IAI-Data-CRN_012-Chile: Comparison of principal ecosystem functions in forests of contrasting biodiversity in Chile and Argentina

The main objective of this work is to compare principal ecosystem
functions in forests of contrasting biodiversity (low in Argentina,
high in Chile) and primary productivity in southern temperate forest
in Chile Island, southern Chile. For this purpose we are measuring the
main processes involved in the nitrogen cycle, both in situ and in
laboratory conditions: the annual rates of net nitrogen
mineralization, non symbiotic nitrogen fixation in different ecosystem
compartments and denitrification in soils of broad-leaved evergreen
forests. We are also estimating decomposition rates of organic matter,
litterfall dynamics, nutrient use efficiency of the main tree species
and the pools of carbon and nitrogen in soils.