1
|
Reid REB, Waples JT, Jensen DA, Edwards CE, Liu X. Climate and vegetation and their impact on stable C and N isotope ratios in bat guano. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.929220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cave guano deposits represent a relatively untapped paleoecological archive that can provide information about past vegetation, climate, and bat diet over several millennia. Recent research suggests that carbon isotope values (δ13C) measured in guano accumulations from insectivorous bats reflect the relative abundance of C3 and C4 plants on the landscape while nitrogen isotope values (δ15N) may reflect precipitation amount. Together, these proxies can provide useful information for restoration practitioners seeking to understand how plant species composition has changed over time in relation to climate and land use. To better calibrate these proxies for use in restoration, we compared instrumental records of precipitation and satellite imagery of vegetation with isotope values measured in modern bat guano from Mary Lawson Cave, a large limestone cavern located in central Missouri. Mary Lawson Cave hosts a maternity colony of insectivorous gray bats (Myotis grisescens), and as such, contains significant guano accumulations. In the fall of 2018, we collected a 60 cm long guano core that dates to 1999 cal AD at its base. Guano core δ13C values decrease from the base toward the surface (from ~-26 to -27‰) whereas δ15N values increase toward the surface even after accounting for ammonia volatilization (from ~3 to 5‰). Presently, the landscape around Mary Lawson Cave is dominated by a deciduous forest and pasture. Given that the land cover has changed very little over this period, the decline in δ13C values toward the present likely reflects a shift in land management on farms and/or increases in invasive C3 species. Rainfall amounts from nearby Lebanon, Missouri, are significantly positively correlated with guano δ15N values, a relationship that is notably opposite that observed previously in soil and plants. We argue that heavy fertilizer application and significant grazing intensity could lead to the accumulation of large pools of excess labile nitrogen which would be vulnerable to leaching during precipitation events. The relationship between guano δ15N values and precipitation may differ for materials from less agriculturally impacted locations or periods and should be extended into the past with caution.
Collapse
|
2
|
Jõgiste K, Frelich LE, Laarmann D, Vodde F, Baders E, Donis J, Jansons A, Kangur A, Korjus H, Köster K, Kusmin J, Kuuluvainen T, Marozas V, Metslaid M, Metslaid S, Polyachenko O, Poska A, Rebane S, Stanturf JA. Imprints of management history on hemiboreal forest ecosystems in the Baltic States. Ecosphere 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kalev Jõgiste
- Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering Estonian University of Life Sciences Kreutzwaldi 5 Tartu 51006 Estonia
- Department of Forest Resources University of Minnesota 115 Green Hall, 1530 Cleveland Avenue North St Paul Minnesota 55108 USA
| | - Lee E. Frelich
- Department of Forest Resources University of Minnesota 115 Green Hall, 1530 Cleveland Avenue North St Paul Minnesota 55108 USA
| | - Diana Laarmann
- Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering Estonian University of Life Sciences Kreutzwaldi 5 Tartu 51006 Estonia
| | - Floortje Vodde
- Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering Estonian University of Life Sciences Kreutzwaldi 5 Tartu 51006 Estonia
| | - Endijs Baders
- Latvian State Forest Research Institute “Silava” Rigas 111 2169 Salaspils Latvia
| | - Janis Donis
- Latvian State Forest Research Institute “Silava” Rigas 111 2169 Salaspils Latvia
| | - Aris Jansons
- Latvian State Forest Research Institute “Silava” Rigas 111 2169 Salaspils Latvia
| | - Ahto Kangur
- Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering Estonian University of Life Sciences Kreutzwaldi 5 Tartu 51006 Estonia
| | - Henn Korjus
- Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering Estonian University of Life Sciences Kreutzwaldi 5 Tartu 51006 Estonia
| | - Kajar Köster
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/Forest Sciences University of Helsinki Latokartanonkaari 7 00014 Helsinki Finland
| | - Jürgen Kusmin
- RMK West‐Harju County Forest District Koidu 3 Risti Lääne County 90901 Estonia
| | - Timo Kuuluvainen
- Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science University of Helsinki Latokartanonkaari 7 Helsinki 00014 Finland
| | - Vitas Marozas
- Institute of Environment and Ecology Aleksandras Stulginskis University Studentu 11 Akademija Kaunas District 53361 Lithuania
| | - Marek Metslaid
- Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering Estonian University of Life Sciences Kreutzwaldi 5 Tartu 51006 Estonia
- Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research P.O. Box 115 Ås 1431 Norway
| | - Sandra Metslaid
- Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering Estonian University of Life Sciences Kreutzwaldi 5 Tartu 51006 Estonia
| | - Olga Polyachenko
- Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering Estonian University of Life Sciences Kreutzwaldi 5 Tartu 51006 Estonia
| | - Anneli Poska
- Department of Geology Tallinn University of Technology Ehitajate tee 5 Tallinn 19086 Estonia
| | - Sille Rebane
- Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering Estonian University of Life Sciences Kreutzwaldi 5 Tartu 51006 Estonia
| | - John A. Stanturf
- Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering Estonian University of Life Sciences Kreutzwaldi 5 Tartu 51006 Estonia
- Center for Forest Disturbance Science USDA Forest Service 320 Green Street Athens Georgia 30602 USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Broderick CM. Sharp Savanna-forest Transitions in the Midwest Followed Environmental Gradients but are Absent from the Modern Landscape. AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 2018. [DOI: 10.1674/0003-0031-180.1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin M. Broderick
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Rodhouse TJ, Sergeant CJ, Schweiger EW. Ecological monitoring and evidence‐based decision‐making in America's National Parks: highlights of the Special Feature. Ecosphere 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J. Rodhouse
- National Park Service Upper Columbia Basin Network 650 SW Columbia Street, Suite 7250 Bend Oregon 97702 USA
| | - Christopher J. Sergeant
- National Park Service Southeast Alaska Network 3100 National Park Road Juneau Alaska 99801 USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kirschbaum AA, Pfaff E, Gafvert UB. Are U.S. national parks in the Upper Midwest acting as refugia? Inside vs. outside park disturbance regimes. Ecosphere 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Alan A. Kirschbaum
- Great Lakes Inventory and Monitoring Network National Park Service Ashland Wisconsin 54806 USA
| | - Eric Pfaff
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society Oregon State University Corvallis Oregon 97331 USA
| | - Ulf B. Gafvert
- Great Lakes Inventory and Monitoring Network National Park Service Ashland Wisconsin 54806 USA
| |
Collapse
|