Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Nitrogen deposition threatens species richness of grasslands across Europe. / Stevens, Carly; Dupre, C.; Dorland, E. et al.
In: Environmental Pollution, Vol. 158, No. 9, 2010, p. 2940-2945.Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Nitrogen deposition threatens species richness of grasslands across Europe
AU - Stevens, Carly
AU - Dupre, C.
AU - Dorland, E.
AU - Gaudnik, C.
AU - Gowing, D.J.G.
AU - Bleeker, A.
AU - Diekmann, M.
AU - Alard, D.
AU - Bobbink, R.
AU - Fowler, D.
AU - Corcket, E.
AU - Mountford, J.O.
AU - Vandvik, V.
AU - Aarrestad, P.A.
AU - Muller, S.
AU - Dise, N.B.
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - Evidence from an international survey in the Atlantic biogeographic region of Europe indicates that chronic nitrogen deposition is reducing plant species richness in acid grasslands. Across the deposition gradient in this region (2–44 kg N ha−1 yr−1) species richness showed a curvilinear response, with greatest reductions in species richness when deposition increased from low levels. This has important implications for conservation policies, suggesting that to protect the most sensitive grasslands resources should be focussed where deposition is currently low. Soil pH is also an important driver of species richness indicating that the acidifying effect of nitrogen deposition may be contributing to species richness reductions. The results of this survey suggest that the impacts of nitrogen deposition can be observed over a large geographical range.
AB - Evidence from an international survey in the Atlantic biogeographic region of Europe indicates that chronic nitrogen deposition is reducing plant species richness in acid grasslands. Across the deposition gradient in this region (2–44 kg N ha−1 yr−1) species richness showed a curvilinear response, with greatest reductions in species richness when deposition increased from low levels. This has important implications for conservation policies, suggesting that to protect the most sensitive grasslands resources should be focussed where deposition is currently low. Soil pH is also an important driver of species richness indicating that the acidifying effect of nitrogen deposition may be contributing to species richness reductions. The results of this survey suggest that the impacts of nitrogen deposition can be observed over a large geographical range.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77958186348&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.envpol.2010.06.006
DO - 10.1016/j.envpol.2010.06.006
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:77958186348
VL - 158
SP - 2940
EP - 2945
JO - Environmental Pollution
JF - Environmental Pollution
SN - 0269-7491
IS - 9
ER -