• Socci, Anne
  Boston University
  
• Templer, Pamela
  Boston University
  

Projected changes to winter temperature and precipitation regimes suggest forests of the northeastern United States will experience a decreased snowpack and increased depth and duration of soil frost in winter. Previous studies show that increased soil frost leads to greater fine root mortality and decreased fine root vitality in northern hardwood stands, with increased leaching of nitrogen from soil. Reduced plant nutrient uptake following soil freezing could be a mechanism for increased forest nitrogen losses.