Plant responses to herbivory and belowground nitrogen cycling
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Authors: E. A. Holland, and J. K. Detling
Date: 1990
Journal: Ecology
Volume: 71
Number: 3
Pages: 1040-1049
Summary of Methods: Holland and Detling examined plant responses to herbivory and links to belowground nitrogen cycling at Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota. In laboratory tests, net nitrogen mineralization was highest in soils from the more altered areas of prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies and lowest in the adjacent, lightly grazed, uncolonized grassland. The ratio of CO2: net nitrogen mineralized was highest in the uncolonized grassland and lowest in the altered core areas. Decreased root biomass also occurred along the colonization sequence, likely the result of consistent repeat grazing and reduced allocation of carbon belowground. The authors suggest that grazing may have a strong influence on nutrient cycling and energy flow in grasslands by effecting decreased root carbon allocation.
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: herbivory, nitrogen cycling, plant carbon allocation, plant ecophysiology, roots, soil ecology, wind cave national park
Annotation: None
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