scholarly journals Impact of fire on active layer and permafrost microbial communities and metagenomes in an upland Alaskan boreal forest

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 1904-1919 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neslihan Taş ◽  
Emmanuel Prestat ◽  
Jack W McFarland ◽  
Kimberley P Wickland ◽  
Rob Knight ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Active Layer

scholarly journals Microbial Substrate Utilization and Vegetation Shifts in Boreal Forest Floors of Western Canada

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Lloret ◽  
Sylvie Quideau
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Microbial Respiration ◽  
Substrate Utilization ◽  
Utilization Efficiency ◽  
Western Canada ◽  
Spruce Forest ◽  
Vegetation Shifts ◽  
Forest Floors

Boreal forest soils are highly susceptible to global warming, and in the next few decades, are expected to face large increases in temperature and transformative vegetation shifts. The entire boreal biome will migrate northward, and within the main boreal forest of Western Canada, deciduous trees will replace conifers. The main objective of our research was to assess how these vegetation shifts will affect functioning of soil microbial communities and ultimately the overall persistence of boreal soil carbon. In this study, aspen and spruce forest floors from the boreal mixedwood forest of Alberta were incubated in the laboratory for 67 days without (control) and with the addition of three distinct 13C labeled substrates (glucose, aspen leaves, and aspen roots). Our first objective was to compare aspen and spruce substrate utilization efficiency (SUE) in the case of a labile C source (13C-glucose). For our second objective, addition of aspen litter to spruce forest floor mimicked future vegetation shifts, and we tested how this would alter substrate use efficiency in the spruce forest floor compared to the aspen. Tracking of carbon utilization by microbial communities was accomplished using 13C-PLFA analysis, and 13C-CO2 measurements allowed quantification of the relative contribution of each added substrate to microbial respiration. Following glucose addition, the aspen community showed a greater 13C-PLFA enrichment than the spruce throughout the 67-day incubation. The spruce community respired a greater amount of 13C glucose, and it also had a much lower glucose utilization efficiency compared to the aspen. Following addition of aspen litter, in particular aspen leaves, the aspen community originally showed greater total 13C-PLFA enrichment, although gram positive phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) were significantly more enriched in the spruce community. While the spruce community respired a greater amount of the added 13C-leaves, both forest floor types showed comparable substrate utilization efficiencies by Day 67. These results indicate that a shift from spruce to aspen may lead to a greater loss of the aspen litter through microbial respiration, but that incorporation into microbial biomass and eventually into the more persistent soil carbon pool may not be affected.

Effects of local changes in active layer and soil climate on seasonal foliar nitrogen concentrations of three boreal forest shrubs

2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 383-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer K. Rohrs-Richey ◽  
Christa P.H. Mulder
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Active Layer ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Growth Strategy ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Regional Warming ◽  
Vaccinium Uliginosum ◽  
Foliar N ◽  
Nitrogen Concentrations ◽  
Soil Climate

Caribou Poker Creeks Research Watershed is a boreal forest watershed in Interior Alaska that is susceptible to regional warming and permafrost thaw. We measured seasonal foliar N concentrations of the black spruce understory shrubs, Vaccinium uliginosum L., Vaccinium vitis-idaea L., and Ledum palustre L. on north- and south-facing sides of the watershed. We predicted that the shrubs would respond to small-scale changes in active layer and soil climate, and we expected similar responses according to growth strategy (evergreen or deciduous). Overall, foliar N in shrubs was higher on warmer, drier soils with deep active layers: +7.9% N in V. uliginosum, +11.1% N in V. vitis-idaea, and +9.4% N in L. palustre. Each shrub had species-specific foliar N patterns that could not be categorized by growth strategy and were not well explained by soil climate or active layer. Leaf mineral nutrition is influenced by multiple processes, and foliar N was best explained by the combination of environmental variables operating at the study site. For Caribou Poker Creeks Research Watershed, we can expect increased N status of the black spruce understory along with continued climate warming, but changes cannot be predicted based on growth strategy.

scholarly journals Comparing soil biogeochemical processes in novel and natural boreal forest ecosystems

