Open AccessSoil oxygen flux measured polarographically in an Alaskan tussock tundra
Author(s) -
Stuart Lee,
Miller Philip C.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
ecography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.973
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1600-0587
pISSN - 0906-7590
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0587.1982.tb01028.x
Subject(s) - tundra , tussock , flux (metallurgy) , environmental science , oxygen , environmental chemistry , soil water , soil science , ecology , hydrology (agriculture) , chemistry , biology , geology , ecosystem , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry
Soil oxygen flux was measured polarographically in undisturbed tussock tundra and in an old vehicle track at Eagle Creek, Alaska. Because some polarograms did not show effective voltage plateaus, the polarographic method was tested for use in the tundra by experimental manipulation of soil water content and microbial oxygen demand. The response of soil oxygen flux was as predicted for artificially waterlogged systems, and the response to increased microbial demand indicated relatively high oxygen availability. Soil oxygen flux ranged from 25.9 ng O 2 cm −2 min −1 in Sphagnum mats to 3.9 ng O 2 cm −2 min −1 in unvegetated ruts of the vehicle track. Most sites in unvegetated ruts did not have measurable soil oxygen flux. In contrast, oxygen flux beneath Eriophorum vaginatum tussocks growing in the vehicle track averaged 10.7 ng O 2 cm −2 min −1 .