Increased temperature is believed to increase the availability of nitrogen (N) through higher turnover of nitrogen in soils. In many ecosystems in North America, the increase in N availability can help increase carbon sequestration by encouraging higher rates of net primary production (NPP) (Melillo et al. 1993). However, in areas where nitrogen saturation is a major concern, such as Southern California, the Rocky Mountains, or the eastern United States, this priming effect has the potential to increase N losses from ecosystems. Such losses would create other ecological problems in these ecosystems (Saxe et al. 2001, Galloway et al. 2003). Thus, monitoring the nitrogen status of an ecosystem is important for ascertaining how nitrogen availability is being affected by climate change.
Melillo J.M., A.D. McGuire, D.W. Kicklighter, B. Moore III, C.J. Vorosmarty, and A.L. Schloss. 1993. Global climate change and terrestrial net primary production. Nature. 363: 234-240.
Galloway J.N, J.D Aber, J.W. Erisman, S.P Seitzinger, R.W. Howarth, E.B. Cowling, and B.J. Cosby. 2003. The Nitrogen Cascade. Bioscience. 53: 341-356.
Saxe H., M.G.R. Cannell, O. Johnsen, M.G. Ryan, and G. Vourlitis. 2001. Tree and forest functioning in response to global warming. New Phytologist. 149: 369-400.
