Long-Term Nitrogen Storage and Soil Nitrogen Availability in Post-Fire

Long-term, landscape patterns in inorganic nitro-gen (N) availability and N stocks following infre-quent, stand-replacing fire are unknown but are important for interpreting the effect of disturbances on ecosystem function. Here, we present results from a replicated chronosequence study in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (Wyoming, USA) directed at measuring inorganic N availability (ion-exchange resin bags) and ecosystem N pools among 77 lodgepole pine stands that varied in age and density. Inorganic N availability ranged from 0.07 to 3.20 lN bag-1 d-1 and nitrate (NO3-) was, on average, 65 % of total resin-sorbed N. Total eco-system N stocks (live + detrital + soil) average