T. Svensson, G. Lovett, G. Likens
Feb 1, 2012
Citations
2
Influential Citations
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Quality indicators
Journal
Biogeochemistry
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.