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.