Global assessment of nitrogen deposition effects on terrestrial plant diversity: a synthesis.
Roland Bobbink,Kevin Hicks,James N. Galloway,Till Spranger,Rob Alkemade,Mike Ashmore,Mercedes M. C. Bustamante,Steve Cinderby,Eric A. Davidson,Frank Dentener,Bridget A. Emmett,Jan Willem Erisman,Mark E. Fenn,Frank S. Gilliam,Annika Nordin,Linda H. Pardo,W. de Vries +16 more
TLDR
Ecosystems thought of as not N limited, such as tropical and subtropical systems, may be more vulnerable in the regeneration phase, in situations where heterogeneity in N availability is reduced by atmospheric N deposition, on sandy soils, or in montane areas.Abstract:
Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition is a recognized threat to plant diversity in temperate and northern parts of Europe and North America. This paper assesses evidence from field experiments for N deposition effects and thresholds for terrestrial plant diversity protection across a latitudinal range of main categories of ecosystems, from arctic and boreal systems to tropical forests. Current thinking on the mechanisms of N deposition effects on plant diversity, the global distribution of G200 ecoregions, and current and future (2030) estimates of atmospheric N-deposition rates are then used to identify the risks to plant diversity in all major ecosystem types now and in the future. This synthesis paper clearly shows that N accumulation is the main driver of changes to species composition across the whole range of different ecosystem types by driving the competitive interactions that lead to composition change and/or making conditions unfavorable for some species. Other effects such as direct toxicity of nitrogen gases and aerosols, long-term negative effects of increased ammonium and ammonia availability, soil-mediated effects of acidification, and secondary stress and disturbance are more ecosystem- and site-specific and often play a supporting role. N deposition effects in mediterranean ecosystems have now been identified, leading to a first estimate of an effect threshold. Importantly, ecosystems thought of as not N limited, such as tropical and subtropical systems, may be more vulnerable in the regeneration phase, in situations where heterogeneity in N availability is reduced by atmospheric N deposition, on sandy soils, or in montane areas. Critical loads are effect thresholds for N deposition, and the critical load concept has helped European governments make progress toward reducing N loads on sensitive ecosystems. More needs to be done in Europe and North America, especially for the more sensitive ecosystem types, including several ecosystems of high conservation importance. The results of this assessment show that the vulnerable regions outside Europe and North America which have not received enough attention are ecoregions in eastern and southern Asia (China, India), an important part of the mediterranean ecoregion (California, southern Europe), and in the coming decades several subtropical and tropical parts of Latin America and Africa. Reductions in plant diversity by increased atmospheric N deposition may be more widespread than first thought, and more targeted studies are required in low background areas, especially in the G200 ecoregions.read more
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Fate of atmospherically deposited NH4+ and NO3- in two temperate forests in China: temporal pattern and redistribution.
Shanlong Li,Shanlong Li,Geshere Abdisa Gurmesa,Weixing Zhu,Weixing Zhu,Per Gundersen,Shasha Zhang,Dan Xi,Shaonan Huang,Shaonan Huang,Ang Wang,Ang Wang,Feifei Zhu,Feifei Zhu,Yong Jiang,Jiaojun Zhu,Jiaojun Zhu,Yunting Fang,Yunting Fang +18 more
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used the 15 N-tracer method to investigate both the short-term and long-term fates of deposited NH4 + or NO3 - by following the recovery of the 15 NO in different ecosystem compartments in a larch plantation forest and a mixed forest located in northeastern China.
Journal ArticleDOI
Regional coupled C-N-H2O cycle processes and associated driving mechanisms
TL;DR: In this article, the authors synthetically analyze the regional dynamics of coupled carbon-nitrogen-water (C-N-H2O) cycles in ecosystems and determine their interactional relationships.
Journal ArticleDOI
Grassland compost amendments increase plant production without changing plant communities
TL;DR: RyRyals et al. as discussed by the authors assessed impacts of a one-time compost amendment over 4 yr on plant dynamics in two grazed grassland ecosystems in California: a coastal prairie and valley grassland.
Journal ArticleDOI
Reductions in tree performance during hotter droughts are mitigated by shifts in nitrogen cycling
Charlotte Grossiord,Arthur Gessler,Sasha C. Reed,Isaac Borrego,Isaac Borrego,Adam D. Collins,Lee T. Dickman,Max Ryan,Leonie Schönbeck,Sanna Sevanto,Alberto Vilagrosa,Nate G. McDowell +11 more
TL;DR: It is found that while negative impacts on plant carbon and water balance are manifest after prolonged drought, performance reductions were not amplified by warmer temperatures, suggesting that adjustments in N cycling are likely after multi-year warming conditions and that such changes may buffer reductions in tree performance during hotter droughts.
Journal ArticleDOI
Interactive Effects of Nitrogen Deposition and Grazing on Plant Species Composition in a Serpentine Grassland
TL;DR: The results suggest that native species diversity may increase slightly under low-level N deposition with moderate grazing in this system, however, grazing may not be effective at limiting exotic cover as N accumulates in the future.
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