Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Estimating of Carbon and Nitrogen Content in Forest Ecosystems in the Background Areas of the Russian Arctic (Murmansk Region)

Version 1 : Received: 9 November 2023 / Approved: 9 November 2023 / Online: 9 November 2023 (14:54:43 CET)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Ershov, V.; Sukhareva, T.; Ryabov, N.; Ivanova, E.; Shtabrovskaya, I. Estimation of Carbon and Nitrogen Contents in Forest Ecosystems in the Background Areas of the Russian Arctic (Murmansk Region). Forests 2024, 15, 29. Ershov, V.; Sukhareva, T.; Ryabov, N.; Ivanova, E.; Shtabrovskaya, I. Estimation of Carbon and Nitrogen Contents in Forest Ecosystems in the Background Areas of the Russian Arctic (Murmansk Region). Forests 2024, 15, 29.

Abstract

In this study, we made an estimate of the carbon and nitrogen content in the undisturbed terrestrial ecosystems in the northern taiga zone of Russia’s Murmansk region. The goal of this study was to examine the carbon and nitrogen dynamics in atmospheric fallout, assimilating organs of coniferous trees (Picea obovata and Pinus sylvestris), needle litter, soils, and soil water. The objects of our re-search were the most common dwarf shrub-green moss spruce forests and lichen-dwarf shrub pine forests of the boreal zone. The study was carried out on permanent plots between 1999 and 2020. Long-term dynamics of carbon concentrations in snow demonstrated a trend towards increasing carbon concentrations in forested and treeless areas of Murmansk region. It was shown that in representative spruce and pine forests, the concentrations and atmospheric fallout of carbon compounds and carbon leaching with soil water were higher below the tree crowns, compared to between the crowns. In soil water, a decrease was found in carbon leaching with the soil profile depth. For soils, the highest carbon concentrations were found in the organic and illuvial soil ho-rizons. The main soil sinks of carbon and nitrogen in northern taiga forests were found to be located in the organic soil horizon below the crowns. In northern taiga forests, the carbon content of living Picea obovata and Pinus sylvestris needles and Pinus sylvestris needle litter had minor variability; no significant interbiogeocoenotic and age differences were found. We found that the nitrogen content in brown needles and needle litter was significantly lower compared to photosynthetically active needles.

Keywords

northen taiga forests; atmospheric fallout; soils; Picea obovata; Pinus sylvestris; carbon; nitrogen; Arctic

Subject

Environmental and Earth Sciences, Environmental Science

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