Nutrient Distribution in the Alpine and Subalpine Ecosystems
Nutrient Distribution in the Alpine and Subalpine Ecosystems of the Front Range By: Ryan Provencher Winter Ecology Spring 2009 Mountain Research Station, University of Colorado, Boulder
What Processes and Conditions Alter Nutrient Distribution in the Alpine and Subalpine zones of Niwot Ridge? Climate- locally and regionally Landscape Continuum Model Climate Change Anthropogenic Alterations
Landscape Continuum Model Conceptual Framework Complexity of interactions Resource distribution Transport processes
Landscape Continuum Model Transport Processes Climate Change Nitrogen Deposition Areas of Amplification
Landscape Continuum Characteristics Down hill transport Dry fall Redistribution of Snow Areas of amplified resources
Daniel Liptzen Dissertation SOIL NUTRIENTS AND BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLING IN THE FOREST-ALPINE TUNDRA ECOTONE -Aspect and side of Continental divide -Winter soil temperatures highly dependant on snow depth -Length of growing season
Laura Mujica-Crapanzano Dissertation -Talus tundra slope -Microtopography and microclimates of Krummholz - Stable microclimates great source for global change studies.
Summary Extreme and Complex System The Landscape Continuum Model Global Change Interactions between transport processes Zones of Amplification Future studies and Current Studies
References Admundson R, Jenny H. 1997. On a state factor model of ecosystems. Bio. Science 47: 536– 543. Billings, W. D. 1988. Alpine vegetation. Pages 391 -420 in M. G. Barbour and W. D. Billings, editors. North American terrestrial vegetation. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Burns SF, Tonkin PJ. 1982. Soil-geomorphic models and the spatial distribution and development of alpine soils. Pages 25– 44 in Thorn CE, ed. Space and Time in Geomorphology. London: George Allen and Unwin. Greenland, D. , and M. Losleben. 2001. Climate. Pages 337 in W. D. Bowman and T. R. Seastedt, editors. Structure and Function of an Alpine Ecosystem, Niwot Ridge, Colorado. Oxford University Press, New York. Mujica-Crapanzano. Landscape Analysis of Vegetation and Diversity Patterns at Niwot Ridge, Colorado. Diss, University of Colorado Boulder Ley RE, Williams MW, Schmidt SK. 2004. Microbial population dynamics in an extreme environment: Controlling factors in talus soils at 3750 m in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Biogeochemistry. Liptzin, Daniel. SOIL NUTRIENTS AND BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLING IN THE FORESTALPINE TUNDRA ECOTONE. Diss, The University of Colorado Boulder Seastedt, T. R. , W. D. Bowman, T. N. Caine, D. Mc. Knight, A. Townsend, and M. W. Williams. 2004. The landscape continuum: A model for high-elevation ecosystems. Bioscience 54: 111 -121. Swanson FJ, Kratz TK, Caine N, Woodmansee RG. 1988. Landform effects on ecosystem patterns and processes. Bio. Science 38: 92– 98.
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