2009 LTER All Scientists Meeting - Soil Science

The discovery of the tardigrade, Milnesium sp., in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, and the potential implication for biotic interactions

Uffe N. Nielsen — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 01:48:05 +0000

Poster Number:

399

Presenter/Primary Author:

Uffe N. Nielsen

Co-Authors:

Diana H. Wall

Co-Authors:

Byron J. Adams

Co-Authors:

Jeremy Whiting

Co-Authors:

Scott Peat

The McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, are a cold desert and represent one of the most inhospitable environments on earth. As a consequence the food webs are simple compared to most other terrestrial ecosystems, and limited to microbes and the nematode Scottnema lindsayae in dry areas, which includes most of the landscape. However, the few wet areas represent hotspots for soil organisms and support a greater diversity of soil fauna, often including the nematode genera Plectus and Eudorylaimus, and a few species of rotifers and tardigrades.

Dynamics of Water-Stable Soil Aggregates in Arctic Soils

Rodney Simpson — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:57:16 +0000

Poster Number:

336

Presenter/Primary Author:

Rodney Simpson

Co-Authors:

John C. Moore

Co-Authors:

Johan Six

Arctic warming has been linked to changes in carbon cycling in this region. Cold temperatures and anoxic conditions in the Arctic inhibit microbial activity, lowering decomposition rates. As a result mineralization rates are low, resulting in nitrogen-limited-system, further reducing biological activity. Evidence has shown that eliminating this constraint on nutrient availability results in a vegetation shift and loss of soil carbon; however, the mechanisms behind soil carbon loss are not understood.

Student Poster:

Yes

ULTRA-Ex: Connecting the social and ecological sciences with planners, managers, and the public: Building a broad foundation for the Chicago Region ULTRA

David Wise — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 18:58:54 +0000

Poster Number:

285

Presenter/Primary Author:

David Wise

Co-Authors:

Lynne M Westphal

Co-Authors:

Liam Heneghan

Co-Authors:

Bryan C Pijanowski

Co-Authors:

Nancy C Tuchman

Co-Authors:

Aaron N Durnbaugh

Co-Authors:

Paul H Gobster

Co-Authors:

Jennifer L Hirsch

Co-Authors:

Eric V Lonsdorf

Co-Authors:

Emily S Minor

Co-Authors:

Susan I Stewart

Co-Authors:

Moira L Zellner

The Chicago Region ULTRA-Ex will address a question fundamental to understanding the dynamic interactions between biodiversity conservation, ecosystem processes, and human well being in urban landscapes: In a complex urban/metropolitan system, what are the synergies and tradeoffs between conserving biodiversity and providing ecosystem services to people? The project focuses on the Green Infrastructure Vision of the Chicago Wilderness alliance, a conservation consortium of over 240 organizations.

Nitrogen fertilizer effects on soil communities and decomposition dynamics in agricultural systems

Stuart Grandy — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 17:21:53 +0000

Poster Number:

275

Presenter/Primary Author:

Stuart Grandy

Co-Authors:

Kyle Wickings

Co-Authors:

Noah Fierer

Many ecosystems, including grassland, forest, alpine, and desert, have shown responses to N enrichment. These responses vary considerably but include changes in soil respiration rates, enzyme activities, and microbial community structure. Surprisingly, little work has examined the effects of N enrichment on soil communities and processes in agricultural systems despite the high rates of N applied in most crop production systems.

The role of tree species and mycorrhizal fungi on seasonal patterns of amino acid cycling in temperate forest soils

Edward Brzostek — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:35:57 +0000

Poster Number:

273

Presenter/Primary Author:

Edward Brzostek

Co-Authors:

Adrien C. Finzi

Relatively little attention has been given to the processes that control the production and subsequent availability of amino acids in temperate forest soils. We examined how differences in soil organic matter chemistry and mycorrhizal association between temperate forest tree species of the Northeastern US lead to variation in amino acid cycling. We measured amino acid cycling throughout the growing season in soils from single tree species plots located in both the Harvard Forest, MA and the Pisgah State Forest, NH.

