Short circuits in the nitrogen cycle regulate ecosystem development in the terrestrial Antarctic
Lead Research Organisation:
Bangor University
Department Name: Sch of Environment and Natural Resources
Abstract
The Antarctic is a uniquely important 'natural laboratory' for examining ecosystem responses to climate change, and it is vital that the biological changes being observed there are properly understood. Its uniqueness comes from a combination of the simplicity of its ecosystems, which exhibit restricted species diversity and food chain complexity, with environmental warming which is occurring at approximately twice the rate of change in temperate regions. One of the major features of this warming appears to be the 'greening-up' of terrestrial habitats. This greening appears to be linked to the availability of nitrogen which is often present in short supply in many polar environments. Despite its central role in regulating plant growth, our knowledge of the nitrogen cycle in Antarctic environments remains extremely poor. Consequently, it remains difficult to understand and predict how envionmental perturbations will affect or threaten these unique terrestrial communities. In addition, we believe that current models of the nitrogen cycle are unsound as they have failed to include key cogs and internal loops. Our aim is to greatly expand our knowledge of polar N cycling by looking in detail at competition between soil and plants for organic and inorganic nitrogen. Ultimately, this will enhance mathematical models used for predicting ecosystem responses to perturbation. The work directly underpins policy relating to environmental change and biodiversity in polar regions. The work is also extremely relevant to many other low-input ecosystems around the world (e.g. boreal forest, Arctic tundra, tropical rainforest).
Publications
Wilkinson A
(2015)
Challenging the paradigm of nitrogen cycling: no evidence of in situ resource partitioning by coexisting plant species in grasslands of contrasting fertility.
in Ecology and evolution
Sánchez-Rodríguez A
(2019)
Extreme flood events at higher temperatures exacerbate the loss of soil functionality and trace gas emissions in grassland
in Soil Biology and Biochemistry
Sánchez-Rodríguez A
(2019)
Typology of extreme flood event leads to differential impacts on soil functioning
in Soil Biology and Biochemistry
Riddick S
(2016)
Measurement of ammonia emissions from temperate and sub-polar seabird colonies
in Atmospheric Environment
Miura M
(2020)
Impact of a single freeze-thaw and dry-wet event on soil solutes and microbial metabolites
in Applied Soil Ecology
Miura M
(2019)
Freeze-thaw and dry-wet events reduce microbial extracellular enzyme activity, but not organic matter turnover in an agricultural grassland soil
in Applied Soil Ecology
Jones D
(2018)
Microbial competition for nitrogen and carbon is as intense in the subsoil as in the topsoil
in Soil Biology and Biochemistry
Jiang L
(2020)
Abiotic and biotic controls of soil dissolved organic nitrogen along a precipitation gradient on the Tibetan plateau
in Plant and Soil
Description | See previous grant output system |
Exploitation Route | See previous grant output system |
Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Environment |
Description | See previous grant output system |
First Year Of Impact | 2010 |
Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment |
Impact Types | Policy & public services |
Description | Conference talk |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | talk at ETH Switzerland |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Open science talk |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Talk on polar biology |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Talk at Southampton Univ |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Talk with department. Discussion of new potential research areas |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Talk to CAS China |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Talk at CAS China on research. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Seminar at BOKU, Vienna |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |