Abstract
Ecologists have tried to link plant species composition and ecosystem properties since the inception of the ecosystem concept in ecology. Many have observed that biological communities could feed back to, and not simply result from, soil properties. But which group of organisms, plants or microorganisms, drive those feedback systems? Recent research asserts that soil microorganisms preclude plant species feedback to soil nitrogen (N) transformations due to strong microbial control of soil N cycling. It has been well documented that litter properties influence soil N cycling. In this review, we stress that under many circumstances plant species exert a major influence over soil N cycling rates via unique N attainment strategies, thus influencing soil N availability and their own fitness. We offer two testable mechanisms by which plants impart active control on the N cycle and thereby allow for plant-litter-soil-plant feedback. Finally, we describe the characteristics of plants and ecosystems that are most likely to exhibit feedback.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 27-34 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | New Phytologist |
| Volume | 169 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 2006 |
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Keywords
- Litter feedback
- Microbial bottleneck
- Nitrogen (N) cycling
- Plant species
- Soil organic matter
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Plant Science
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
- Biochemistry
Cite this
Plants actively control nitrogen cycling : Uncorking the microbial bottleneck. / Chapman, Samantha K.; Langley, J. Adam; Hart, Stephen C.; Koch, George W.
In: New Phytologist, Vol. 169, No. 1, 01.2006, p. 27-34.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Plants actively control nitrogen cycling
T2 - Uncorking the microbial bottleneck
AU - Chapman, Samantha K.
AU - Langley, J. Adam
AU - Hart, Stephen C.
AU - Koch, George W
PY - 2006/1
Y1 - 2006/1
N2 - Ecologists have tried to link plant species composition and ecosystem properties since the inception of the ecosystem concept in ecology. Many have observed that biological communities could feed back to, and not simply result from, soil properties. But which group of organisms, plants or microorganisms, drive those feedback systems? Recent research asserts that soil microorganisms preclude plant species feedback to soil nitrogen (N) transformations due to strong microbial control of soil N cycling. It has been well documented that litter properties influence soil N cycling. In this review, we stress that under many circumstances plant species exert a major influence over soil N cycling rates via unique N attainment strategies, thus influencing soil N availability and their own fitness. We offer two testable mechanisms by which plants impart active control on the N cycle and thereby allow for plant-litter-soil-plant feedback. Finally, we describe the characteristics of plants and ecosystems that are most likely to exhibit feedback.
AB - Ecologists have tried to link plant species composition and ecosystem properties since the inception of the ecosystem concept in ecology. Many have observed that biological communities could feed back to, and not simply result from, soil properties. But which group of organisms, plants or microorganisms, drive those feedback systems? Recent research asserts that soil microorganisms preclude plant species feedback to soil nitrogen (N) transformations due to strong microbial control of soil N cycling. It has been well documented that litter properties influence soil N cycling. In this review, we stress that under many circumstances plant species exert a major influence over soil N cycling rates via unique N attainment strategies, thus influencing soil N availability and their own fitness. We offer two testable mechanisms by which plants impart active control on the N cycle and thereby allow for plant-litter-soil-plant feedback. Finally, we describe the characteristics of plants and ecosystems that are most likely to exhibit feedback.
KW - Litter feedback
KW - Microbial bottleneck
KW - Nitrogen (N) cycling
KW - Plant species
KW - Soil organic matter
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33644859364&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33644859364&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2005.01571.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2005.01571.x
M3 - Article
VL - 169
SP - 27
EP - 34
JO - New Phytologist
JF - New Phytologist
SN - 0028-646X
IS - 1
ER -