A Novel Experimental and Modelling Study of C and N Dynamics Between Litter, Soil and the Atmosphere as Affected by Soil Fauna and Litter Quality

死亡植物材料（凋落物）的腐烂是陆地生态系统中的一个关键过程。 例如，当土壤肥力所必需的营养物质通过分解释放到土壤中时，碳（C）以二氧化碳（CO2）的形式释放回大气中，或以稳定的形式储存在地下。每年，分解过程释放到大气中的CO2比人类活动释放的CO2高一个数量级。气候、凋落物质量和土壤动物是控制凋落物腐烂的关键因素。目前对垃圾分解过程的了解有限，妨碍了对大气温室气体未来变化的模型预测。这项研究将对土壤动物对分解的影响产生新的认识。它包括一个创新的垃圾腐烂实验在外地，使用尖端和传统的方法来解开有关碳和氮（N）从垃圾转移到土壤和大气的问题。一个设计良好的实验方案将导致清晰的示范效果的凋落物质量和土壤动物的分解过程。对凋落物分解过程中碳和氮通量的机理性理解将改善生态系统模型，并最终提高预测气候变化对土壤碳收支、氮示踪气体通量和生态系统净温室气体通量影响的能力。 该项目将在长期生态研究地点Konza大草原进行，从而将有助于建立一个关于气候变化、生物多样性和生态系统功能的长期数据库。将教授关于示踪剂在生态学中的潜在用途的研究生课程，并将促进为博士后助理、研究生和本科生提供更多的实地和实验室培训机会。此外，将启动一个关于土壤可持续性和气候变化的讨论组和系列讲座，以整合学科，作为全球环境可持续性学院的一部分。这项研究也将有助于建立NSF K-12活动正在科罗拉多州立大学的自然资源生态实验室（NREL）。

The decay of dead plant material (litter) is a key process in terrestrial ecosystems. For example, as nutrients essential for soil fertility are released into the soil through decomposition, carbon (C) is released back to the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2), or stored belowground in stable forms. Annually, the CO2 released to the atmosphere by decomposition processes is an order of magnitude higher than the CO2 released by anthropogenic activities. Climate, litter quality and soil animals are key factors controlling litter decay. Current limited knowledge of litter decomposition processes is hampering model predictions of future changes in atmospheric greenhouse gases. The proposed research will result in novel understanding about the influence of soil animals on decomposition. It includes an innovative litter decay experiment in the field, using cutting-edge and traditional methods to unravel questions about carbon and nitrogen (N) transfers from litter to soil and atmosphere. A well designed experimental plan will result in clear demonstrations of the effect of litter quality and soil animals on decomposition processes. The mechanistic understanding of carbon and nitrogen fluxes during litter decomposition will improve ecosystem models and, ultimately, the ability to predict the impact of climate change on soil carbon budgets, nitrogen trace gas fluxes and net greenhouse gas fluxes from ecosystems. The project will be conducted at the Konza prairie, a Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) site, and thus will contribute to a long-term database on climate change, biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. A graduate class on potential uses of the tracers in ecology will be taught, and additional field and lab opportunities for training for post-doctoral associates, graduate and undergraduate students will be promoted. Further, a discussion group and lecture series on Soil Sustainability and Climate Change to integrate disciplines as part of the School of Global Environmental Sustainability will be initiated. This research will also contribute to the established NSF K-12 activities ongoing at Colorado State University's Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory (NREL).