION, PLANTS, FUMIGATION, NUTRIENT, PHOTOSYNTHESIS",
author = "Edward Ayres and James Heath and Malcolm Possell and Black, {Helaina I. J.} and Gerhard Kerstiens and Bardgett, {Richard D.}",
year = "2004",
month = jun,
doi = "10.1111/j.1461-0248.2004.00604.x",
language = "English",
volume = "7",
pages = "469--479",
journal = "Ecology Letters",
issn = "1461-023X",
publisher = "Wiley",
number = "6",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Tree physiological responses to above-ground herbivory directly modify below-ground processes of soil carbon and nitrogen cycling.

AU - Ayres, Edward

AU - Heath, James

AU - Possell, Malcolm

AU - Black, Helaina I. J.

AU - Kerstiens, Gerhard

AU - Bardgett, Richard D.

PY - 2004/6

Y1 - 2004/6

N2 - Above-ground herbivory is ubiquitous in terrestrial ecosystems, yet its impacts on below-ground processes and consequences for plants remain ambiguous. To examine whether physiological responses of individual trees may potentially modify soil nutrient availability, we subjected Fagus sylvatica L. (European beech) and Abies alba Mill. (silver fir) to simulated foliar herbivory over two growing seasons. Above-ground herbivory enhanced N mineralization and inorganic N availability in the soil. The total input of C from the plant roots to the soil is not known; however, carbon sequestration in the soil, measured using stable isotopic techniques, was unaffected by herbivory. Fagus responded to herbivory by producing larger leaves, with increased photosynthetic capacity and N content, which largely compensated for the loss of biomass; Abies exhibited no such response. We conclude that despite large interspecific differences in the growth response, tree physiological responses to foliar herbivory are capable of directly modifying soil biological processes.

AB - Above-ground herbivory is ubiquitous in terrestrial ecosystems, yet its impacts on below-ground processes and consequences for plants remain ambiguous. To examine whether physiological responses of individual trees may potentially modify soil nutrient availability, we subjected Fagus sylvatica L. (European beech) and Abies alba Mill. (silver fir) to simulated foliar herbivory over two growing seasons. Above-ground herbivory enhanced N mineralization and inorganic N availability in the soil. The total input of C from the plant roots to the soil is not known; however, carbon sequestration in the soil, measured using stable isotopic techniques, was unaffected by herbivory. Fagus responded to herbivory by producing larger leaves, with increased photosynthetic capacity and N content, which largely compensated for the loss of biomass; Abies exhibited no such response. We conclude that despite large interspecific differences in the growth response, tree physiological responses to foliar herbivory are capable of directly modifying soil biological processes.

KW - carbon sequestration

KW - forests

KW - herbivory

KW - microbial activity

KW - nitrogen mineralization

KW - nutrient cycling

KW - photosynthesis

KW - stomatal conductance

KW - YELLOWSTONE-NATIONAL-PARK

KW - MICROBIAL BIOMASS

KW - EXTRACTION METHOD

KW - MOUNTAIN FORESTS

KW - MOOSE HERBIVORY

KW - DEFOLIATION

KW - PLANTS

KW - FUMIGATION

KW - NUTRIENT

KW - PHOTOSYNTHESIS

U2 - 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2004.00604.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2004.00604.x

M3 - Journal article

VL - 7

SP - 469

EP - 479

JO - Ecology Letters

JF - Ecology Letters

SN - 1461-023X

IS - 6

ER -