Bulkley Valley Research Centre - Science in the Public Interest

Year 3 - Developing Indicators of Soil Productivity, Function and Biodiversity through Soil Biotic Communities

Project Reference Number: 2008-08

Project Status: Complete

Led by: Marty Kranabetter, Soil Scientist, Ministry of Forests and Range, Victoria

Bill Borrett, MoF, Smithers; Jodi Friesen, New Hazelton; Sharmin Gamiet, Abbotsford; Erin Havard, MoF, Smithers; Paul Kroeger, Vancouver; Marcel Lavigne, Smithers, Will MacKenzie, MoF, Smithers; Ken White, MoF, Smithers; Patrick Williston, Smithers

Funder: Forest Investment Account - Forest Science Program

Project Proposal

Sharmin Gamiet and Jodi Friesen enjoying the easy sampling on xeric sites

Soil indicators require better characterization of biotic communities across sites representing full gradients in ecosystem productivity. Information on species distribution and community composition is also essential in providing unambiguous indicators across spatial scales. The study will identify soil species indicative of soil fertility and test the similarity and uniqueness of soil ecosystems across site series. The research will allow for a more complete biodiversity inventory, and will allow further ecological studies of soil biota and site productivity.

Objectives (2008-2009):

  • Complete final year of soil fauna and epigeous ectomycorrhizal sporocarp surveys and taxonomic resolution (including molecular techniques).
  • Collect nutrition data to supplement biological relevance of patterns in species distribution across productivity gradients.
  • Prepare manuscripts on ectomycorrhizal fungal communities, soil faunal communities and plant guild relationships across site productivity gradients.

For copies of any of the publications listed below please contact Marty Kranabetter.

Related Reports

Publication Date Report Title Authors
January 2010 Contrasts among mycorrhizal plant guilds in foliar nitrogen concentration and δ15N along productivity gradients of a boreal forest J. M. Kranabetter, W. H. MacKenzie
May 2009 Site carbon storage along productivity gradients of a late-seral southern boreal forest J.M. Kranabetter
October 2009 Epigeous fruiting bodies of ectomycorrhizal fungi as indicators of soil fertility and associated nitrogen status of boreal forests J. M. Kranabetter, J. Friesen, S. Gamiet, P. Kroeger
February 2009 Diversity and species distribution of ectomycorrhizal fungi along productivity gradients of a southern boreal forest Kranabetter, J.M., Durall, D.M., and MacKenzie, W.H.
2007 Distribution and diversity of terrestrial mosses, liverworts and lichens along productivity gradients of a southern boreal forest - Abstract Kranabetter, J.M., Williston, P., and ,MacKenzie, W.H.,
March 2009 Developing indicators of soil productivity, function and biodiversity through soil biotic communities J. Marty Kranabetter