Nitrogen cycling in an extreme hyperarid environment inferred from δ(15)N analyses of plants, soils and herbivore diet.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Diaz FP
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4783660 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Mar
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Nitrogen cycling in an extreme hyperarid environment inferred from δ(15)N analyses of plants, soils and herbivore diet.
Díaz Francisca P FP Frugone Matías M Gutiérrez Rodrigo A RA Latorre Claudio C
Scientific reports 20160309
Climate controls on the nitrogen cycle are suggested by the negative correlation between precipitation and δ(15)N values across different ecosystems. For arid ecosystems this is unclear, as water limitation among other factors can confound this relationship. We measured herbivore feces, foliar and soil δ(15)N and δ(13)C values and chemically characterized soils (pH and elemental composition) along an elevational/climatic gradient in the Atacama Desert, northern Chile. Although very positive δ(15 ...[more]
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