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 7521-7548 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Quideau ◽  
M. J. B. Swallow ◽  
C. E. Prescott ◽  
S. J. Grayston ◽  
S.-W. Oh
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Nutrient Availability ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Biogeochemical Processes ◽  
Natural Ecosystems ◽  
Natural Landscape ◽  
Organic Matter Composition ◽  
Anthropogenic Ecosystems

Abstract. Emulating the variability that exists in the natural landscape prior to disturbance should be a goal of soil reconstruction and land reclamation efforts following resource extraction. Long-term ecosystem sustainability within reclaimed landscapes can only be achieved with the re-establishment of biogeochemical processes between reconstructed soils and plants. In this study, we assessed key soil biogeochemical attributes (nutrient availability, organic matter composition, and microbial communities) in reconstructed, novel, anthropogenic ecosystems covering different reclamation treatments following open-cast mining for oil extraction. We compared the attributes to those present in a range of natural soils representative of mature boreal forest ecosystems in the same area of northern Alberta. Soil nutrient availability was determined in situ with resin probes, organic matter composition was described with 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and soil microbial community structure was characterized using phospholipid fatty acid analysis. Significant differences among natural ecosystems were apparent in nutrient availability and seemed more related to the dominant tree cover than to soil type. When analyzed together, all natural forests differed significantly from the novel ecosystems, in particular with respect to soil organic matter composition. However, there was some overlap between the reconstructed soils and some of the natural ecosystems in nutrient availability and microbial communities, but not in organic matter characteristics. Hence, our results illustrate the importance of considering the range of natural landscape variability, and including several soil biogeochemical attributes when comparing novel, anthropogenic ecosystems to the mature ecosystems that constitute ecological targets.

scholarly journals Active layer depth and soil properties impact specific leaf area variation and ecosystem productivity in a boreal forest

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. e0232506
Author(s):  
Carolyn G. Anderson ◽  
Ben Bond-Lamberty ◽  
James C. Stegen
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
Active Layer ◽  
Specific Leaf Area ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Net Primary Production ◽  
Process Models ◽  
Ecosystem Productivity ◽  
Layer Depth ◽  
Extensive Evaluation

Specific leaf area (SLA, leaf area per unit dry mass) is a key canopy structural characteristic, a measure of photosynthetic capacity, and an important input into many terrestrial process models. Although many studies have examined SLA variation, relatively few data exist from high latitude, climate-sensitive permafrost regions. We measured SLA and soil and topographic properties across a boreal forest permafrost transition, in which dominant tree species changed as permafrost deepened from 54 to >150 cm over 75 m hillslope transects in Caribou-Poker Creeks Research Watershed, Alaska. We characterized both linear and threshold relationships between topographic and edaphic variables and SLA and developed a conceptual model of these relationships. We found that the depth of the soil active layer above permafrost was significantly and positively correlated with SLA for both coniferous and deciduous boreal tree species. Intraspecific SLA variation was associated with a fivefold increase in net primary production, suggesting that changes in active layer depth due to permafrost thaw could strongly influence ecosystem productivity. While this is an exploratory study to begin understanding SLA variation in a non-contiguous permafrost system, our results indicate the need for more extensive evaluation across larger spatial domains. These empirical relationships and associated uncertainty can be incorporated into ecosystem models that use dynamic traits, improving our ability to predict ecosystem-level carbon cycling responses to ongoing climate change.

Watershed Hydrology and Chemistry in the Alaskan Boreal Forest: The Central Role of Permafrost

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larry D. Hinzman ◽  
Kevin C. Petrone
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Active Layer ◽  
Hydrological Processes ◽  
Organic Layer ◽  
Freezing And Thawing ◽  
Surface Soils ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Organic Layers ◽  
Discontinuous Permafrost ◽  
Permafrost Soils

