1. Winter and its effects on Soil Respiration Sara Fairchild Winter Ecology – Spring 2009 Mountain Research Station – University of Colorado, Boulder

2. What happens during the winter? Question: Does the amount of carbon dioxide sequestered in a subalpine forest change during the winter months? Increase, decrease, stay the same Question: Does the amount of carbon dioxide sequestered in a subalpine forest change during the winter months? Increase, decrease, stay the same Hypothesis: If the winter has shallower snowpack and is shorter, then there will be more carbon sequestered. Hypothesis: If the winter has shallower snowpack and is shorter, then there will be more carbon sequestered.

3. Where does carbon go and how is that measured? Sub-Alpine forests are large carbon sinks We can measure the carbon flux Carbon Sequestration

4. Article One Spatial and temporal controls of soil respiration rate in a high-elevation, subalpine forest Spatial and temporal controls of soil respiration rate in a high-elevation, subalpine forest Russell K. Monson, Russell K. Monson, Laura E. Scott-Denton, Kimberley L. Sparks University of Colorado Department of Environmental, Population, and Organic Biology

5. Key Points Temperature and moisture in relation to respiration Temperature and moisture in relation to respiration Soil microbial biomass in the sub-alpine forest Soil microbial biomass in the sub-alpine forest

6. Article Two Long Term Ecological Research: The Landscape Continuum Model: A Biogeochemical Paradigm for High Elevation Ecosystems Principle investigator: Mark W. Williams University of Colroado Boulder

7. Key Points Unique winter microbial community Unique winter microbial community Winter snowpack sensitivity (depth and temperature) Winter snowpack sensitivity (depth and temperature)

8. What does this mean? Summer vs. Winter Summer vs. Winter what is the main difference Carbon sequestered Carbon sequestered

9. Questions?

10. Sources Apps, M.J. Forests, the global carbon cycle and climate change. 2003 http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/ARTICLE/WFC/XII/MS14-E.HTM Apps, M.J. Forests, the global carbon cycle and climate change. 2003 http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/ARTICLE/WFC/XII/MS14-E.HTM http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/ARTICLE/WFC/XII/MS14-E.HTM IPCC, Carbon Sink Graph. 2001. http://aquaculturecarbon.com/greenhouse.gif IPCC, Carbon Sink Graph. 2001. http://aquaculturecarbon.com/greenhouse.gifhttp://aquaculturecarbon.com/greenhouse.gif National Science Foundation. Research description. 2007. http://spot.colorado.edu/~monsonr/Ameriflux.html National Science Foundation. Research description. 2007. http://spot.colorado.edu/~monsonr/Ameriflux.html Monson, Russell K. Spatial and temporal controls of soil respiration rate in a high- elevation, sub-alpine forest. 2003. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T7 47VRSWN1&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&v iew=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=1 0&md5=7e61258ee49fa265f32e74ee08405355 Monson, Russell K. Spatial and temporal controls of soil respiration rate in a high- elevation, sub-alpine forest. 2003. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T7 47VRSWN1&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&v iew=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=1 0&md5=7e61258ee49fa265f32e74ee08405355 All images courtesy of Google images All images courtesy of Google images Williams, Mark W. Climate Change, Snow, and Carbon dioxide in a sub-alpine forest. 2005-2006 Williams, Mark W. Climate Change, Snow, and Carbon dioxide in a sub-alpine forest. 2005-2006http://culter.colorado.edu/NWT/publications/reports/2006annreport.pdf