Theses and Dissertations

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Siegert, Courtney

Committee Member

Renninger, Heidi J.

Committee Member

Roberts, Scott D.

Date of Degree

8-12-2016

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Forestry

Degree Name

Master of Science

College

College of Forest Resources

Department

Department of Forestry

Abstract

Oaks (Quercus spp.) are a dominant genus in forests across the United States that have been declining due to fire suppression and forest mesophication. The reduction of these species may alter forest hydrologic and biogeochemical cycling. Canopy-derived nutrients and interspecific temporal distribution of leaves were quantified under oak and hickory (Carya spp.) species in Mississippi during 2014-2016. Throughfall quantity and chemistry were measured during every storm event under oak and hickory species. Interspecific leaf litter was collected weekly to quantify the timing of leaf fall and leaf litter nutrient content. Throughfall volume and solute fluxes were impacted by seasonality. Mg2+ and DOC were greater in throughfall than precipitation. Leaf loss was slower in oak species during leaf fall. Slower decay in oak litter may correlate with higher C/N ratios compared to hickory species. Results of this study indicate oak species are an important contributor to forest hydrology and nutrient cycling.

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11668/21181

Comments

upland oak-hickory forests||land/atmospheric interactions||nutrients and nutrient cycling||biogeochemistry||Throughfall hydrology

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