Faculty Sponsor(s)
Nancy Broshot
Location
Jereld R. Nicholson Library: Grand Avenue
Subject Area
Environmental Studies: Science Focus
Description
Studies by Dr. Nancy Broshot in Forest Park, an urban forest in Portland, Oregon, have shown high tree mortality and low concomitant recruitment. Lichen surveys conducted in 2013 revealed a shift in the lichen community to one typified by nitrogen-tolerant and nitrogen-thriving species. To ascertain if nitrogenous air pollution could be a cause of low recruitment, soil samples were collected from 32 previously established study sites in Forest Park and at 3 control sites established in 2014 in the Mount Hood National Forest, a rural forest in the Clackamas River Basin. At each site, the soil O horizon depth was measured, and soil samples were collected from the A horizon, which were subsequently dried and sieved. The resulting soil samples were analyzed at the Central Analytical Laboratory at OSU to determine carbon and nitrogen concentration, as well as carbon to nitrogen ratios. The results of the soil analysis show that soil samples from the control sites had significantly higher concentrations of carbon and a significantly higher carbon to nitrogen ratio than the sites in Forest Park. These findings are quite exciting and suggest a number of possible avenues for further research.
Recommended Citation
Hanson, Wes L., "Examining the Effects of Urbanization on Soil Characteristics in Portland, Oregon's Forest Park" (2016). Linfield University Student Symposium: A Celebration of Scholarship and Creative Achievement. Event. Submission 52.
https://digitalcommons.linfield.edu/symposium/2016/all/52
Examining the Effects of Urbanization on Soil Characteristics in Portland, Oregon's Forest Park
Jereld R. Nicholson Library: Grand Avenue
Studies by Dr. Nancy Broshot in Forest Park, an urban forest in Portland, Oregon, have shown high tree mortality and low concomitant recruitment. Lichen surveys conducted in 2013 revealed a shift in the lichen community to one typified by nitrogen-tolerant and nitrogen-thriving species. To ascertain if nitrogenous air pollution could be a cause of low recruitment, soil samples were collected from 32 previously established study sites in Forest Park and at 3 control sites established in 2014 in the Mount Hood National Forest, a rural forest in the Clackamas River Basin. At each site, the soil O horizon depth was measured, and soil samples were collected from the A horizon, which were subsequently dried and sieved. The resulting soil samples were analyzed at the Central Analytical Laboratory at OSU to determine carbon and nitrogen concentration, as well as carbon to nitrogen ratios. The results of the soil analysis show that soil samples from the control sites had significantly higher concentrations of carbon and a significantly higher carbon to nitrogen ratio than the sites in Forest Park. These findings are quite exciting and suggest a number of possible avenues for further research.
