Publications [#225298] of Emily S. Bernhardt

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Papers Published

  1. Phillips, RP; Meier, IC; Bernhardt, ES; Grandy, AS; Wickings, K; Finzi, AC, Roots and fungi accelerate carbon and nitrogen cycling in forests exposed to elevated CO2., Ecology Letters, vol. 15 no. 9 (September, 2012), pp. 1042-1049 [doi] .
    (last updated on 2023/01/01)

    Abstract:
    A common finding in multiple CO(2) enrichment experiments in forests is the lack of soil carbon (C) accumulation owing to microbial priming of 'old' soil organic matter (SOM). However, soil C losses may also result from the accelerated turnover of 'young' microbial tissues that are rich in nitrogen (N) relative to bulk SOM. We measured root-induced changes in soil C dynamics in a pine forest exposed to elevated CO(2) and N enrichment by combining stable isotope analyses, molecular characterisations of SOM and microbial assays. We find strong evidence that the accelerated turnover of root-derived C under elevated CO(2) is sufficient in magnitude to offset increased belowground inputs. In addition, the C losses were associated with accelerated N cycling, suggesting that trees exposed to elevated CO(2) not only enhance N availability by stimulating microbial decomposition of SOM via priming but also increase the rate at which N cycles through microbial pools.