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- Svensson, Teresia, 1975-, et al.
(author)
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Is chloride a conservative ion in forest ecosystems?
- 2012
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In: Biogeochemistry. - : Springer. - 0168-2563 .- 1573-515X. ; 107:1-3, s. 125-134
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Chloride (Cl-) has often been assumed to be relatively unreactive in forest ecosystems, and is frequently used as a conservative tracer to calculate fluxes of water and other ions. Recently, however, several studies have detailed cycling of Cl- in vegetation and soils. In this study Cl- budgets are compiled from 32 catchment studies to determine the extent to which Cl- is conserved in the passage through forest ecosystems. Chloride budgets from these sites vary from net retention (input/output) to net release (output/input). In the overall data set, including those sites with very high inputs of seasalt Cl-, there was a strong correspondence between inputs and outputs. However, sites with low Cl- deposition (<6 kg ha-1 year-1) consistently showed net release of Cl-, suggesting an internal source or a declining internal pool. The results indicate that Cl- may be a conservative ion in sites with high Cl- deposition, but in sites with low deposition Cl- may not be conservative. We discuss the possible causes of the Cl- imbalance and reasons why Cl- may not be conservative in ecosystem functions.
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