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The Role of Birds in Nutrient Cycling in a Northern Hardwoods Ecosystem
Author(s) -
Sturges F. W.,
Holmes R. T.,
Likens G. E.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/1934628
Subject(s) - nutrient cycle , ecology , nutrient , cycling , ecosystem , environmental science , geography , biology , forestry
Birds collected from the forested watershed—ecosystems of the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in central New Hampshire were analyzed for Ca, N, P, S, K, Na, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, and Mn. The nutrients bound in avain biomass (mg/ha) were calculated and compared to the nutrient budgets for these watersheds. Although birds contain but a tiny percentage of the standing crop of nutrients, they contribute to nutrient flux by removing small quantities of nutrients through losses during migration. Their impact on the turnover and distribution of nutrients within ecosystems is probably small but requires further study.