Rangeland Ecology & Management

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The biogeochemistry of a north-temperate grassland with native ungulates: Nitrogen dynamics in Yellowstone National Park
Author
Frank, D. A., R. S. Inouye, N. Huntly, G. W. Minshall, J. E. Anderson
Publication Year
1969
Body

Frank et al. determined how nitrogen (N) cycling in Yellowstone National Park related to topography and ungulate use. As found in previous grassland studies, the N mineralization rates in Yellowstone grasslands varied by topographic position; however, the rates measured in Yellowstone were higher than those previously reported for other grassland sties. Ungulate use may have contributed to the increase in N mineralization rates because grazers added large amounts of fecal and urinary N to the system and altered soil physical conditions. These results suggest that ungulate grazing does not alter the topographic N dynamics of Yellowstone grasslands but enhances N cycling in this system.

Language
en
Keywords
grasslands
herbivory
nitrogen cycling
Yellowstone National Park
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