Minirhizotron Imaging Equipment for the Study of Root Dynamics in Alaskan Taiga Ecosystems

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This proposal requests funds for the implementation of minirhizotron imaging to study the dynamics of fine root growth and turnover in relation to resource availability and herbivory along a successional forest gradient in Alaska. Virtually nothing is known concerning the rates of, or control over allocation to roots in taiga ecosystems, or the contribution of root turnover to soil carbon and nutrient pools. Such information is significant, however, given the fact that taiga contains approximately 20% of the Earth's stored carbon. Preliminary results show that fluxes through roots may constitute a significant percentage of the total carbon budget of these ecosystems, thus this research project has implications beyond the immediate questions of forest successional dynamics, pertinent to the broader topic of dynamic ecosystem modelling and global land-atmosphere carbon exchanges. %%% This belowground research instrumentation to be used at the Bonanza Creek Long-term Ecological Research site will provide new insights into the structure and function of taiga ecosystems and serve to couple many of the research disciplines on the LTER project. In addition, this new instrumentation will significantly enhance instructional and research opportunities for undergraduate, raduate and postdoctoral training.