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Biomass Distribution and Production Budget for a Nonaggrading Forest Ecosystem
Author(s) -
Gosz James R.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/1937416
Subject(s) - primary production , ecosystem , biomass (ecology) , environmental science , litter , ecosystem respiration , nutrient , forest ecology , ecology , organic matter , biology
A fundamental question in current ecosystem research is the extent to which net organic matter increment (net ecosystem production, NEP) controls nutrient input—output behavior. The large uncertainties associated with net primary production (NPP) and heterotrophic respiration (Rs H ) make it very difficult to verify statistically an ecosystem as steady—state (NPP — Rs H = 0). The aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) ecosystem reported on here appears to be degrading (i.e., negative NEP), a condition which would allow an important test of the influence of NEP on the nutrient regulation of an ecosystem. Total NPP was estimated at 11 740 kg°ha — 1 °yr — 1 , Rs H was 13 800 kg°ha — 1 °yr — 1 , and NEP was —2060 kg°ha — 1 °yr — 1 . The standard error of the estimate for the sum of woody biomass increment and litter fall was 119 kg°ha — 1 °yr — 1 . Extravagant estimates were used for other components of NPP and underestimates used for components of Rs H to ensure a conservative estimate of a degrading condition.