Final published version
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Fewer new species colonize at low frequency N addition in a temperate grassland
AU - Zhang, Yunhai
AU - Stevens, Carly Joanne
AU - Lu, Xiaotao
AU - He, Nianpeng
AU - Huang, Jianhui
PY - 2016/7/14
Y1 - 2016/7/14
N2 - SummaryBiologically reactive nitrogen (Nr) enrichment threatens biodiversity in diverse ecosystems. Previous controlled N addition experiments may overestimate the effects of atmospheric Nr deposition on the rate of species loss, as it has been found that low frequency Nr additions, as used in traditional studies, lead to more rapid biodiversity loss. It remains unclear, however, whether the colonization of new species (gain) or extinction of old species (loss) is the cause of this difference.By independently manipulating the frequency (twice vs. monthly additions year−1) and the rate (from 0 to 50 g N m−2 year−1) of NH4NO3 inputs for six years in a temperate grassland of northern China, we aimed to examine the contribution of gain and loss of species to the reduction in species richness under different regimes of Nr inputs.Results showed that the gain of new species was higher at a high frequency of N addition than that at a low addition frequency, while loss of existing species was similar between the two frequencies of N addition. The number of new species gained decreased and old species lost increased with the increasing rate of Nr addition at both annual and five-year intervals. Cumulative gain of new species was negatively correlated with soil acidification, ammonium concentration and community biomass accumulation, whereas cumulative loss of old species was positively correlated with these variables.Our results revealed lower new species colonization results in lower species richness at low frequency of Nr addition. Findings from this study highlight the important role of N addition frequency in regulating the effects of Nr addition on community dynamics. To assess the effects of atmospheric Nr deposition on ecosystem structure and functioning, it is necessary to assess not only the dose but also the frequency of N addition.
AB - SummaryBiologically reactive nitrogen (Nr) enrichment threatens biodiversity in diverse ecosystems. Previous controlled N addition experiments may overestimate the effects of atmospheric Nr deposition on the rate of species loss, as it has been found that low frequency Nr additions, as used in traditional studies, lead to more rapid biodiversity loss. It remains unclear, however, whether the colonization of new species (gain) or extinction of old species (loss) is the cause of this difference.By independently manipulating the frequency (twice vs. monthly additions year−1) and the rate (from 0 to 50 g N m−2 year−1) of NH4NO3 inputs for six years in a temperate grassland of northern China, we aimed to examine the contribution of gain and loss of species to the reduction in species richness under different regimes of Nr inputs.Results showed that the gain of new species was higher at a high frequency of N addition than that at a low addition frequency, while loss of existing species was similar between the two frequencies of N addition. The number of new species gained decreased and old species lost increased with the increasing rate of Nr addition at both annual and five-year intervals. Cumulative gain of new species was negatively correlated with soil acidification, ammonium concentration and community biomass accumulation, whereas cumulative loss of old species was positively correlated with these variables.Our results revealed lower new species colonization results in lower species richness at low frequency of Nr addition. Findings from this study highlight the important role of N addition frequency in regulating the effects of Nr addition on community dynamics. To assess the effects of atmospheric Nr deposition on ecosystem structure and functioning, it is necessary to assess not only the dose but also the frequency of N addition.
KW - acidification
KW - ammonium accumulative
KW - biodiversity
KW - ecological processes
KW - inter-specific competition
KW - competition
KW - nitrogen addition frequency
KW - nitrogen deposition
KW - species turnover
U2 - 10.1111/1365-2435.12585
DO - 10.1111/1365-2435.12585
M3 - Journal article
VL - 30
SP - 1247
EP - 1256
JO - Functional Ecology
JF - Functional Ecology
SN - 0269-8463
ER -