The Streamside Forest Acts as a Sink by Storing
Nutrients for Extended Periods of Time

The streamside forest can function as a SINK when nutrients are taken up by plants and sequestered in plant tissue. Some estimates indicate that 25% of the nitrogen removed by the streamside forest is assimilated in tree growth which may be stored for extended periods of time in woody tissue and possibly removed as logs or other forest products. Nitrogen and other nutrients may also be passed up the food chain when plant tissues are consumed by animals and converted to animal tissues. In wetter areas, nutrients in leaf litter can be stored for longer periods as peat. Sediments filtered out by the streamside forest remain to become incorporated into the forest soil.

photo above: Nutrients can be filtered, transformed or stored by processes taking place in the forest litter.

---

table of contents << previous >> next