Aspen Bibliography

Nutrient Budgets for Undisturbed Ecosystems Along an Elevational Gradient in New Mexico

J.R. Gosz

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

in: 'mineral Cycling in Southeastern Ecosystems

First Page

780

Last Page

799

Publication Date

1975

Abstract

The Tesuque watersheds in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of New Mexico were studied to compare the nutrient flux of ecosystems from different zones and biomes along an elevational gradient and on a common bedrock. Nutrient budgets for Ca, Mg, Na, and K are presented for 1972 and 1973 for watershed ecosystems with vegetation ranging from pinion-juniper to spruce-fir and alpine tundra. Nutrient inputs varied over elevation as a result of large quantities of precipitation at high elevations and of dust at low elevations. The seasonal quantity and distribution of precipitation affected the relationship between nutrient inputs from dust and precipitation. Stream chemistry and nutrient output (dissolved loss) also varied over the elevational gradient. A number of factors appear to be involved: evapotranspiration, nutrient uptake, throughfall, discharge volume, CO, production in soil, and soil chemistry. The nutrient budgets for the watersheds showed that the smallest loss or maximum accumulation generally occurred on intermediate elevations having mixed conifer vegetation. This vegetation zone has the greatest plant and animal diversity, and the high actual evapotranspiration rate of this zone suggests that it has the highest rate of primary production. These data support the hypothesis that a high efficiency of nutrient cycling (nutrient conservation) is associated with high productivity and community complexity.

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