Fertility of the Early Post-Eruptive Surfaces of Kasatochi Island Volcano

In the four years after the 2008 eruption and burial of Kasatochi Island volcano, erosion and the return of bird activity have resulted in new and altered land surfaces and initiation of ecosystem recovery. We examined fertility characteristics of the recently deposited pyroclastic surfaces, patches...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Arctic, antarctic, and alpine research antarctic, and alpine research, 2016-02, Vol.48 (1), p.45-59
Main Authors: Michaelson, G. J, Wang, B, Ping, C. L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biota
Birds
Carbon dioxide
Ecosystem recovery
Leaching
Plant communities
Plant growth
Soil fertility
Soil surfaces
Soils
Volcanic islands
Volcanoes
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Summary:In the four years after the 2008 eruption and burial of Kasatochi Island volcano, erosion and the return of bird activity have resulted in new and altered land surfaces and initiation of ecosystem recovery. We examined fertility characteristics of the recently deposited pyroclastic surfaces, patches of legacy pre-eruptive surface soil (LS), and a post-eruptive surface with recent bird roosting activity. Pyroclastic materials were found lacking in N, but P, K, and other macronutrients were in sufficient supply for plants. Erosion and leaching are moving mobile P and Fe downslope to deposition fan areas. Legacy soil patches that currently support plants have available-N at levels (10–22 mg N kg-1) similar to those added by birds in a recent bird roosting area. Roosting increased surface available N from
ISSN:1523-0430
1938-4246
DOI:10.1657/AAAR0014-089