Hydrological processes exert strong control over biological and climatic processes in every ecosystem. They are particularly important in the boreal zone, where the average annual temperatures of the air and soil are relatively near the phase-change temperature of water (Chapter 4). Boreal hydrology is strongly controlled by processes related to freezing and thawing, particularly the presence or absence of permafrost. Flow in watersheds underlain by extensive permafrost is limited to the near-surface active layer and to small springs that connect the surface with the subpermafrost groundwater. Ice-rich permafrost, near the soil surface, impedes infiltration, resulting in soils that vary in moisture content from wet to saturated. Interior Alaska has a continental climate with relatively low precipitation (Chapter 4). Soils are typically aeolian or alluvial (Chapter 3). Consequently, in the absence of permafrost, infiltration is relatively high, yielding dry surface soils. In this way, discontinuous permafrost distribution magnifies the differences in soil moisture that might normally occur along topographic gradients. Hydrological processes in the boreal forest are unique due to highly organic soils with a porous organic mat on the surface, short thaw season, and warm summer and cold winter temperatures. The surface organic layer tends to be much thicker on north-facing slopes and in valley bottoms than on south-facing slopes and ridges, reflecting primarily the distribution of permafrost. Soils are cooler and wetter above permafrost, which retards decomposition, resulting in organic matter accumulation (Chapter 15). The markedly different material properties of the soil layers also influence hydrology. The highly porous near-surface soils allow rapid infiltration and, on hillsides, downslope drainage. The organic layer also has a relatively low thermal conductivity, resulting in slow thaw below thick organic layers. The thick organic layer limits the depth of thaw each summer to about 50–100 cm above permafrost (i.e., the active layer). As the active layer thaws, the hydraulic properties change. For example, the moisture-holding capacity increases, and additional subsurface layers become available for lateral flow. The mosaic of Alaskan vegetation depends not only on disturbance history (Chapter 7) but also on hydrology (Chapter 6).

scholarly journals The influence of vegetation and soil characteristics on active-layer thickness of permafrost soils in boreal forest

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 3127-3140 ◽  
Author(s):  
James P. Fisher ◽  
Cristian Estop-Aragonés ◽  
Aaron Thierry ◽  
Dan J. Charman ◽  
Stephen A. Wolfe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Layer Thickness ◽  
Active Layer ◽  
Soil Characteristics ◽  
Active Layer Thickness ◽  
Permafrost Soils

Effects of experimental crude oil spills on subarctic boreal forest vegetation near Norman Wells, N.W.T., Canada

1978 ◽  
Vol 56 (19) ◽  
pp. 2424-2433 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. C. Hutchinson ◽  
W. Freedman
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Crude Oil ◽  
Active Layer ◽  
Oil Spill ◽  
Picea Mariana ◽  
Oil Spills ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Short Term

Data are presented on the effects of experimental crude oil spills made on two subarctic boreal forest plant communities near Norman Wells, N.W.T. Spray spills of fresh unweathered crude oil at an intensity of 9.1 ℓ/m2 had a general herbicidal effect and caused the death of any green tissue coming in direct contact with the oil. Death of lichens and mosses was rapid and complete. For some higher plants, a considerable lag period occurred between the time of the spill and the time of death (up to 4 years for some individuals of Picea mariana). For others, death occurred during the first winter, with marked effects on cover values in the spring. These effects resulted in large decreases in total plant cover and frequency at spill sites. However, within a few weeks, and in subsequent years, some species developed regrowth shoots. Other species survived as underground rhizomes for a number of years prior to their reappearance above ground (i.e., Equisetum scirpoides). Limited seedling establishment by vascular plants was first observed in the fourth postspill growing season, when some sporeling establishment was also noted for several bryophyte species. No Picea mariana regeneration has occurred in the spill plots in the six postspill growing seasons monitored thus far.Crude oil spills made in winter were found to be less damaging than equivalent summer spills in their short-term biological effects and on rates of recovery and species affected. Initial observations indicate that a summer diesel oil spill shows roughly equivalent toxicity to a summer crude oil spill of the same intensity. Comparisons between an intensive spill (8500 ℓ) made at one point and dispersed spray spills indicate that the former are far less damaging per unit of oil applied to the plant community, with severe detrimental effects being largely limited to areas of direct surface contamination. In the point spill examined, most of the oil percolated downwards and then laterally. Surface vegetation growing above areas with subsurface horizons contaminated by oil was not greatly affected in the first 2 years. An increased area of damage appeared in postspill years 5 and 6, including death of Picea mariana. Oil also appeared to move laterally in 1976 when severe rains occurred, and the oiled area increased somewhat.Limited short-term effects of the spill treatments on depth of active layer thaw have been noted in this study, but these initial effects were not maintained after the first postspill growing season. The low rates of oil application make the conclusions about the effects of large spills on active layer stability conjectural. Potential effects on vegetation are much more firmly based. Oil in the boreal forest soil appeared to retain toxic properties throughout the 5-year study period.

