Increased Nitrogen Deposition Research Articles

Differences in plant responses to nitrogen addition between the central and edge populations of invasive Galinsoga quadriradiata in China.

Increased nitrogen deposition significantly impacts invasive plants, leading to population differentiation due to different environmental pressures during expansion. However, various populations respond differently to elevated nitrogen levels. This study explores the responses of central and edge populations of the annual invasive plant Galinsoga quadriradiata to different levels of nitrogen addition. The results indicate that the central population has a stronger need for nitrogen, with nitrogen addition promoting the growth of its aboveground parts, reducing intraspecific competition, and increasing reproductive allocation and total biomass. Specifically, nitrogen addition provides more nutritional resources, easing resource competition among plants, reducing intraspecific competitive pressure, and allowing plants to allocate more energy to growth and reproduction, thereby enhancing their expansion potential. In contrast, the edge populations respond differently to nitrogen. Although nitrogen addition promotes the growth of their underground parts and enhances root development, the impact on aboveground parts is smaller. The enhancement of underground parts helps edge populations better adapt to barren environments, improving their survival and competitive ability in new environments, thus increasing their expansion potential. Overall, the growth impact on edge populations due to nitrogen addition is smaller, possibly indicating they have exceeded their nitrogen limit. The study demonstrates that the degree of population differentiation in invasive plants at different invasion stages is a critical factor in studying their spread potential, aiding in predicting plant invasion trends under climate change and providing theoretical support for formulating targeted management strategies.

Nitrogen Deposition Enhances Interactions Between Litter Types During the Early Stage of Decomposition

ABSTRACTNitrogen deposition can alter the interactions between litter types during their decomposition, and thus affect material cycling and ecosystem stability. However, it is unclear how the differences in the initial chemical properties of litter mixtures affect their response to nitrogen deposition. In this study, we investigated three litter mixtures: high quality–high quality (Robinia pseudoacacia–Stipa grandis, Rp‐Sg, mixed form F1), high quality–low quality (Rp–Setaria viridis, Rp‐Sv, F2), and low quality–low quality (Artemisia gmelinii–Sv, Ag‐Sv, F3). Each of the litter types can be found in Rp plantations in the Loess Hilly Region, China. We subjected the litter mixtures to nitrogen deposition treatments (0 and 4–12 g·m−2·a−1) in a 326‐day indoor decomposition experiment. Decomposition parameters of each litter type in monospecific and mixed decomposition were compared to investigate the interactions between litter types under nitrogen deposition. The results indicated that, in the early stage of mixed decomposition, litter types of similar substrate quality did not affect the decomposition of each other (i.e., in the F1 and F3 mixtures). In contrast, the decomposition of low‐quality litter (Sv) was accelerated by that of high‐quality litter (Rp) when there was no nitrogen deposition. The overall degree of the mutual effects (Rinter,t) for the litter decomposition rate in F1, which has an overall higher quality, increased and then decreased with increasing nitrogen deposition; whereas the Rinter,t for the litter decomposition rate in F2 and F3, which have an overall poor quality (p < 0.05), increased continuously. In general, nitrogen deposition increased the interactions between litter types during the early stage of mixed decomposition. Given that most interactions were synergistic, this effect of nitrogen deposition may alleviate its inhibitory effects on litter decomposition in the study region.

Contemporary decline in northern Indian Ocean primary production offset by rising atmospheric nitrogen deposition

Since 1980, atmospheric pollutants in South Asia and India have dramatically increased in response to industrialization and agricultural development, enhancing the atmospheric deposition of anthropogenic nitrogen in the northern Indian Ocean and potentially promoting primary productivity. Concurrently, ocean warming has increased stratification and limited the supply of nutrients supporting primary productivity. Here, we examine the biogeochemical consequences of increasing anthropogenic atmospheric nitrogen deposition and contrast them with the counteracting effect of warming, using a regional ocean biogeochemical model of the northern Indian Ocean forced with atmospheric nitrogen deposition derived from an Earth System Model. Our results suggest that the 60% recent increase in anthropogenic nitrogen deposition over the northern Indian Ocean provided external reactive nitrogen that only weakly enhanced primary production (+10 mg C.m–2.d–1.yr–1 in regions of intense deposition) and secondary production (+4 mg C.m–2.d–1.yr–1). However, we find that locally this enhancement can significantly offset the declining trend in primary production over the last four decades in the central Arabian Sea and western Bay of Bengal, whose magnitude are up to -20 and -10 mg C.m–2.d–1.yr–1 respectively.

