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Science 17 September 1976:
Vol. 193. no. 4258, pp. 1126 - 1128
DOI: 10.1126/science.193.4258.1126
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Articles

Role of Erythronium americanum Ker. in Energy Flow and Nutrient Dynamics of a Northern Hardwood Forest Ecosystem

ROBERT N. MULLER 1 and F. HERBERT BORMANN 2

1 Radiological and Environmental Research Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439
2 School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511

The aboveground activity of the spring herb, Erythronium americanum, is restricted to the period between snowmelt and forest canopy development. Its phenology and production capacity closely adapt the species to this temporal niche in northern deciduous forests. While E. americanum has a minor effect on energy flow, it may reduce losses of potassium and nitrogen from the ecosystem during the period of maximum removal by incorporating these elements in accumulating biomass. Later, during the summer, these nutrients are made available when the above-ground, nonperennating tissues decay.

Submitted on May 13, 1976
Revised on July 8, 1976


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
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