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Climate and species affect fine root production with long-term fertilization in acidic tussock tundra near Toolik Lake, Alaska

  • Ecosystem Ecology
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Abstract

Long-term fertilization of acidic tussock tundra has led to changes in plant species composition, increases in aboveground production and biomass and substantial losses of soil organic carbon (SOC). Root litter is an important input to SOC pools, although little is known about fine root demography in tussock tundra. In this study, we examined the response of fine root production and live standing fine root biomass to short- and long-term fertilization, as changes in fine root demography may contribute to observed declines in SOC. Live standing fine root biomass increased with long-term fertilization, while fine root production declined, reflecting replacement of the annual fine root system of Eriophorum vaginatum, with the long-lived fine roots of Betula nana. Fine root production increased in fertilized plots during an unusually warm growing season, but remained unchanged in control plots, consistent with observations that B. nana shows a positive response to climate warming. Calculations based on a few simple assumptions suggest changes in fine root demography with long-term fertilization and species replacement could account for between 20 and 39% of the observed declines in SOC stocks.

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Acknowledgments

This project was supported by National Science Foundation research grants 9810222, 9911681, 0221606, and 0528748. We thank the Toolik Field Station and the Arctic LTER for logistical support and access to long-term meteorological records. J. Klein, S. Simonson, K. Clemmensen, B. Longworth, C. Lunch, N. Rupert, M. Sheperd, and S. Randazzo provided field assistance. L. Pitelka, R. Monson, and two anonymous reviewers provided constructive comments that substantially improved the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environment and Natural Resources Institute and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alaska, Anchorage, AK, 99508, USA

    Patrick F. Sullivan & Jeffrey M. Welker

  2. The Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, Aberdeen, AB15 AQH, UK

    Martin Sommerkorn

  3. Biology Department, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI, 49401, USA

    Heather M. Rueth

  4. University of Michigan Biological Station, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Knute J. Nadelhoffer

  5. The Ecosystems Center, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, 02543, USA

    Gaius R. Shaver

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  1. Patrick F. Sullivan
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  2. Martin Sommerkorn
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  3. Heather M. Rueth
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  4. Knute J. Nadelhoffer
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  5. Gaius R. Shaver
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  6. Jeffrey M. Welker
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Correspondence to Patrick F. Sullivan.

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Communicated by Louis Pitelka.

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Sullivan, P.F., Sommerkorn, M., Rueth, H.M. et al. Climate and species affect fine root production with long-term fertilization in acidic tussock tundra near Toolik Lake, Alaska. Oecologia 153, 643–652 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-007-0753-8

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