Plant growth in the Arctic is often nutrient limited due to temperature constraints on decomposition and low atmospheric input of nitrogen (N). Local hotspots of nutrient enrichment found in up to 4000-year-old archaeological deposits can be used to explore the recycling and long-term retention of nutrients in arctic ecosystems. We investigated old Inuit and Norse deposits (known as middens) and adjacent tundra ecosystems along a wet-dry fjord gradient in western Greenland to explore the isotopic fingerprinting of plant and soil carbon and nitrogen (13C/12C and 15N/14N) derived from human presence. At all locations we observed a significant isotopic fingerprint in soil and plant N related to human deposits. This demonstrates a century-long legacy of past human habitation on plant and soil characteristics and indicates a surprisingly high N retention in these ecosystems. This is consistent with the significantly higher plant biomass in areas with archaeological deposits. Vegetation composition and N in plants and soils displayed marked differences along the wet-dry fjord gradient. Furthermore, the profound nutrient enrichment and organic matter accumulation in archaeological deposits compared to surrounding tundra demonstrates a century-long legacy of past habitation on plant and soil characteristics as well as efficient N cycling with surprisingly limited N loss.

中文翻译：

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氮同位素显示格陵兰干湿北极峡湾横断面上古老的挪威人和因纽特人沉积物的植物和土壤中的高氮保留

由于分解的温度限制和氮 (N) 的大气输入量低，北极的植物生长通常营养有限。在长达 4000 年历史的考古沉积物中发现的当地营养丰富热点可用于探索北极生态系统中营养物质的循环和长期保留。我们沿着格陵兰西部的干湿峡湾梯度调查了古老的因纽特人和挪威人沉积物（称为米登斯）和邻近的苔原生态系统，以探索源自人类的植物和土壤碳和氮（13C/12C 和 15N/14N）的同位素指纹图谱。在场。在所有地点，我们都观察到与人类沉积物有关的土壤和植物 N 中的显着同位素指纹。这证明了过去人类居住对植物和土壤特征的长达一个世纪的遗产，并表明这些生态系统中的 N 保留量惊人地高。这与考古沉积区域显着较高的植物生物量一致。植物和土壤中的植被组成和 N 沿着湿-干峡湾梯度显示出显着差异。此外，与周围苔原相比，考古沉积物中的营养丰富和有机物质积累显着，表明过去一个世纪以来的栖息地对植物和土壤特征的影响以及有效的氮循环，但氮损失却非常有限。植物和土壤中的植被组成和 N 沿着湿-干峡湾梯度显示出显着差异。此外，与周围苔原相比，考古沉积物中的营养丰富和有机物质积累显着，表明过去一个世纪以来的栖息地对植物和土壤特征的影响以及有效的氮循环，但氮损失却非常有限。植物和土壤中的植被组成和 N 沿着湿-干峡湾梯度显示出显着差异。此外，与周围苔原相比，考古沉积物中的营养丰富和有机物质积累显着，表明过去一个世纪以来的栖息地对植物和土壤特征的影响以及有效的氮循环，但氮损失却非常有限。