Multiscale heterogeneity of topsoil properties in southern European old-growth forests

摘要: Assessing the contribution of forest soils to carbon (C) and nutrient dynamics is extremely complex due high spatial variability soil properties, at fine very broad scales. Improving our understanding necessary scale up sample-based inventory data for estimation regional C dynamics. We analyzed topsoil organic (OC) matter (OM), nitrogen (N), C/N ratio, texture, pH in 11 southern European old-growth beech stands. Our aim was assess within- among-stand variability, determine drivers underlying this variation. For each stand, we sampled 25 quadrats a 1-ha regular grid where recorded overstorey structural compositional attributes, deadwood quantity quality, microtopography site conditions. Soil parameters varied highly both scales: When considering all properties together through multivariate analysis, most occurred within-stand (mostly shifts content, C/N, litter depth); opposite true when singularly, with pH, N concentration varying greatly among Most depended on climate direct indirect effects parent material. Fine-scale variation, instead, mainly composition microtopographical Surprisingly, found no influence structure parameters, likely because respond changes stand features only after substantial time lag.