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Ungulate vs. Landscape Control of Soil C and N Processes in Grasslands of Yellowstone National Park

1998; Wiley; Volume: 79; Issue: 7 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2307/176818

1939-9170

Douglas A. Frank, Peter M. Groffman,

Plant Ecology and Soil Science

EcologyVolume 79, Issue 7 p. 2229-2241 Article UNGULATE VS. LANDSCAPE CONTROL OF SOIL C AND N PROCESSES IN GRASSLANDS OF YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK Douglas A. Frank, Douglas A. Frank Biological Research Laboratories, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244-1220 USASearch for more papers by this authorPeter M. Groffman, Peter M. Groffman Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Box AB, Millbrook, New York 12545-0129 USASearch for more papers by this author Douglas A. Frank, Douglas A. Frank Biological Research Laboratories, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244-1220 USASearch for more papers by this authorPeter M. Groffman, Peter M. Groffman Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Box AB, Millbrook, New York 12545-0129 USASearch for more papers by this author First published: 01 October 1998 https://doi.org/10.1890/0012-9658(1998)079[2229:UVLCOS]2.0.CO;2Citations: 257Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Abstract Within large grassland ecosystems, climatic and topographic gradients are considered the primary controls of soil processes. Ungulates also can influence soil dynamics; however the relative contribution of large herbivores to controlling grassland soil processes remains largely unknown. In this study, we compared the effects of native migratory ungulates and variable site ("landscape") conditions, caused by combined climatic and topographic variability, on grassland of the northern winter range of Yellowstone National Park by determining soil C and N dynamics inside and outside 33–37 yr exclosures at seven diverse sites. Sites included hilltop, slope, and slope bottom positions across a climatic gradient and represented among the driest and wettest grasslands on the northern winter range. We performed two experiments: (1) a 12-mo in situ net N mineralization study and (2) a long-term (62-wk) laboratory incubation to measure potential N mineralization and microbial respiration. Results from the in situ experiment indicated that average net N mineralization among grazed plots (3.8 g N·m−2·yr−1) was double that of fenced, ungrazed plots (1.9 g N·m−2·yr−1). Mean grazer enhancement of net N mineralization across sites (1.9 g N·m−2·yr−1) approached the maximum difference in net N mineralization among fenced plots (2.2 g N·m−2·yr−1), i.e., the greatest landscape effect observed. Furthermore, ungulates substantially increased between-site variation in mineralization; grazed grassland, 1 sd = 2.2 g N·m−2·yr−1, fenced grassland, 1 sd = 0.85 g N·m−2·yr−1. In the long-term incubation, potential microbial respiration and net N mineralization were positively related to total soil C and N content, respectively. There was greater variation in potential respiration and net N mineralization early in the incubation, when labile material was processed, compared to late in the incubation, when more recalcitrant substrate was processed, suggesting that between-site variation in labile organic matter was greater than that of recalcitrant material. Herbivores improved the organic matter quality of soil, increasing the labile fractions and reducing the recalcitrant fractions. Grazers reduced C respired/N mineralized ratios, an index of microbial N immobilization, by an average of 21%. However, the largest landscape influence on the immobilization index was 13-fold greater than the grazer effect. 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