Student Poster:

Yes

The LTER site Apennines high elevation ecosystems

Michele Freppaz — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 21:15:39 +0000

Poster Number:

263

Presenter/Primary Author:

Michele Freppaz

Co-Authors:

Angela Stanisci

Co-Authors:

Bruno Petriccione

Co-Authors:

Graziano Rossi

Co-Authors:

Jean-Paul Theurillat

Co-Authors:

Maurizio Cutini

Co-Authors:

Ermanno Zanini

Co-Authors:

Giuseppe Corti

The International Long-Term Ecosystem Research network (ILTER) includes national networks of scientists and their stakeholders engaged in long-term, site-based ecological, social and economic research. The LTER-Italy network, established in 2006, joined ILTER in 2007. The “Apennines (high elevation)” site joined LTER-Italy in 2007. It consists of “orographic islands” of alpine tundra along the Apennines chain, where many endemic and rare taxa occur that are critically endangered by climate warming.

The LTER Site “High Elevation ecosystems in the Northwestern Alps”

Michele Freppaz — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 21:08:00 +0000

Poster Number:

261

Presenter/Primary Author:

Michele Freppaz

Co-Authors:

Umberto Morra Di Cella

Co-Authors:

Ermanno Zanini

The Italian Long Term Ecological Research Network (LTER-Italy) was officially admitted to the International LTER Network (ILTER), during the general meeting held in Namibia in 2006. At present, LTER-Italy consists of an integrated group of 20 sites developing long term ecological research, a Secretary's Office, a group of sites managers and a Coordinating Committee. 9 research stations are CON.ECO.FOR. permanent plots under National Forest Service coordination, with many other sites and research stations in terrestrial, transitional, marine and freshwater ecosystems. CON.ECO.FOR.

KBS LTER: Field Crop Ecology

Julie Doll — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:04:58 +0000

Poster Number:

246

Presenter/Primary Author:

Phil Robertson

Co-Authors:

Stuart H. Gage

Co-Authors:

Katherine L. Gross

Co-Authors:

Stephen K. Hamilton

Co-Authors:

Douglas A. Landis

Co-Authors:

Thomas M. Schmidt

Co-Authors:

Sieglinde S. Snapp

Co-Authors:

Scott M. Swinton

Co-Authors:

Julie E. Doll

The KBS LTER site is in a diverse, rural-to-semirural landscape typical of the U.S. Great Lakes and upper Midwest regions. Research at KBS asks how diverse plants, animals, and microbes in agricultural landscapes can contribute to farm productivity, environmental performance, and profitability. We study annual and perennial crops including corn, soybean, and wheat rotations, forage crops such as alfalfa, and biofuel crops such as poplars, switchgrass, and native successional communities.

Luquillo Long-Term Ecological Research Program

Nick Brokaw — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:19:02 +0000

Poster Number:

241

Presenter/Primary Author:

Nick Brokaw

Tropical environments are changing fast due to deforestation and regrowth, urbanization, climate change, and other forces. The consequences are immense for the whole array of ecosystem services people require. The Luquillo Long-Term Ecological Research Program (LUQ) is tackling these issues in Puerto Rico. LUQ began in 1988 and focused on natural disturbances (hurricanes, landslides, droughts, floods) and ecosystem response. That work revealed patterns of resistance and resilience to cycles of natural disturbance.

Assessing Organic Carbon Stabilization in Chihuahuan Desert Soils Using Sequential Density Fractionation

Heather Throop — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:38:08 +0000

Poster Number:

238

Presenter/Primary Author:

Heather Throop

Co-Authors:

Kate Lajtha

Co-Authors:

Phil Sollins

Co-Authors:

Curtis Monger

Stabilization of organic matter on mineral surfaces strongly affects rates of soil organic matter (SOM) accumulation and turnover. Controls over SOM are of particular interest in arid and semi-arid systems where the abundance of woody plants has increased globally over the past century. This proliferation of woody plants may lead to significant soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation, although a large degree of uncertainty exists in the direction and magnitude of SOC pool responses to woody encroachment.