Nitrogen mineralization, plant growth and goose herbivory in an arctic coastal ecosystem
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Authors: D. J. Wilson, and R. L. Jefferies
Date: 1996
Journal: Journal of Ecology
Volume: 84
Number: 6
Pages: 841-851
Summary of Methods: Wilson and Jefferies examined differences in vegetation and soil characteristics in intertidal and inland marshes, as well as at grazed and ungrazed sites, in La Perouse Bay, Manitoba. They found that lesser snow geese (Anser caerulescens caerulescens) feed more intensively on intertidal sites compared to inland sites. Grubbed sites were found to have less above-ground biomass, and lower amounts of total soil nitrogen, exchangeable inorganic nitrogen and net mineralization of soil nitrogen than the ungrazed sites. Differences in the quantity and quality of vegetation are associated with variation in biogeochemical cycling in soils. Geese exploit patches of vegetation as their primary source of forage where net above-ground primary production is high and plant tissues are rich in nitrogen.
Article Summary / Main Points: None
Vegetation Types:
MLRA Ecoregions:
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Rangelands Wildlife
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: biogeochemical cycling, graminoids, habitat destruction, lesser snow goose, salt-marsh soils
Annotation: Grazing intensity is not specified.
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