Laboratory Experiments Suggest a Limited Impact of Increased Nitrogen Deposition on Snow Algae Blooms.

Snow algal blooms decrease snow albedo and increase local melt rates. However, the causes behind the size and frequency of these blooms are still not well understood. One factor likely contributing is nutrient availability, specifically nitrogen and phosphorus. The nutrient requirements of the taxa responsible for these blooms are not known. Here, we assessed the growth of three commercial strains of snow algae under 24 different nutrient treatments that varied in both absolute and relative concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus. After 38 days of incubation, we measured total biomass and cell size and estimated their effective albedo reduction surface. Snow algal strains tended to respond similarly and achieved bloom-like cell densities over a wide range of nutrient conditions. However, the molar ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus at which maximum biomass was achieved was between 4 and 7. Our data indicate a high requirement for phosphorus for snow algae and highlights phosphorus availability as a critical factor influencing the frequency and extent of snow algae blooms and their potential contribution to snow melt through altered albedo. Snow algae can thrive across a range of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) conditions, with a higher P requirement for optimal growth. Our study suggests that increased N deposition may have a limited impact on snow algae bloom occurrence and size, emphasising P as a key factor influencing these blooms and their potential to accelerate snow melt by lowering albedo.

Responses of plant volatile emissions to increasing nitrogen deposition: A pilot study on Eucalyptus urophylla

Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) significantly impact atmospheric chemistry, with emissions potentially influenced by nitrogen (N) deposition. The response of BVOC emissions to increasing N deposition remains debated. In this study, we examined Eucalyptus urophylla (E. urophylla) using three N treatments: N0, N50, and N100 (0, 50, and 100 kg N hm−2 yr−1 N addition). These treatments were applied to mature E. urophylla trees in a plantation subjected to over 10 years of soil N addition in southern China, a region with severe N deposition. Seventeen BVOCs were measured, with isoprene (36.99 %), α-pinene (38.80 %), and d-limonene (14.27 %) being the predominant compounds under natural conditions. Total BVOC emissions under N50 were nearly double those under N0 and N100, with leaf net CO2 assimilation identified as the most critical photosynthetic parameter. Isoprene and α-pinene emissions significantly increased under N50 compared to N0, while d-limonene emission decreased under N100. Stronger correlations for individual BVOCs under N50 and N100 compared to N0 might be due to differences in BVOC biosynthetic pathways and storage structures. The localized canopy-scale emission factors (EFs) under N50 were significantly higher than the default values in the Model of Emissions of Gases and Aerosols from Nature (MEGAN), suggesting the model might underestimate BVOC emissions from Eucalyptus in southern China under increased N deposition. Additionally, the secondary pollutant formation potentials of BVOCs were evaluated, identifying isoprene and monoterpenes as primary precursors of ozone and secondary organic aerosols. This study provides insights into the impacts of increased N deposition on BVOC emissions and their contribution to secondary atmospheric pollution. Updating localized BVOC EFs for subtropical tree species in southern China is crucial to reduce uncertainties in BVOC estimations under current and future N deposition scenarios.

Atmospheric nitrogen deposition is related to plant biodiversity loss at multiple spatial scales.

