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Snow removal reduces annual cellulose decomposition in a riparian boreal forest

Title data

Kreyling, Jürgen ; Haei, Mahsa ; Laudon, Hjalmar:
Snow removal reduces annual cellulose decomposition in a riparian boreal forest.
In: Canadian Journal of Soil Sciences. Vol. 93 (2013) Issue 4 . - pp. 427-433.
ISSN 1918-1841
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4141/cjss2012-025

Abstract in another language

Decomposition is a key process in carbon and nutrient cycling. However, little is known about its response to altered winter soil temperature regimes in boreal forests. Here, the impact of soil frost on cellulose decomposition over one year and soil biotic activity (bait-lamina sticks) over winter, in spring, and in summer was investigated using a long-term (9-year) snow-cover manipulation experiment in a boreal Picea abies forest. The experiment consisted of the treatments: snow removal, increased insulation, and ambient control. The snow removal treatment caused longer and deeper soil frost (minimum temperature -8.6°C versus -1.4°C) at 10 cm soil depth in comparison with control, while the increased insulation treatment resulted in nearly no soil frost during winter. Annual cellulose decomposition rates were reduced by 46% in the snow removal manipulation in comparison with control conditions. Increased insulation had no significant effect on decomposition. The decomposition was mainly driven by microorganisms, as no significant difference was observed for containers enclosed with a 44 µm and a 1 mm mesh. Soil biotic activity was slightly increased by both the snow removal and the increased insulation treatment in comparison with control conditions over winter. However, this effect disappeared over spring and summer. We conclude that soil frost can have strong effects on decomposition in boreal ecosystems. Further studies should investigate to which degree the observed reduction in decomposition due to reduced snow cover in winter slows or even offsets the expected increase in decomposition rates with global warming.

Further data

Item Type: Article in a journal
Refereed: Yes
Additional notes: BAYCEER110528
Institutions of the University: Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Earth Sciences > Chair Biogeography
Research Institutions > Research Centres > Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research- BayCEER
Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Earth Sciences > Professor Disturbance Ecology
Faculties
Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences
Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Earth Sciences
Research Institutions
Research Institutions > Research Centres
Result of work at the UBT: Yes
DDC Subjects: 500 Science
Date Deposited: 29 Apr 2015 15:41
Last Modified: 26 May 2015 12:51
URI: https://eref.uni-bayreuth.de/id/eprint/11605