Nitrogen inputs to stream water from forests along an elevational gradient in New Mexico

Studies of nitrogen inputs in precipitation and outputs in stream water for a number of terrestrial ecosystems support the hypothesis that undisturbed communities have the ability to reduce losses of nitrogen via stream water. In spite of different levels of biomass, productivity and stream discharge for these communities, net losses of nitrogen were similar. Maintaining nitrogen in an organic or cation form (NH₃, NH₄⁺) is an important factor in minimizing loss. This may be accomplished by slow rates of mineralization, rapid plant uptake, and denitrification through the electron sink pathway. Denitrification by the dissimilatory pathway may also be important.