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Water, water everywhere: subtle shifts in soil saturation drive ecological function in coastal rain forests
Author(s): Marie Oliver; David D'Amore
Date: 2015
Source: Science Findings 180. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 5 p.
Publication Series: Science Findings
Station: Pacific Northwest Research Station
PDF: Download Publication (0 B)Description
New research reveals how topography, soil temperature, and subtle shifts in soil drainage are key drivers in ecosystem function in the coastal temperate rain forests of southeast Alaska and British Columbia. These studies, by Dave D'Amore and his colleagues, provide a better understanding of the influence of soil hydrology on dissolved organic carbon export and the interplay between soil saturation and tree species' response to varying soil conditions. More refined techniques for identifying hydric soils are making wetland delineation in southeast Alaska quicker, easier, and more accurate.
Identifying wetlands has been particularly tricky in these areas because southeast Alaska is relatively moist year-round. This means that wetland delineation is based on more subtle indicators. One study provides new information about how soil color can be used as an indicator of soil saturation and reduced oxidation, thus streamlining and increasing the accuracy of wetland identification. Scientists also have developed models that, based on long-term position of the water table and soil drainage, project the types of vegetation that will occur in specific landscapes. This information is proving useful for climate change adaptation planning. Other studies explore the influence of soil hydrology on the release of dissolved organic carbon into the Gulf of Alaska.Publication Notes
- Visit PNW's Publication Request Page to request a hard copy of this publication.
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- This article was written and prepared by U.S. Government employees on official time, and is therefore in the public domain.
Citation
Oliver, Marie; D’Amore, Dave. 2015. Water, water everywhere: subtle shifts in soil saturation drive ecological function in coastal rain forests. Science Findings 180. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 5 p.Keywords
wetlands, soil, southeast Alaska, Tongass National Forest, carbon.Related Search
- Soggy soils and sustainability: forested wetlands in southeast Alaska.
- Hydromorphic soil development in the coastal temperate rainforest of Alaska
- An evaluation of freezing as a preservation technique for analyzing dissolved organic C, N and P in surface water samples
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https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/49895