Spatial Heterogeneity of Nitrogen Cycles Within a Forest Ecosystem

概要

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At both large and small spatial scales, nitorgen (N) cycle in forest ecosystems is variable. In Japan, most of forest ecosystems are on steep slopes, and topographic variations in N cycle are striking. In temperate regions, the variation in forest floor humus types from mull to moder or mor is often found along a slope sequence from a bottom to the top. Corresponding to the variation in forest floor types, N cycle shows variations not only in the amount and components of N accumulation and the rate of the internal N cycle within the system, but also in microbial soil N transformations. Studies along a entire slope showed that forest floor types and microbial soil N transformations changed markedly within a narrow space at a middle of the slope. These studies also suggested that topographic variations in microbial soil N transformations were affected by both abiotic factors, such as pH and water condition, and the quality of organic matter (relative availability of C and N) as the resource for microbes. These small spatial scale variations in N cycle may be important in considering effects of anthropogenic N loadings on natural ecosystems.
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