Accumulation rates of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in petrel colony soil: Adams Island, New Zealand subantarctic

Research on Adams Island, part of the New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands, reveals that petrel colony soils exhibit extremely low retention rates for carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P). Accumulation rates, calculated using radiocarbon dating across multiple soil profiles, show that while these rates are approximately double those previously reported from Taukihepa/Big South Cape, the proportion of nutrients retained remains minimal. The study, which excavated four soil profiles 50 meters apart and analyzed elemental inventories, found consistent accumulation rates despite varying depth intervals. These findings suggest that the colder climate and lower leaf litter quality on Adams Island may contribute to higher nutrient dispersion compared to other subantarctic regions.

Hawke, D. J. (2010). Accumulation rates of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in petrel colony soil: Adams Island, New Zealand subantarctic. New Zealand Natural Sciences. https://doi.org/10.26021/649