scholarly journals Responses of tundra soil microbial communities to half a decade of experimental warming at two critical depths

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (30) ◽  
pp. 15096-15105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric R. Johnston ◽  
Janet K. Hatt ◽  
Zhili He ◽  
Liyou Wu ◽  
Xue Guo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Active Layer ◽  
Soil Microbial Communities ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Tundra Soil ◽  
Tundra Soils ◽  
Carbohydrate Utilization ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
C Stocks ◽  
Microbial Responses

Northern-latitude tundra soils harbor substantial carbon (C) stocks that are highly susceptible to microbial degradation with rising global temperatures. Understanding the magnitude and direction (e.g., C release or sequestration) of the microbial responses to warming is necessary to accurately model climate change. In this study, Alaskan tundra soils were subjected to experimental in situ warming by ∼1.1 °C above ambient temperature, and the microbial communities were evaluated using metagenomics after 4.5 years, at 2 depths: 15 to 25 cm (active layer at outset of the experiment) and 45 to 55 cm (transition zone at the permafrost/active layer boundary at the outset of the experiment). In contrast to small or insignificant shifts after 1.5 years of warming, 4.5 years of warming resulted in significant changes to the abundances of functional traits and the corresponding taxa relative to control plots (no warming), and microbial shifts differed qualitatively between the two soil depths. At 15 to 25 cm, increased abundances of carbohydrate utilization genes were observed that correlated with (increased) measured ecosystem carbon respiration. At the 45- to 55-cm layer, increased methanogenesis potential was observed, which corresponded with a 3-fold increase in abundance of a single archaeal clade of the Methanosarcinales order, increased annual thaw duration (45.3 vs. 79.3 days), and increased CH4 emissions. Collectively, these data demonstrate that the microbial responses to warming in tundra soil are rapid and markedly different between the 2 critical soil layers evaluated, and identify potential biomarkers for the corresponding microbial processes that could be important in modeling.

Freshwater microbial community diversity in a rapidly changing High Arctic watershed

2019 ◽  
Vol 95 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Antonia Cavaco ◽  
Vincent Lawrence St. Louis ◽  
Katja Engel ◽  
Kyra Alexandra St. Pierre ◽  
Sherry Lin Schiff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Microbial Community ◽  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Active Layer ◽  
Hydrological Cycle ◽  
High Arctic ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Future Climate Change ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystem ◽  
Rrna Gene

ABSTRACT Current models predict increases in High Arctic temperatures and precipitation that will have profound impacts on the Arctic hydrological cycle, including enhanced glacial melt and thawing of active layer soils. However, it remains uncertain how these changes will impact the structure of downstream resident freshwater microbial communities and ensuing microbially driven freshwater ecosystem services. Using the Lake Hazen watershed (Nunavut, Canada; 82°N, 71°W) as a sentinel system, we related microbial community composition (16S rRNA gene sequencing) to physicochemical parameters (e.g. dissolved oxygen and nutrients) over an annual hydrological cycle in three freshwater compartments within the watershed: (i) glacial rivers; (ii) active layer thaw-fed streams and waterbodies and (iii) Lake Hazen, into which (i) and (ii) drain. Microbial communities throughout these freshwater compartments were strongly interconnected, hydrologically, and often correlated with the presence of melt-sourced chemicals (e.g. dissolved inorganic carbon) as the melt season progressed. Within Lake Hazen itself, water column microbial communities were generally stable over spring and summer, despite fluctuating lake physicochemistry, indicating that these communities and the potential ecosystem services they provide therein may be resilient to environmental change. This work helps to establish a baseline understanding of how microbial communities and the ecosystem services they provide in Arctic watersheds might respond to future climate change.

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