Forest floor respiration in a black spruce taiga forest ecosystem in Alaska

A technique was developed for measuring respiration of virtually undisturbed forest floor samples, and used to follow seasonal changes in two black spruce forest stands in interior Alaska, In the laboratory, soil respiration showed a positive response to increasing temperature: however, respiration measured in the field was negatively correlated with air and soil temperature, but positively correlated with water content of the soil within the range (100–250% of dry weight) normally experienced in the field. Moisture levels above 250% inhibited respiration. Precipitation events usually stimulate forest floor respiration, but prolonged periods of dry and rainy weather lead to limitation of respiration by sub‐ and supraoptimal moisture, respectively. Long‐term confinement of soil has significant effects upon soil arthropod densities, moisture content, temperature, and respiration, and should not be taken to represent the natural conditions of the forest floor.