Simulated N Deposition Negatively Affects Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) Regeneration in a Lake States Northern Hardwood Ecosystem
dc.contributor.author | Patterson, Sierra | |
dc.contributor.advisor | Zak, Donald | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2010-12-14T18:34:18Z | |
dc.date.available | NO_RESTRICTION | en_US |
dc.date.available | 2010-12-14T18:34:18Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2010-12 | |
dc.date.submitted | 2010-12 | |
dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/78417 | |
dc.description.abstract | During the next century, atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition is projected to more than double, potentially leading to a decline in biodiversity of plant assemblages and community structure. We quantified sugar (Acer saccharum Marsh.) maple seedling abundance in replicate northern hardwood forest stands (n = 4) receiving ambient atmospheric N (0.7 – 1.18 g N⋅m-2⋅yr -1) and experimental atmospheric N deposition simulating future amounts in eastern North America (ambient plus 3 g NO3 --N⋅m-2⋅yr -1). First-year seedling abundance did not differ under ambient and simulated N deposition. (P = 0.961); however, there were greater abundances of secondand third-fifth-year seedlings under ambient N deposition ( P < 0.001). In this experiment, simulated atmospheric N deposition has slowed litter decay, resulting in an accumulation of forest floor. We reasoned that a greater forest floor mass would impose a physical barrier to sugar maple seedling establishment, thereby reducing populations of seedlings. To test this idea, we experimentally manipulated forest floor mass over sugar maple seeds under ambient and simulated N deposition. In all cases, a greater forest floor, equivalent to that under simulated N deposition, resulted in significantly (P = 0.001) fewer established individuals, regardless of whether the greater forest floor mass occurred under ambient or simulated N deposition. Finally, to assess the effect of simulated N deposition on established seedlings, we transplanted first-year established seedlings into areas receiving ambient and simulated N deposition and quantified their mortality after one year. Fewer seedlings survived when grown under simulated N, albeit that result was not significant (P = 0.059). Our results indicate that levels of atmospheric N deposition similar to levels found in many terrestrial ecosystems around the Earth, have the potential to negatively affect stand dynamics in sugar maple-dominated forests, which further has the potential to elicit ecosystem change in regards to overstory carbon storage. | en_US |
dc.format.extent | 383947 bytes | |
dc.format.mimetype | application/pdf | |
dc.language.iso | en_US | en_US |
dc.subject | Northern Hardwoods Forest | en_US |
dc.subject | Sugar Maple (Acer Saccharum) | en_US |
dc.subject | Seedling Establishment | en_US |
dc.subject | Atmospheric N Depostition | en_US |
dc.title | Simulated N Deposition Negatively Affects Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) Regeneration in a Lake States Northern Hardwood Ecosystem | en_US |
dc.type | Thesis | en_US |
dc.description.thesisdegreename | Master of Science (MS) | en_US |
dc.description.thesisdegreediscipline | Natural Resources and Environment | en_US |
dc.description.thesisdegreegrantor | University of Michigan | en_US |
dc.contributor.committeemember | Ibanez, Ines | |
dc.identifier.uniqname | sierralp | en_US |
dc.description.bitstreamurl | http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78417/1/ThesisSPatterson12_12_10.pdf | |
dc.owningcollname | Dissertations and Theses (Ph.D. and Master's) |
Files in this item
Remediation of Harmful Language
The University of Michigan Library aims to describe library materials in a way that respects the people and communities who create, use, and are represented in our collections. Report harmful or offensive language in catalog records, finding aids, or elsewhere in our collections anonymously through our metadata feedback form. More information at Remediation of Harmful Language.
Accessibility
If you are unable to use this file in its current format, please select the Contact Us link and we can modify it to make it more accessible to you.