Alpine tundra plant litter decomposition rates and nutrient content, Kluane Lake, Yukon Territory, Canada (2015-2018)

In this 4-year study we experimentally manipulated shrub presence (shrub present or removed) and litter quantity (none, natural abundance, and 2 times the natural abundance) in a fully factorial design. Within each experimental plot we measured litter decomposition rates of the dominant shrub (Betula nana) over three years - litter was collected and litter bags created in the fall of 2015, and bags collected in the fall of 2016, 2017 and 2018. We also conducted a single year decomposition experiment within each plot using three species - a tall deciduous shrub (Betula nana), a dwarf deciduous shrub (Salix reticulata) and a graminoid (Carex consimilis). For this experiment, litter was collected and litter bags created in fall 2016 and litter bags collected in fall 2018. %Carbon and %Nitrogen of litter was determined at initial collection and each litter bag collection time point for both experiments.