Abstract
A comparative stand approach was used to study the influence of forest structure on nutrient outflow characteristics in the subalpine coniferous forest ecosystem of southeastern Wyoming, USA. Snow collected beneath the forest canopy is enriched in nutrients (N, K, Ca, Mg), compared with snow from the open, with enrichment being greater in the more dense stands. Ca and Mg are more concentrated in surface run-off than in snow water in all stands, whereas N and K levels are generally lower in run-off than in snow. Nutrient content of subsurface flow is higher than snow and surface run-off concentrations. Between stand differences in outflow nutrient content may be explained by differences in volume of flow and surface soil characteristics as well as by forest structure. Control of nutrient loss from the subalpine forest ecosystem of the central Rocky Mountains is discussed.
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