Due to various human activities, including intensive agriculture, traffic, and the burning of fossil fuels, in many parts of the world, current levels of reactive nitrogen emissions strongly exceed pre-industrial levels. Previous studies have shown that the atmospheric deposition of these excess nitrogen compounds onto semi-natural terrestrial environments has negative consequences for plant diversity. However, these previous studies mostly investigated biodiversity loss at local spatial scales, that is, at the scales of plots of typically a few square meters. Whether increased atmospheric nitrogen deposition also affects plant diversity at larger spatial scales remains unknown. Here, using grassland plant community data collected in 765 plots, across 153 different sites and 9 countries in northwestern Europe, we investigate whether relationships between atmospheric nitrogen deposition and plant biodiversity are scale-dependent. We found that high levels of atmospheric nitrogen deposition were associated with low levels of plant species richness at the plot scale but also at the scale of sites and regions. The presence of 39% of plant species was negatively associated with increasing levels of nitrogen deposition at large (site) scales, while only 1.5% of the species became more common with increasing nitrogen deposition, indicating that large-scale biodiversity changes were mostly driven by "loser" species, while "winner" species profiting from high N deposition were rare. Some of the "loser" species whose site presence was negatively associated with atmospheric nitrogen deposition are listed as "threatened" in at least some EU member states, suggesting that nitrogen deposition may be a key contributor to their threat status. Hence, reductions in reactive nitrogen emissions will likely benefit plant diversity not only at local but also at larger spatial scales.

Differential Responses of Bacterial and Fungal Community Structure in Soil to Nitrogen Deposition in Two Planted Forests in Southwest China in Relation to pH

Increased nitrogen deposition profoundly impacts ecosystem nutrient cycling and poses a significant ecological challenge. Soil microorganisms are vital for carbon and nutrient cycling in ecosystems; however, the response of soil microbial communities in subtropical planted coniferous forests to nitrogen deposition remains poorly understood. This study carried out a four-year nitrogen addition experiment in the subtropical montane forests of central Yunnan to explore the microbial community dynamics and the primary regulatory factors in two coniferous forests (P. yunnanensis Franch. and P. armandii Franch.) under prolonged nitrogen addition. We observed that nitrogen addition elicited different responses in soil bacterial and fungal communities between the two forest types. In P. yunnanensis Franch. plantations, nitrogen supplementation notably reduced soil bacterial α-diversity but increased fungal diversity. In contrast, P. armandii Franch. forests showed the opposite trends, indicating stand-specific differences. Nitrogen addition also led to significant changes in soil nutrient dynamics, increasing soil pH in P. yunnanensis Franch. forests and decreasing it in P. armandii Franch. forests. These changes in soil nutrients significantly affected the diversity, community structure, and network interactions of soil microbial communities, with distinct responses noted between stands. Specifically, nitrogen addition significantly influenced the β-diversity of fungal communities more than that of bacterial communities. It also reduced the complexity of bacterial interspecies interactions in P. yunnanensis Franch. forests while enhancing it in P. armandii Franch. forests. Conversely, low levels of nitrogen addition improved the stability of fungal networks in both forest types. Using random forest and structural equation modeling, soil pH, NH4+-N, and total nitrogen (TN) were identified as key factors regulating bacterial and fungal communities after nitrogen addition. The varied soil nutrient conditions led to different responses in microbial diversity to nitrogen deposition, with nitrogen treatments primarily shaping microbial communities through changes in soil pH and nitrogen availability. This study provides essential insights into the scientific and sustainable management of subtropical plantation forest ecosystems.

Regime shift in secondary inorganic aerosol formation and nitrogen deposition in the rural United States

Secondary inorganic aerosols play an important role in air pollution and climate change, and their formation modulates the atmospheric deposition of reactive nitrogen (including oxidized and reduced nitrogen), thus impacting the nitrogen cycle. Large-scale and long-term analyses of secondary inorganic aerosol formation based on model simulations have substantial uncertainties. Here we improve constraints on secondary inorganic aerosol formation using decade-long in situ observations of aerosol composition and gaseous precursors from multiple monitoring networks across the United States. We reveal a shift in the secondary inorganic aerosol formation regime in the rural United States between 2011 and 2020, making rural areas less sensitive to changes in ammonia concentrations and shortening the effective atmospheric lifetime of reduced forms of reactive nitrogen. This leads to potential increases in reactive nitrogen deposition near ammonia emission hotspots, with ecosystem impacts warranting further investigation. Ammonia (NH3), a critical but not directly regulated precursor of fine particulate matter in the United States, has been increasingly scrutinized to improve air quality. Our findings, however, show that controlling NH3 became significantly less effective for mitigating fine particulate matter in the rural United States. We highlight the need for more collocated aerosol and precursor observations for better characterization of secondary inorganic aerosols formation in urban areas.

