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Nitrogen stable isotopes indicate differences in nitrogen cycling between two contrasting Jamaican montane forests

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Abstract

Background and aims

The aim of this study is to enhance our knowledge of nitrogen (N) cycling and N acquisition in tropical montane forests through analysis of stable N isotopes (δ15N).

Methods

Leaves from eight common tree species, leaf litter, soils from three depths and roots were sampled from two contrasting montane forest types in Jamaica (mull ridge and mor ridge) and were analysed for δ15N.

Results

All foliar δ15N values were negative and varied among the tree species but were significantly more negative in the mor ridge forest (by about 2 ‰). δ15N of soils and roots were also more negative in mor ridge forests by about 3 ‰. Foliar δ15N values were closer to that of soil ammonium than soil nitrate suggesting that trees in these forests may have a preference for ammonium; this may explain the high losses of nitrate from similar tropical montane forests. There was no correlation between the rankings of foliar δ15N in the two forest types suggesting a changing uptake ratio of different N forms between forest types.

Conclusions

These results indicate that N is found at low concentrations in this ecosystem and that there is a tighter N cycle in the mor ridge forest, confirmed by reduced nitrogen availability and lower rates of nitrification. Overall, soil or root δ15N values are more useful in assessing ecosystem N cycling patterns as different tree species showed differences in foliar δ15N between the two forest types.

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Acknowledgments

I am indebted to Ed Tanner (University of Cambridge) for his continued support and encouragement of this research. Many thanks to Ben Harlow (University of Washington) for isotope analysis; thanks also to Kurt McLaren and Jane Cohen (University of the West Indies) for advice and logistical support, Raymond Ramdon (Ministry of Agriculture, Jamaica) for permission to use Cinchona Botanic Gardens as a base, the staff of the gardens for their assistance, Claudia Schütz (Technischen Universität München) for advising on isotopic analysis of ammonium and nitrate, Shauna-Lee Chai (University of Cambridge) for placing and collecting the PRS™ probes, and Steve Hoon (Manchester Metropolitan University) for help in modelling root biomass. This study was financially supported by the British Ecological Society, Dalton Research Institute (Manchester Metropolitan University), Percy Sladen Memorial Fund, Trinity College Dublin Association and Trust, and WesternAg Innovations.

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  1. Department of Botany, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland

    Francis Q. Brearley

  2. School of Science and the Environment, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester, M1 5GD, UK

    Francis Q. Brearley

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Correspondence to Francis Q. Brearley.

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Brearley, F.Q. Nitrogen stable isotopes indicate differences in nitrogen cycling between two contrasting Jamaican montane forests. Plant Soil 367, 465–476 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-012-1469-z

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