Resilience of Boreal Ecosystems Assessed Using High-Frequency Records of Dissolved Organic Matter and Nitrate in Streams
Abstract
This SERDP project assessed whether stream biogeochemistry can indicate the ecological state of the contributing area, assess ecosystem resilience,and/or provide early warning of regime shifts caused by fire and permafrost thaw. The Department of Defense maintains extensive lands in the boreal forest that are managed to provide both suitable training grounds and ecosystem services including carbon storage and wildlife habitat. These lands are vulnerable to thawing permafrost and changing fire regime, which can replace the previously dominant black spruce forests with deciduous forests that do not insulate permafrost. Stream chemistry integrates signals originating from throughout the contributing area and could therefore assess ecosystem state at larger scales than ground-based measures.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 25, 2023
- Accession Number
- AD1229800
Entities
People
- Tamara K. Harms
- Thomas A. Douglas
Organizations
- University of Alaska Fairbanks