Effects of nitrogen deposition on the rhizosphere nitrogen-fixing bacterial community structure and assembly mechanisms in Camellia oleifera plantations.

Increased nitrogen deposition is a key feature of global climate change, however, its effects on the structure and assembling mechanisms of the nitrogen-fixing bacteria present at the root surface remain to be elucidated. In this pursuit, we used NH4NO3 to simulate nitrogen deposition in a 10-year-old Camellia oleifera plantation, and set up four deposition treatments, including control N0 (0 kg N hm-2 a-1), low nitrogen N20 (20 kg N hm-2 a-1), medium nitrogen N40 (40 kg N hm-2 a-1) and high nitrogen N160 (160 kg N hm-2 a-1). The results showed that nitrogen deposition affected the soil nitrogen content and the structure of the nitrogen-fixing bacterial community. Low nitrogen deposition was conducive for nitrogen fixation in mature C. oleifera plantation. With increasing nitrogen deposition, the dominant soil nitrogen-fixing bacterial community shifted from Desulfobulbaceae to Bradyrhizobium. When nitrogen deposition was below 160 kg N hm-2 a-1, the soil organic matter content, total nitrogen content, nitrate nitrogen content, ammonium nitrogen content, urease activity, soil pH and nitrate reductase activity influenced the composition of the nitrogen-fixing bacterial community, but the stochastic process remained the dominant factor. The results indicate that the strains of Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Bradyrhizobium sp. ORS 285 can be used as indicator species for excessive nitrogen deposition.

Elevated nitrogen and co-evolution history with competitors shape the invasion process of Galinsoga quadriradiata

Abstract Invasive plants usually experience population differentiation as they expand from their initial invasive range to the edge. Moreover, invasive plants usually encounter competitors which shared different co-evolutionary histories with them. These factors may lead to varying responses of invasive plant populations to elevated nitrogen deposition during expansion. However, this issue has received limited attention in prior research. To address these challenges, we conducted a greenhouse experiment to investigate how population differentiation of Galinsoga quadriradiata interacts with the presence of various competitors in response to increased nitrogen deposition. Competitor types (new or old that shared short or long co-evolutionary history with the invader, respectively) were set to compete with the invasive central and edge populations under different nitrogen addition treatments. Individuals from the central population of G. quadriradiata, originating from the initial invasion range, showed greater total mass, reproduction and interspecific competitiveness compared with the edge population. Nitrogen addition improved growth and reproductive performance in both populations, and the central population had a stronger response compared with the edge population. The performance of G. quadriradiata was inhibited more effectively by old competitors than new competitors. Our results indicate that population differentiation occurs in terms of growth and competitiveness during the range expansion of G. quadriradiata, with the central population exhibiting superior performance. Co-evolutionary history with competitors is considered unfavorable for invasive plants in this study. Our results highlight the combined effects of population differentiation in invasive species and their co-evolution history with competitors in the context of global change factors.

Changes in litter and nitrogen deposition differentially alter forest soil organic matter biogeochemistry

Global climate change has altered forest productivity across the globe. Although extreme drought and temperature have lowered forest productivity in some regions, increased productivity has been observed in many forests over the last few decades due to increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide, temperature, and nitrogen (N) deposition. These factors can lead to changes in both the quantity and quality of litterfall and root inputs to soil. Additionally, few studies have investigated multifactorial treatments (e.g., detrital changes and N deposition), on soil carbon (C) sequestration. To investigate the long-term compositional changes to soil organic matter (SOM) in response to litter and N inputs, soil samples were collected from the University of Michigan Biological Station (UMBS) Detrital Input and Removal Treatment (DIRT) site after 15 years of experimental treatments. The samples were characterized using elemental analysis, targeted SOM compound analyses, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and microbial biomass and community composition measurements. The exclusions of C inputs (litter and/or roots) resulted in molecular-level biogeochemical changes, however, the soils at UMBS are seemingly more resistant to losses in soil C compared to other DIRT studies. Although the addition treatments (Double Litter, Double Wood, Double Litter + N, and N) led to increased soil C concentrations at UMBS, we found evidence for enhanced SOM decomposition occurring with litter additions. Notably, the observations made from the concurrent treatment of Double Litter + N demonstrated that the responses of individual treatments are not representative of simultaneous applications. Collectively, these results demonstrate that soil C biogeochemistry is sensitive to fluctuations in C and N deposition and overall, these processes are dictated by site-specific ecological properties.

