Journal article
Human footprints in urban forests: implication of nitrogen deposition for nitrogen and carbon storage
Journal of Soils and Sediments, Vol.15(9), pp.1927-1936
2015
Abstract
Purpose: Rising levels of nitrogen (N) deposition are influencing urban forest carbon (C) and N dynamics due to greater human disturbance compared to those in rural areas. N deposition in combination with increased atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and water limitation may alter C and N storage in urban forests. This review aimed to provide a better understanding of N and C storage under N deposition scenarios in urban forests. Results and discussion: Globally, fuel combustion and biomass burning contribute in approximately 70 and 16 % of the NOx emission respectively. It is also estimated that NHy and NOx are two to four times higher in urban forests compared to rural areas. However, higher N deposition may not always result in increased N and C storage in urban forests. In fact, urban forests may even show early symptoms of N and C losses under climate change. For example, urban forests in fire-prone areas require higher frequency of burning to reduce the threat of wildfires, leading to an acceleration of C and N loss. Additionally, chronic N deposition may result in an early N loss in urban forests due to faster N saturation and soil acidification in urban forests compared to rural forests. Studies of N deposition on urban forests using N isotope composition (δ15N) also showed that N loss from urban forests can occur through the direct leaching of the deposited NO3 --N. We also noted that using different 15N signal of soil and plant in combination of tree ring δ15N may provide a better understanding of N movement in urban forests. Conclusions: Although urban forests may become a source of C and N faster than rural forests, N-limited urban forests may benefit from N deposition to retain both N and C stocks longer than non-N-limited urban forests. Appropriate management practices may also help to delay such symptoms; however, the main source of emission still needs to be managed to reduce both N deposition and rising atmospheric CO2 in urban forests. Otherwise, the N and C stocks in urban forests may further decline when prolonged drought conditions under global climate change increase the frequency of fires and reduce plant photosynthesis.
Details
- Title
- Human footprints in urban forests: implication of nitrogen deposition for nitrogen and carbon storage
- Authors
- Shahla Hosseini Bai (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and EngineeringZhihong H Xu (Author) - Griffith UniversityTimothy J Blumfield (Author) - Griffith UniversityFrederique Reverchon (Author) - Griffith University
- Publication details
- Journal of Soils and Sediments, Vol.15(9), pp.1927-1936
- Publisher
- Springer
- Date published
- 2015
- DOI
- 10.1007/s11368-015-1205-4
- ISSN
- 1439-0108
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99449372502621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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