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Forest defoliator outbreaks alter nutrient cycling in northern waters

Author

Listed:
  • Samuel G. Woodman

    (Ecosystems and Global Change Group, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge)

  • Sacha Khoury

    (Forest Ecology and Conservation Group, University of Cambridge Conservation Research Institute, University of Cambridge)

  • Ronald E. Fournier

    (Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Great Lakes Forestry Centre)

  • Erik J. S. Emilson

    (Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Great Lakes Forestry Centre)

  • John M. Gunn

    (Cooperative Freshwater Ecology Unit, Vale Living with Lakes Centre, Laurentian University)

  • James A. Rusak

    (Dorset Environmental Science Centre, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks)

  • Andrew J. Tanentzap

    (Ecosystems and Global Change Group, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge)

Abstract

Insect defoliators alter biogeochemical cycles from land into receiving waters by consuming terrestrial biomass and releasing biolabile frass. Here, we related insect outbreaks to water chemistry across 12 boreal lake catchments over 32-years. We report, on average, 27% lower dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and 112% higher dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) concentrations in lake waters when defoliators covered entire catchments and reduced leaf area. DOC reductions reached 32% when deciduous stands dominated. Within-year changes in DOC from insect outbreaks exceeded 86% of between-year trends across a larger dataset of 266 boreal and north temperate lakes from 1990 to 2016. Similarly, within-year increases in DIN from insect outbreaks exceeded local, between-year changes in DIN by 12-times, on average. As insect defoliator outbreaks occur at least every 5 years across a wider 439,661 km2 boreal ecozone of Ontario, we suggest they are an underappreciated driver of biogeochemical cycles in forest catchments of this region.

Suggested Citation

  • Samuel G. Woodman & Sacha Khoury & Ronald E. Fournier & Erik J. S. Emilson & John M. Gunn & James A. Rusak & Andrew J. Tanentzap, 2021. "Forest defoliator outbreaks alter nutrient cycling in northern waters," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-26666-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26666-1
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    2. Donald T. Monteith & John L. Stoddard & Christopher D. Evans & Heleen A. de Wit & Martin Forsius & Tore Høgåsen & Anders Wilander & Brit Lisa Skjelkvåle & Dean S. Jeffries & Jussi Vuorenmaa & Bill Kel, 2007. "Dissolved organic carbon trends resulting from changes in atmospheric deposition chemistry," Nature, Nature, vol. 450(7169), pages 537-540, November.
    3. Jan Karlsson & Pär Byström & Jenny Ask & Per Ask & Lennart Persson & Mats Jansson, 2009. "Light limitation of nutrient-poor lake ecosystems," Nature, Nature, vol. 460(7254), pages 506-509, July.
    4. Kristin M. Mikkelson & Eric R. V. Dickenson & Reed M. Maxwell & John E. McCray & Jonathan O. Sharp, 2013. "Water-quality impacts from climate-induced forest die-off," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 3(3), pages 218-222, March.
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