Question 1: Read Knoepp et al 2000. What would the effect of a brush fine on these soils, assuming a light ground fire? (This means that you'll have to describe what a "light ground fire" is and would do to a soil, as well as describing the changes in soil chemistry following the addition of carbon.)
Knoepp, JD, DC Coleman, DA Crossley Jr., and JS Clark. 2000. Biological indices of soil quality: an ecosystem case study for their use. Forest Ecology and Management 138, 357-368.
Question 2: Read Chacon et al 2005. What is the effect of flooding on soil nutrient cycling? Do you feel that climate might also have an impact on nutrient cycling in flooded areas? How so? What other aspects might influence nutrient cycling in flooded areas.
Chacon, N., N. Dezzo, B. Munoz, and J.M. Rodriguez. 2005. Implications of soil organic carbon and the biogeochemistry of iron and aluminum on soil phosphorus distribution in flooded forests of the lower Orinoco River, Venezuela. Biogeochemistry. 73, 555-566
Question 3: Read Porder et al 2005. What is the effect of erosion on plant growth. Would there be any difference in landscape erosion in Hawaii, than in other places in the continental US (think about the origins of the Hawaiian landscape). Could this study have been completed in a qualitative fashion, rather than quantitative? How so?
Porder.S., A. Paytan, P.M. Vitousek. 2005. Erosion and landscape development affect plant nutrient status in the Hawaiian Islands. Oecologia. 142, 440-449.