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SP016

Influence of coniferous tree invasion on forest meadow soil properties on Bunch Grass Ridge and Deer Creek near the Andrews Experimental Forest, 1998

  • Creator(s): Robert P. Griffiths
  • PI(s): Robert P. Griffiths
  • Originator(s): Robert P. Griffiths
  • Other researcher(s):
  • Dates of data collection: Jan 7 1998 - Jan 9 1998
  • Data collection status: Study collection is completed and no new collection is planned
  • Data access: Online
  • Access constraint: If data used in publication, the PI will be listed as a coauthor. Whenever these data are presented in whatever form, the PI will be acknowledged.
  • Last update: Feb 7 2002 (Version 2)
<Citation>     <Acknowledgement>     <Disclaimer>    
Griffiths, R. 2002. Influence of coniferous tree invasion on forest meadow soil properties on Bunch Grass Ridge and Deer Creek near the Andrews Experimental Forest, 1998. Long-Term Ecological Research. Forest Science Data Bank, Corvallis, OR. [Database]. Available: http://andlter.forestry.oregonstate.edu/data/abstract.aspx?dbcode=SP016. Accessed 2024-10-10.
Data were provided by the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest research program, funded by the National Science Foundation's Long-Term Ecological Research Program (DEB 2025755), US Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station, and Oregon State University.
While substantial efforts are made to ensure the accuracy of data and documentation, complete accuracy of data sets cannot be guaranteed. All data are made available "as is". The Andrews LTER shall not be liable for damages resulting from any use or misinterpretation of data sets.
ABSTRACT:
Measurements were made along transects running from mountain meadows, into transition zones where trees were invading meadows and then into mature forest to determine if the invasion of high central Oregon Cascade Mountain meadows by the surrounding forest altered soil properties. Prior studies shown that meadow soil chemical and biological characteristic change when they are invaded by surrounding trees. For instance meadow litter has been shown to be enriched in nitrogen when compared with tree litter. In this study, differences in nitrogen pools and cycling were observed supporting the view that nitrogen is more available in meadow soils than in forests and that these differences change rapidly when tree invade mountain meadows. As trees invade meadows, ß-glucosidase activity is also rapidly reduced suggesting that qualitative changes are taking place in microbial populations as microorganisms adjust to changes in litter quality. High correlations between litter depth and most variables suggest that meadow litter may control other aspects of biogeochemical cycling; a relationship not observed in the transition zone or the mature forest. With one exception, the values observed in the transition zone were intermediate between those in meadows and those in forest soils. In most cases, the values found in this zone were closer to those found in mature forests than in meadow soils suggesting that when trees invade meadows, soil properties are rapidly shifted toward those found in forests. These rapid changes may alter soils so that they are more likely to support trees than grass. This may partially explain why, areas where trees had been cut after they became established as small islands within the meadow are rapidly recolonized by trees rather than grass.

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1Influence of coniferous tree invasion on forest meadow soil properties METADATADATA