Moose activity and nitrogen cycling along an elevation gradient on the snow removal plots at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest.

The response of moose activity and three tree species
to soil freezing were measured through experimental
manipulation (shoveling) of snow to induce soil freezing. In
addition, mechanical clipping of plants to simulate moose
browsing and the addition of 15N labeled moose feces were
included to determine the biogeochemical and plant response.
N dynamics were evaluated using soil tension lysimeters, soil
sampling, tracing movement of moose fecal N into soil, plant
and microbial pools and leaching loss. Both total N and 15N
were measured in all pools and fluxes. Fluxes include N
mineralization and nitrification rates. Rate of decomposition
and fate was also followed for moose feces. This data set
includes measurents from 2003 to 2006.
These data were gathered as part of the Hubbard Brook
Ecosystem Study (HBES). The HBES is a collaborative effort at
the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, which is operated and
maintained by the USDA Forest Service, Northern Research
Station.