Nutrient Distribution in the Alpine and Subalpine

Ecosystems of the Front Range

By: Ryan Provencher

Winter Ecology Spring 2009

Mountain Research Station, University of Colorado, Boulder

What Processes and Conditions Alter Nutrient Distribution in the Alpine and Subalpine zones of

Niwot Ridge?

Climate- locally and regionally

Landscape Continuum Model

Climate Change

Anthropogenic Alterations

Landscape Continuum Model

Conceptual Framework

Complexity of interactions

Resource distribution

Transport processes

Landscape Continuum Model

Transport Processes

Climate Change

Nitrogen Deposition

Areas of Amplification

Landscape Continuum Characteristics

Down hill transport

Dry fall

Redistribution of Snow

Areas of amplified resources

Daniel Liptzen DissertationSOIL NUTRIENTS AND BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLING IN THE FOREST-ALPINE TUNDRA ECOTONE

-Aspect and side of Continental divide

-Winter soil temperatures highly dependant on snow depth

-Length of growing season

Laura Mujica-Crapanzano Dissertation

-Talus tundra slope

-Microtopography and microclimates of Krummholz

- Stable microclimates great source for global change studies.

Summary

Extreme and Complex System

The Landscape Continuum ModelGlobal Change Interactions between transport

processesZones of Amplification

Future studies and Current Studies

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Burns SF,Tonkin PJ. 1982. Soil-geomorphic models and the spatial distribution and development of alpine soils. Pages 25–44 in Thorn CE, ed. Space and Time in Geomorphology. London: George Allen and Unwin.Greenland, D., and M. Losleben. 2001. Climate. Pages 337 in W. D. Bowman and T.

R. Seastedt, editors. Structure and Function of an Alpine Ecosystem, NiwotRidge, Colorado. Oxford University Press, New York.

Mujica-Crapanzano. Landscape Analysis of Vegetation and Diversity Patterns at Niwot Ridge, Colorado. Diss, University of Colorado BoulderLey RE,Williams MW, Schmidt SK. 2004.Microbial population dynamics in an extreme environment: Controlling factors in talus soils at 3750 m in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Biogeochemistry.Liptzin, Daniel. SOIL NUTRIENTS AND BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLING IN THE FOREST- ALPINE TUNDRA ECOTONE. Diss, The University of Colorado Boulder

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