Soil elemental cycles become more coupled in response to increased nitrogen deposition in a semiarid shrubland

Background and aimsIncreased N deposition can break the coupled associations among chemical elements in soil, many of which are essential plant nutrients. We evaluated the effects of four years of N deposition (0, 10, 20, 50 kg N ha−1 yr−1) on the temporal dynamics of the spatial co-variation (i.e., coupling) among ten chemical elements in soils from a semiarid shrubland in central Spain.MethodsSoil element coupling was calculated as the mean of Spearman rank correlation coefficients of all possible pairwise interactions among elemental cycles, in absolute value. We also investigated the role of atomic properties of elements as regulators of coupling.ResultsWhile N deposition impacts on nutrient bioavailability were variable, soil elemental coupling consistently increased in response to N. Coupling responses also varied among elements and N treatments, and four out of ten elemental cycles also responded to N in a season-dependent manner. Atomic properties of elements such as mass, valence orbitals, and electronegativity contributed to explain the spatial coupling of soil elements, most likely due their role on the capacity of elements to interact with one another.ConclusionsThe cumulative effects of N deposition can alter the spatial associations among chemical elements in soils, while not having evident consequences on the bioavailability of single elments. These results indicate that considering how multiple elements co-vary in topsoils may provide a useful framework to better understand the simultaneous response of multiple elemental cycles to global change.

Drought effects on growth and density of temperate tree regeneration under different levels of nitrogen deposition

Temperate forests in Central Europe suffer from climate change-induced productivity and vitality reductions and increased tree mortality. Most field work assessing climate change effects in forests refers to mature trees and does not cover interaction between climate change and nitrogen deposition. Here we show in a study of 54 forest sites representing different combinations of climatic conditions and atmospheric nitrogen deposition across Germany that nitrogen significantly affects the drought tolerance of tree regeneration in the field. We compared shoot length increment and regeneration density of Central Europe’s naturally most dominant tree species, European beech (Fagus sylvatica) with three species, which are discussed as potentially more drought-tolerant replacement tree species for climate change adaptation of forestry. Growth of beech was reduced with increasing nitrogen deposition identifying high reactive nitrogen loads as an additional threat for this species, but between-site variation of beech growth was not dependent on climatic parameters despite growth reductions after the drought summer 2018 across all study sites. Remarkably, the only species in the between-site comparisons where low growth was attributable to dry climate was Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), as shoot length increment was reduced at sites with dry spring climate. Silver fir (Abies alba) showed increasing growth with increasing nitrogen deposition in combination with increasing drought, probably due to reduced ammonium uptake. Shoot length increment in sessile oak (Quercus petraea) was not affected by the between-site variation of either drought or nitrogen. Our results (combined with results of regeneration density) indicate that high atmospheric nitrogen deposition, which is primarily found in regions with intensive livestock farming in Central Europe, modifies the climate change response of temperate tree species. Interaction of drought and nitrogen deposition should thus be addressed in the debate on climate change adaptation of forestry.

Fine root production, mortality, and turnover in response to simulated nitrogen deposition in the subtropical Abies georgei (Orr) forest

