Harvard Forest Research

Nitrate reductase in temperate forest species

Principal Investigator: Jerry Melillo
Marine Biological Laboratories: May 01 2009 - May 01 2010:

Abstract:
Human alteration of the global nitrogen (N) cycle has profound effects on the environment: acid rain, eutrophication, diversity loss. But it may also have more subtle effects that in the long term may be equally important. For example N loading to previously N poor temperate forests may make nitrate more available in soils, which will be a profound advantage to those species that make nitrate reductase and thus can use that nitrate. This project will survey the species at Harvard forest, both trees and seedlings, for nitrate reductase. :