Current Projects


Controls on litter decomposition in water-limited ecosystems: biotic and abiotic effects

Related publications

Austin, A. T. and L. Vivanco. 2006. Plant litter decomposition in a semiarid ecosystem controlled by photodegradation. Nature. in press.

Vivanco, L., and A. T. Austin. 2006. Intrinsic species effects on litter decomposition in grasses from North and South America. Oecologia. in press.

Yahdjan, L. O. E. Sala and A. T. Austin. 2006. Differential controls of water input on litter decomposition and nitrogen dynamics in the Patagonian steppe. Ecosystems. 9:128-141.

Austin, A. T., L. Yahdjian, J. M. Stark, J. Belnap, I. C. Burke, U. Norton, A. Porporato, D. Ravetta, and S. M. Schaeffer. 2004. Water pulses and biogeochemical cycles in arid and semiarid ecosystems. Oecologia: 141:221-235

Austin, A. T. in preparation. Changes in rainfall affect litter decomposition along a natural precipitation gradient in Patagonia, Argentina.

Austin, A. T., and P. M. Vitousek. 2000. Precipitation, decomposition, and litter decomposability of Metrosideros polymorpha on Hawai'i. Journal of Ecology 88:129-138.


Controls of water availability on carbon and nitrogen dynamics along natural precipitation gradients

Related publications

Austin, A. T., and O. E. Sala. in preparation. Nitrogen cycling, d15N natural abundance and carbon-nutrient interactions along a contiguous precipitation gradient in Patagonia, Argentina.

Austin, A. T. in preparation. Changes in rainfall affect litter decomposition along a natural precipitation gradient in Patagonia, Argentina.

Austin, A. T., and O. E. Sala. 2002. Carbon and nitrogen dynamics across a natural gradient of precipitation in Patagonia, Argentina. Journal of Vegetation Science 13:351-360.

Austin, A. T. 2002. Differential effects of precipitation on production and decomposition along a rainfall gradient in Hawai'i. Ecology 83:328-338.

Austin, A. T., and P. M. Vitousek. 2000. Precipitation, decomposition, and litter decomposability of Metrosideros polymorpha on Hawai'i. Journal of Ecology 88:129-138.

Austin, A. T., and P. M. Vitousek. 1998. Nutrient dynamics on a rainfall gradient in Hawai'i. Oecologia 113:519-529.


The use of natural abundance of d15N as an integrated signal of ecosystem nitrogen cycling in natural ecosystems

Related publications

Austin, A. T., and O. E. Sala. in preparation. Nitrogen cycling, d15N natural abundance and carbon-nutrient interactions along a continguous precipitation gradient in Patagonia, Argentina.

Amundson, R., A. T. Austin, E. A. G. Schuur, K. Yoo, V. Matzek, C. Kendall, A. Uebersax, D. Brenner, and W. T. Baisden. 2003. Global patterns of the isotopic composition of soil and plant nitrogen. Global Biogeochemical Cycles. 17(1): 1031, doi:10.1029/2002GB001903

Austin, A. T., and O. E. Sala. 1999. Foliar d15N is negatively correlated with rainfall along the IGBP transect in Australia. Australian Journal of Plant Physiology 26:293-295.

Handley, L. L., A. T. Austin, D. Robinson, C. M. Scrimegour, J. A. Raven, T. H. E. Heaton, S. Schmidt, and G. R. Stewart. 1999. The 15-N natural abundance (d15N) of ecosystem samples reflects measures of water availability. Australian Journal of Plant Physiology 26:185-199.

Austin, A. T., and P. M. Vitousek. 1998. Nutrient dynamics on a rainfall gradient in Hawai'i. Oecologia 113:519-529.

 


Nitrogen cycling and biodiversity in South American ecosystems

Related publications

Austin, A. T., O. E. Sala, and R. B. Jackson. 2006. Inhibition of nitrification decreases carbon turnover in the Patagonian steppe. Ecosystems. in press..

López, N. I., A. T. Austin, O. E. Sala, and B. Méndez. 2003. Controls on nitrification in a water-limited ecosystem: experimental inhibition of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria in the Patagonian steppe. Soil Biology and Biochemistry.

Austin, A. T. in preparation. The effect of grass biodiversity on decomposition and nutrient turnover in the Patagonian steppe.

Related link

Collaborative Research Network - Inter-American Institute