Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
2024800 | Soil Biology and Biochemistry | 2013 | 4 Pages |
Abstract
In arctic ecosystems, winter soil respiration can contribute substantially to annual CO2 release, yet the source of this C is not clear. We analysed the 14C content of C released from plant-free plots in mountain birch forest and tundra-heath. Winter-respired CO2 was found to be a similar age (tundra) or older (forest) than C released during the previous autumn. Overall, our study demonstrates that the decomposition of older C can continue during the winter, in these two contrasting arctic ecosystems.
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Authors
Iain P. Hartley, Mark H. Garnett, Martin Sommerkorn, David W. Hopkins, Philip A. Wookey,