Small but mighty: Impacts of rodent‐herbivore structures on carbon and nutrient cycling in arctic tundra
Small but mighty: Impacts of rodent‐herbivore structures on carbon and nutrient cycling in arctic tundra
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小而强大：啮齿动物和草食动物结构对北极苔原碳和养分循环的影响
DOI：
10.1111/1365-2435.14127
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发表时间：
2022
影响因子：
5.2
通讯作者：
McLaren, Jennie R.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Roy, Austin;Gough, Laura;Boelman, Natalie T.;Rowe, Rebecca J.;Griffin, Kevin L.;McLaren, Jennie R.
了解北极生态系统的功能是了解未来全球碳（C）和养分循环过程的关键。然而，小型哺乳动物食草动物可以对生态系统的结构建设者的影响，这些影响一直被低估的北极systems.We的理解研究的影响，小型哺乳动物的结构（干草堆，跑道，厕所）对土壤和植物在三个北极苔原地区附近的Utqiajovik，图里克湖，诺姆，阿拉斯加。我们的目的是（1）研究田鼠和旅鼠结构如何影响植物和土壤养分库以及微生物过程，（2）确定结构效应在苔原系统类型中是否相似，以及（3）了解在小型哺乳动物多年种群周期的不同阶段，这些结构的丰度和覆盖度的变化如何影响生态地球化学循环。小型哺乳动物的结构增加了土壤中氮的有效性，尽管其效果因研究区域而异。在整个研究区域，干草堆相对不常见（覆盖率最低），但增加了多个土壤氮和磷库，C-和N-获取酶的活性，和叶磷（P）浓度，特定的营养变量和影响的大小因研究区域而异。厕所覆盖率第二高，影响多个C，N和P库，但其影响主要是在一个单一的区域内观察。最后，跑道覆盖率最高的所有活动类型，但增加的土壤养分variables.We的结论是，通过影响土壤养分的有效性和土壤地球化学循环，小型哺乳动物结构可以影响自下而上的调节生态系统功能，特别是在高阶段的小型哺乳动物种群周期。这些种群周期的未来变化可能会改变小型哺乳动物在北极的作用，并对系统进程产生持久的影响。
Understanding arctic ecosystem function is key to understanding future global carbon (C) and nutrient cycling processes. However, small mammal herbivores can have effects on ecosystems as structure builders and these effects have been underrepresented in the understanding of arctic systems.We examined the impact of small mammal structures (hay piles, runways, latrines) on soils and plants in three arctic tundra regions near Utqiaġvik, Toolik Lake, and Nome, Alaska. Our aims were to (1) examine how vole and lemming structures influence plant and soil nutrient pools and microbial processes, (2) determine if structure effects were similar across tundra system types, and (3) understand how changes in the abundance and cover of these structures during different phases of small mammal multi‐annual population cycles might influence biogeochemical cycling.In general, small mammal structures increased nitrogen (N) availability in soils, although effects varied by study region. Across study regions, hay piles were relatively uncommon (lowest % cover) but increased multiple soil N and P pools, C‐ and N‐acquiring enzyme activities, and leaf phosphorus (P) concentrations, with the specific nutrient variables and size of the effects varying by study region. Latrines had the second highest cover and influenced multiple C, N and P pools, but their effects were mainly observed within a single region. Lastly, runways had the highest % cover of all activity types but increased the fewest number of soil nutrient variables.We conclude that by influencing soil nutrient availability and biogeochemical cycling, small mammal structures can influence bottom‐up regulation of ecosystem function, particularly during the high phase of the small mammal population cycle. Future changes in these population cycles might alter the role of small mammals in the Arctic and have lasting effects on system processes.Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog