Date of Award

Summer 2002

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Biological Sciences

Program/Concentration

Biology

Committee Director

Frank P. Day, Jr.

Committee Member

Kneeland Nesius

Committee Member

Joseph H. Rule

Call Number for Print

Special Collections LD4331.B47 H49 2002

Abstract

In 1991, 150 m2 were fertilized with nitrogen on three dunes on Hog Island, part of the Virginia Coast Reserve Long Term Ecological Research site, to examine plant community response to nitrogen addition. In 2000, the fertilized plots continued to exhibit a positive growth response. This study sampled the aboveground biomass, belowground biomass, and nutrient content of the experimental plots to examine the long- term patterns of nitrogen retention in a nitrogen limited system. Aboveground and belowground biomass was significantly greater in the fertilized plots than in the control plots. Aboveground biomass exhibited was significantly greater in control and fertilized plots in 1991 than 2000, while the belowground portion exhibited increased biomass in both plots over time. Biomass estimates of all plant components were significantly greater in treated plots. Nitrogen standing crop revealed a similar response to treatment in all plant components. Nitrogen concentrations were not affected by fertilization. These data suggest that the retention of nitrogen within the fertilized plots has been partially driven by increased biomass. The conclusion of this study was that increased pools of decomposing litter have altered nutrient processing rates within the fertilized plots to conserve available nitrogen in the system.

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DOI

10.25777/1wvd-0z23

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