The predicted changes in future climatic and atmospheric conditions concerning temperature, precipitation and CO₂ concentration will very likely affect the internal nitrogen cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. Consequently, the function and structure of the soil-plant systems will change with implications for future biological contents exchange with adjacent biotopes. This project aims to examine changes in the magnitude of the primary processes being involved in the nitrogen cycling in a heath ecosystem under future climatic conditions. The experimental work will be conducted in the CLIMAITE manipulated field site and will include applications of the stable nitrogen-15 isotope in order to estimate the gross cycling of organic and inorganic nitrogen compounds. Analysis of sample material takes place in the laboratory using stable isotope mass spectrometry. Relationships between observed gross cycling rates, soil physical and chemical conditions will be compiled in simple mathematical models to predict future N cycling potentials.

Contact (More contact info - press here):

Per Ambus, Risø, per.ambus@risoe.dk; Anders Michelsen, KU, andersm@bi.ku.dk