Collaborative Research: Controls of Ecosystem Level Functions in a Lichen-Oak Woodland

合作研究：地衣橡树林地生态系统水平功能的控制

• 批准号: 8907405
• 负责人: Thomas Nash
• 金额: $ 24.24万
• 依托单位: Arizona State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 1989
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1989-11-15 至 1993-10-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=8907405&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Controls; Ecosystem; Level

The hypothesis that canopy lichens, acting as keystone species, can control the conservation and retention of nutrients in forest ecosystems and affect nutrient cycling and primary production will be tested. In blue oak woodlands, a community that occupies 6.5% of California, biomass of the lichen, Ramalina menziesii, can exceed 700 kg/ha in the canopy. This proposed work seeks to demonstrate the importance of this non-nitrogen- fixing canopy epiphyte in net primary production and nutrient cycling throughout this oak woodland ecosystem. A replicated factorial experiment will be imposed by which canopy lichen and lichen litterfall are manipulated at two sites, representing different degrees of maritime influence in Monterey County, California. Manipulations of the canopy lichen biomass will test the hypothesis that Ramalina enhances nutrient inputs from the atmosphere. For instance, the catch of atmospheric aerosols, fog water and gases by Ramalina may enhance the input of nutrients to the entire woodland. Manipulations of the amount of Ramalina that is deposited as litterfall will test the hypothesis that the decomposition of this lichen controls the decomposition and cycling of nutrients to the oak trees. The growth efficiency and nutrient-use efficiency of the oak trees will also be examined in the experimental plots. The investigators will also develop a simple technique for extrapolating results to oak woodlands of differing density and to considerations at scales ranging to regional evaluations. The results will be significant to understanding the role of particular species in the functional properties of entire ecosystems, and to the understanding of canopy processes to other aspects of ecosystem function in oak woodlands. In addition, this study may be viewed as a case study for any lichen dominated canopy and will have implications for the function of epiphytes in general in ecosystems. The research project team is excellent. Institutional accommodations are quite good, and accommodations for the work at the Hastings Natural History Reservation will be adequate.

冠层地衣充当基石物种的假设可以控制森林生态系统中养分的保护和保留，并影响养分循环和初级生产。 在占地6.5％的加利福尼亚州6.5％的蓝橡木林地中，地衣的生物量Ramalina Menziesii在树冠中可能超过700 kg/ha。 这项拟议的工作旨在证明这种非氮固定冠层附生植物在整个橡木林地生态系统中的净初级生产和营养循环中的重要性。 将在两个地点操纵地衣地衣和地衣薄片的复制阶乘实验，这是两个地点，代表加利福尼亚州蒙特雷县的不同程度的海上影响。 冠层地衣生物质的操纵将检验以下假设：Ramalina可以增强大气中的营养输入。 例如，拉马利纳（Ramalina）的大气气溶胶，雾水和气体的捕获可能会增强对整个林地的养分输入。 操纵作为垃圾降落的拉马琳娜量的操纵将检验以下假设：这种地衣的分解可以控制营养物质对橡树的分解和循环。 橡树树的生长效率和营养效率也将在实验图中进行检查。 研究人员还将开发一种简单的技术，用于将结果推断到不同密度的橡树林，并在范围内的尺度上考虑到区域评估。 结果对于理解特定物种在整个生态系统的功能特性以及对橡树林地生态系统功能其他方面的理解中的作用以及对冠层过程的理解将是重要的。此外，这项研究可能被视为任何占主导地衣的树冠的案例研究，并将对生态系统中的附生植物的功能产生影响。 研究项目团队非常出色。 机构住宿非常好，在黑斯廷斯自然历史保留地的工作适合。