Temporal Variability in Atmospheric Nutrient Influx to a Tropical Ecosystem

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Abstract
The daily input of plant macro-nutrients in bulk precipitation was measured over a 16-mo. period at Siguatepeque, Honduras. Total annual inputs of all elements were small relative to those recorded elsewhere in the tropics, a difference which is attributed to the low rainfall of the area, its elevation and its remoteness from the ocean. Input patterns were highly irregular with most of the annual influx of each element taking place on only a few rain days. A major influx of all elements was recorded at the start of each wet season, and 1 period of exceptionally high cation input during the wet season, and 1 period of exceptionally high cation input during the wet season is tentatively attributed to volcanic activity. Despite the irregularity of nutrient influx, calculation of a daily water balance for the area shows that a large proportion of elements received can normally be retained temporarily in soil moisture storage. Effective capture of these by ecosystems probably requires rapid plant uptake. Plants occupying infertile tropical soils may be strongly selected for the ability to absorb irregular pulses of atmospheric nutrients.

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