Separate estimation of N export into baseline N leakage without disturbance and N loss due to insect defoliation in a pine forest watershed in central Japan

Naoko, Tokuchi; Nobuhito, Ohte; Ken’ichi, Osaka; Masanori, Katsuyama

Separate estimation of N export into baseline N leakage without disturbance and N loss due to insect defoliation in a pine forest watershed in central Japan

2013

Naoko, Tokuchi | Nobuhito, Ohte | Ken’ichi, Osaka | Masanori, Katsuyama

Pine wilt disease (PWD) is caused by a non-native pest that has spread extensively throughout Japan. Previous research has indicated that most infected trees have died and the litter deposited has resulted in changes to stream-water chemistry, particularly increased nitrate (NO ₃ ⁻ ) concentrations. In this study, we divided stream nitrogen (N) export into N loss due to PWD and baseline N leakage without disturbance based on long-term monitoring. The annual N export was 110.0 mol N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ in 1990 and 749.8 mol N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ in 1997, and had decreased to 37.0 mol N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ in 2005. N export under PWD influence was estimated to be 3697 mol N ha⁻¹, and N loss due to PWD was 2810 mol N ha⁻¹. N loss due to PWD was three times larger than baseline N leakage for the disturbed period. These changes in plant–herbivore relationships could affect N status in a forest ecosystem. So-called “semi-natural” disturbances related to non-native species invasion and increases of atmospheric N deposition caused by human activity will increase. Long-term monitoring studies of various aspects are necessary to offer insight into this ecosystem.

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