Increased nitrogen deposition has important effects on below-ground ecological processes. Fine roots are the most active part of the root system in terms of physiological activity and the main organs for nutrient and water uptake by plants. However, there is still a limited understanding of how nitrogen deposition affects the fine root dynamics in subtropical Abies georgei (Orr) forests. Consequently, a three-year field experiment was conducted to quantify the effects of three forms of nitrogen sources ((NH4)2SO4, NaNO3, and NH4NO3) at four levels (0, 5, 15, and 30 kg N·ha−1·yr−1) on the fine root dynamics in Abies georgei forests using a randomized block-group experimental design and minirhizotron technique. The first year of nitrogen addition did not affect the first-class fine roots (FR1, 0 < diameter < 0.5 mm) and second-class fine roots (FR2, 0.5 < diameter < 1.0 mm). The next two years of nitrogen addition significantly increased the production, mortality, and turnover of FR1 and FR2; the three year of nitrogen addition did not affect the dynamics of the third- class fine roots (FR3, 1.0 < diameter < 1.5 mm) and fourth- class fine roots (FR4,1.5 < diameter < 2.0 mm). Nitrogen addition positively affected the dynamics of FR1, FR2, FR3 and FR4 by positively affecting the carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus contents of fine roots and indirectly affecting the soil pH. Increased carbon allocation to FR1 and FR2 may represent a phosphorus acquisition strategy when nitrogen is not the limiting factor. The nitrogen addition forms and levels affected the fine root dynamics in the following orde: NH4NO3 > (NH4)2SO4 > NaNO3 and high nitrogen > medium nitrogen > low nitrogen. The results suggest that the different-diameter fine root dynamics respond differently to different nitrogen addition forms and levels, and linking the different-diameter fine roots to nitrogen deposition is crucial.

Canopy nitrogen addition and understory removal destabilize the microbial community in a subtropical Chinese fir plantation

Subtropical Chinese fir plantations have been experiencing increased nitrogen deposition and understory management because of human activities. Nevertheless, effect of increased nitrogen deposition and understory removal in the plantations on microbial community stability and the resulting consequences for ecosystem functioning is still unclear. We carried out a 5-year experiment of canopy nitrogen addition (2.5 g N m−2 year−1), understory removal, and their combination to assess their influences on microbial community stability and functional potentials in a subtropical Chinese fir plantation. Nitrogen addition, understory removal, and their combination reduced soil bacterial diversity (OUT richness, Inverse Simpson index, Shannon index, and phylogenetic diversity) by 11–18%, 15–24%, and 19–31%; reduced fungal diversity indexes by 3–5%, 5–6%, and 5–7%, respectively. We found that environmental filtering and interspecific interactions together determined changes in bacterial community stability, while changes in fungal community stability were mainly caused by environmental filtering. Fungi were more stable than bacteria under disturbances, possibly from having a more stable network structure. Furthermore, we found that microbial community stability was linked to changes in microbial community functional potentials. Importantly, we observed synergistic interactions between understory removal and nitrogen addition on bacterial diversity, network structure, and community stability. These findings suggest that understory plants play a significant role in promoting soil microbial community stability in subtropical Chinese fir plantations and help to mitigate the negative impacts of nitrogen addition. Hence, it is crucial to retain understory vegetation as important components of subtropical plantations.

Substantial contribution of tree canopy nitrifiers to nitrogen fluxes in European forests

Human activities have greatly increased the reactive nitrogen in the biosphere, thus profoundly altering global nitrogen cycling. The large increase in nitrogen deposition over the past few decades has led to eutrophication in natural ecosystems, with negative effects on forest health and biodiversity. Recent studies, however, have reported oligotrophication in forest ecosystems, constraining their capacity as carbon sinks. Here we demonstrate the widespread biological transformation of atmospheric reactive nitrogen in the canopies of European forests by combining nitrogen deposition quantification with measurements of the stable isotopes in nitrate and molecular analyses across ten forests through August–October 2016. We estimate that up to 80% of the nitrate reaching the soil via throughfall was derived from canopy nitrification, equivalent to a flux of up to 5.76 kg N ha−1 yr−1. We also document the presence of autotrophic nitrifiers on foliar surfaces throughout European forests. Canopy nitrification thus consumes deposited ammonium and increases nitrate inputs to the soil. The results of this study highlight widespread canopy nitrification in European forests and its important contribution to forest nitrogen cycling.

Effects of temperature, light and nitrogen deposition on seed germination of Allium strictum in Xinjiang

Nitrogen is not only an indispensable nutrient element during plant growth but also a signal for seed germination. Studies have found that seed germination percentage decreased with the increase in nitrogen deposition, but the effects of nitrogen deposition on seed germination of Allium have rarely been reported. In this study, we investigated the effect of different temperatures, light and nitrogen deposition treatments on seed germination of fresh seeds of Allium strictum from Xinjiang, China. The results showed that A. strictum seeds germinated highest at 15°C and were insensitive to light. Nitrogen deposition significantly inhibited seed germination of A. strictum and negatively affected seed vigour. However, some nitrogen-inhibited seeds were able to recover and germinate when transferred to distilled water. This study provided information on conservation strategies for Allium with regard to climate change.

