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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Stimulation of terrestrial ecosystem carbon storage by nitrogen addition: a meta-analysis
TL;DR: It is suggested that N addition will increase soil C storage and plant C in both above- and below-ground parts, indicating that terrestrial ecosystems might act to strengthen as a C sink under increasing N deposition.
Journal ArticleDOI
N2-fixation by methanotrophs sustains carbon and nitrogen accumulation in pristine peatlands
Melanie A. Vile,R. Kelman Wieder,Tatjana Živković,Tatjana Živković,Kimberli D. Scott,Dale H. Vitt,Jeremy A. Hartsock,Jeremy A. Hartsock,Christine L. Iosue,James C. Quinn,Meaghan Petix,Hope Fillingim,Jacqueline M. A. Popma,Katherine A. Dynarski,Katherine A. Dynarski,Todd R. Jackman,Cara M. Albright,Dennis D. Wykoff +17 more
TL;DR: In this paper, high rates of biological N2-fixation in prokaryotes associated with Sphagnum mosses were demonstrated, indicating that mosses are not limited by N. And they concluded that N2fixation drives high sequestration of C in pristine peatlands, and may play an important role in moderating fluxes of methane, one of the most important greenhouse gases produced in peatland.
Journal ArticleDOI
Ecosystem responses to reduced and oxidised nitrogen inputs in European terrestrial habitats
Carly J. Stevens,Peter Manning,Leon J.L. van den Berg,Leon J.L. van den Berg,Maaike C. C. De Graaf,G.W. Wieger Wamelink,A.W. Boxman,Albert Bleeker,Philippine Vergeer,María Arróniz-Crespo,Juul Limpens,Leon P. M. Lamers,Roland Bobbink,Edu Dorland +13 more
TL;DR: It is suggested that the response of vascular plant species to changing ratios of NH(x):NO(y) deposits will be driven primarily by a combination of soil pH and nitrification rates.
Journal ArticleDOI
Anthropogenic nitrogen deposition predicts local grassland primary production worldwide
Carly J. Stevens,Eric M. Lind,Yann Hautier,Yann Hautier,W. Stanley Harpole,Elizabeth T. Borer,Sarah E. Hobbie,Eric W. Seabloom,Laura M. Ladwig,Jonathan D. Bakker,Chengjin Chu,Scott L. Collins,Kendi F. Davies,Jennifer Firn,Helmut Hillebrand,Kimberly J. La Pierre,Andrew S. MacDougall,Brett A. Melbourne,Rebecca L. McCulley,John W. Morgan,John L. Orrock,Suzanne M. Prober,Anita C. Risch,Martin Schuetz,Peter D. Wragg +24 more
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used an international multiscale data set to show that atmospheric nitrogen deposition is positively correlated to aboveground net primary production (ANPP) observed at the 1-m 2 level across a wide range of herbaceous ecosystems.
Journal ArticleDOI
Nitrogen deposition effects on Mediterranean-type ecosystems : an ecological assessment
Raúl Ochoa-Hueso,Edith B. Allen,Cristina Branquinho,Cristina Cruz,Teresa Dias,Mark E. Fenn,Esteban Manrique,M. E. Pérez-Corona,Lucy J. Sheppard,William D. Stock +9 more
TL;DR: More research is needed to determine critical loads for each region and vegetation type based on the most sensitive elements, such as changes in lichen species composition and N cycling.
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