18 Nutrient Distribution and Cycling
Antoni Escarre, Ferran Roda, Jaume Terradas and Xavier Mayor
18.1 Introduction
Nutrient cycling is one of the major functional properties of ecosystems. The
amounts of nutrients contained within the ecosystem, their distribution
among ecosystem compartments, and their rates of flow between compartments reflect the interactions between organisms and their environment, and
are an expression of the extent to which ecosystems affect and are affected by
the availability and fate of nutrients (Attiwill and Adams 1993).
Two characteristics of Mediterranean holm oak forests are likely to affect
the distribution and cycling of nutrients: these forests have moderate biomass and low production (Chap. 3) and they have been exploited since ancient times, being repeatedly coppiced or burnt. Low production leads to reduced nutrient demands from the soil, while long-term exploitation may
have resulted in nutrient depletion. The associated nutrient syndrome for
dominant tree species, such as holm oak, should correspond to slowgrowing, nutrient-frugal species that respond parsimoniously to increases in
nutrient availability, and with moderate intensity of nutrient cycling between
the vegetation and the soil.
In this chapter we analyze the nutrient cycling information available for
holm oak stands in the experimental areas of Prades and Montseny in NE
Spain (Chap. 2). We first summarize nutrient concentrations in holm oak
trees. We then focus on a stand-level view of the intrasystemic nutrient cycle,
i.e. the major nutrient pools and fluxes within the forest ecosystem.
Throughout, we will highlight the similarities and differences in nutrient cycling patterns between holm oak forests and other forest ecosystems.
18.2 The Database
Nutrient concentrations for holm oak at Montseny are selected from Ferres
(1984, unpubl. data), Mayor (1990) and Can adell (1988) and at Prades from
Clemente (1983), Sabate (1993), Djema (1995) and C.A. Gracia and S. Sabate
Ecological Studies, Vol. 137
Ferran Rodll et al. (eds) Ecology of Mediterranean
Evergreen Oak Forests
© Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg 1999
Antoni Escarre, Ferran Roda, Jaume Terradas and Xavier Mayor
18.1 Introduction
Nutrient cycling is one of the major functional properties of ecosystems. The
amounts of nutrients contained within the ecosystem, their distribution
among ecosystem compartments, and their rates of flow between compartments reflect the interactions between organisms and their environment, and
are an expression of the extent to which ecosystems affect and are affected by
the availability and fate of nutrients (Attiwill and Adams 1993).
Two characteristics of Mediterranean holm oak forests are likely to affect
the distribution and cycling of nutrients: these forests have moderate biomass and low production (Chap. 3) and they have been exploited since ancient times, being repeatedly coppiced or burnt. Low production leads to reduced nutrient demands from the soil, while long-term exploitation may
have resulted in nutrient depletion. The associated nutrient syndrome for
dominant tree species, such as holm oak, should correspond to slowgrowing, nutrient-frugal species that respond parsimoniously to increases in
nutrient availability, and with moderate intensity of nutrient cycling between
the vegetation and the soil.
In this chapter we analyze the nutrient cycling information available for
holm oak stands in the experimental areas of Prades and Montseny in NE
Spain (Chap. 2). We first summarize nutrient concentrations in holm oak
trees. We then focus on a stand-level view of the intrasystemic nutrient cycle,
i.e. the major nutrient pools and fluxes within the forest ecosystem.
Throughout, we will highlight the similarities and differences in nutrient cycling patterns between holm oak forests and other forest ecosystems.
18.2 The Database
Nutrient concentrations for holm oak at Montseny are selected from Ferres
(1984, unpubl. data), Mayor (1990) and Can adell (1988) and at Prades from
Clemente (1983), Sabate (1993), Djema (1995) and C.A. Gracia and S. Sabate
Ecological Studies, Vol. 137
Ferran Rodll et al. (eds) Ecology of Mediterranean
Evergreen Oak Forests
© Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg 1999