Does nitrogen availability have greater control over the formation of tropical heath forests than water stress?A hypothesis based on nitrogen isotope ratios

Tem a disponibilidade de nitrogênio maior controle sobre a formação de florestas tropicais de campinara do que o estresse hídrico?uma hipótese fundamentada nas razões isotópicas do nitrogênio

Global scale analyses of soil and foliage δ15N have found positive relationships between δ15N and ecosystem N loss (suggesting an open N cycle) and a negative relationship between δ15N and water availability. We show here that soils and leaves from tropical heath forests are depleted in 15N relative to 'typical' forests suggesting that they have a tight N cycle and are therefore limited by N rather than by, often suggested, water availability.

acid soils; kerangas; nitrous oxide; stable isotopes