The BOREAS Information System

TE-1: Stores and Dynamics of Organic Matter in Boreal Ecosystems

P.I.(s): Darwin W. Anderson -- University of Saskatchewan
Co-I(s): Jeff J. Schoenau, Euan G. Nisbet -- Univ. of Saskatchewan; Donald Pluth -- Univ. of Alberta

Objectives: The objective of this research is to characterize the various soil-plant systems along a transect in one of the ecosystems selected for study at the Southern Study Area. Particular emphasis is on nutrient biochemistry, the stores and transfers of organic carbon and on soil properties and pedogenesis, and how the characteristics are related to measured methane fluxes. The transect in Prince Albert National Park included the major plant communities and related soils that occur in that section of the boreal forest. Soil physical, chemical and biological measurements along the transect are being used to characterize the static environment, which will then be related to methane fluxes. Chamber techniques were used to provide a measure of methane production/uptake. Chamber measurements coupled with flask sampling were used to determine the seasonality of methane fluxes.

TE-1 Data Sets