A model of radiocesium cycling in a sand hills—Turkey Oak ( Quercus laevis) ecosystem

Digital simulation models of radiocesium cycling in Turkey Oaks were developed from in situ 134Cs tagging studies. Predictions of 134Cs steady-state distribution for 3-, 4- and 5-compartment, donor-controlled models were compared with the estimated fallout 137Cs distribution as a measure of model va...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ecological modelling 1980-01, Vol.11 (1), p.55-65
Main Authors: Croom, John M., Ragsdale, Harvey L.
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Digital simulation models of radiocesium cycling in Turkey Oaks were developed from in situ 134Cs tagging studies. Predictions of 134Cs steady-state distribution for 3-, 4- and 5-compartment, donor-controlled models were compared with the estimated fallout 137Cs distribution as a measure of model validation; output from the 5-compartment model compared best. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated that Turkey Oak burden of 134Cs was equally sensitive to the output rate from the tree compartment and the availability of 134Cs for uptake (i.e., presence in the root zone) but not the rate of uptake by Turkey Oaks. Observed distribution and model predictions indicate that radiocesium is readily bioaccumulated by Turkey Oaks (∼13% of the ecosystem burden) from the soil and is cycled within the sand hills—Turkey Oak ecosystem.
ISSN:0304-3800
1872-7026
DOI:10.1016/0304-3800(80)90071-X