Elevated CO2 interacts with nutrient inputs to restructure plant communities in phosphorus-limited grasslands.

Globally pervasive increases in atmospheric CO2 and nitrogen (N) deposition could have substantial effects on plant communities, either directly or mediated by their interactions with soil nutrient limitation. While the direct consequences of N enrichment on plant communities are well documented, potential interactions with rising CO2 and globally widespread phosphorus (P) limitation remain poorly understood. We investigated the consequences of simultaneous elevated CO2 (eCO2 ) and N and P additions on grassland biodiversity, community and functional composition in P-limited grasslands. We exposed soil-turf monoliths from limestone and acidic grasslands that have received >25 years of N additions (3.5 and 14 g m-2 year-1 ) and 11 (limestone) or 25 (acidic) years of P additions (3.5 g m-2 year-1 ) to eCO2 (600 ppm) for 3 years. Across both grasslands, eCO2 , N and P additions significantly changed community composition. Limestone communities were more responsive to eCO2 and saw significant functional shifts resulting from eCO2 -nutrient interactions. Here, legume cover tripled in response to combined eCO2 and P additions, and combined eCO2 and N treatments shifted functional dominance from grasses to sedges. We suggest that eCO2 may disproportionately benefit P acquisition by sedges by subsidising the carbon cost of locally intense root exudation at the expense of co-occurring grasses. In contrast, the functional composition of the acidic grassland was insensitive to eCO2 and its interactions with nutrient additions. Greater diversity of P-acquisition strategies in the limestone grassland, combined with a more functionally even and diverse community, may contribute to the stronger responses compared to the acidic grassland. Our work suggests we may see large changes in the composition and biodiversity of P-limited grasslands in response to eCO2 and its interactions with nutrient loading, particularly where these contain a high diversity of P-acquisition strategies or developmentally young soils with sufficient bioavailable mineral P.

Decline in large-seeded species in Danish grasslands over an eight-year period

To demonstrate possible community selection on seed size, a time-series analysis of cover data from 236 Danish grassland sites was performed in a linear model. Across four grassland habitat types and during an eight-year period, there was a significant decline in large-seeded species. Therefore, it was not possible to corroborate the initial hypothesis that a historical increase in nitrogen deposition and the observed vegetation changes towards taller and more competitive plant species favored plant species with large seeds. In the analysis, the continuous seed size variable was used to group plant species into functional types. This method was chosen in order to account for the sampling process of the cover data and is in contrast to most other analyses of trait selection, where the community weighted mean of the traits is used as the dependent variable.

Long-term N addition reduced the diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and understory herbs of a Korean pine plantation in northern China

With the development of agriculture and industry, the increase in nitrogen (N) deposition has caused widespread concern among scientists. Although emission reduction policies have slowed N releases in Europe and North America, the threat to biodiversity cannot be ignored. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi play an important role in the establishment and maintenance of plant communities in forest ecosystems, and both their distribution and diversity have vital ecological functions. Therefore, we analyzed the effects of long-term N addition on AM fungi and understory herbaceous plants in a Korean pine plantation in northern China. The soil properties, community structure, and diversity of AM fungi and understory herbaceous plants were detected at different concentrations of NH4NO3 (0, 20, 40, 80 kg N ha−1 year−1) after 7 years. The results showed that long-term N deposition decreased soil pH, increased soil ammonium content, and caused significant fluctuations in P elements. N deposition improved the stability of soil aggregates by increasing the content of glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) and changed the AM fungal community composition. The Glomus genus was more adaptable to the acidic soil treated with the highest N concentration. The species of AM fungi, understory herbaceous plants, and the biomass of fine roots were decreased under long-term N deposition. The fine root biomass was reduced by 78.6% in the highest N concentration treatment. In summary, we concluded that long-term N deposition could alter soil pH, the distribution of N, P elements, and the soil aggregate fractions, and reduce AM fungal and understory herb diversity. The importance of AM fungi in maintaining forest ecosystem diversity was verified under long-term N deposition.