Late successional tree species in Guam create biogeochemical niches

The soils beneath and surrounding mature Artocarpus mariannensis, Elaeocarpus joga, and Serianthes nelsonii trees were studied in northern Guam limestone forests to determine the role of these trees in maintaining spatial heterogeneity of biogeochemistry. The soils beneath S. nelsonii were nutrient-enriched compared to soils away from S. nelsonii. The soils beneath A. mariannensis were depauperate for some nutrients or were not different from the soils away from A. mariannensis for other nutrients. The soils beneath E. joga exhibited increases in some nutrients such as nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorus, but decreases in other nutrients such as potassium and calcium when compared to the soils away from E. joga trees. These three tree species influenced spatial heterogeneity in soil nutrient status in the order A. mariannensis < E. joga < S. nelsonii and their presence added greatly to surface soil heterogeneity. Iron, manganese, and pH exhibited the least variation within the paired sites. Calcium, magnesium, potassium, and zinc exhibited the greatest variation among the paired sites. These findings indicate that continuing loss of these trees from Guam’s forests will diminish the associated biogeochemical spatial heterogeneity.