TY - CHAP

T1 - The effects of atmospheric nitrogen deposition on terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity

AU - Baron, Jill S.

AU - Stevens, Carly Joanne

PY - 2014/4/11

Y1 - 2014/4/11

N2 - This chapter reports the findings of a Working Group on how atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition affects both terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity. Regional and global scale impacts on biodiversity are addressed, together with potential indicators. Key conclusions are that: the rates of loss in biodiversity are greatest at the lowest and initial stages of N deposition increase; changes in species compositions are related to the relative amounts of N, carbon (C) and phosphorus (P) in the plant soil system; enhanced N inputs have implications for C cycling; N deposition is known to be having adverse effects on European and North American vegetation composition; very little is known about tropical ecosystem responses, while tropical ecosystems are major biodiversity hotspots and are increasingly recipients of very high N deposition rates; N deposition alters forest fungi and mycorrhyzal relations with plants; the rapid response of forest fungi and arthropods makes them good indicators of change; predictive tools (models) that address ecosystem scale processes are necessary to address complex drivers and responses, including the integration of N deposition, climate change and land use effects; criteria can be identified for projecting sensitivity of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems to N deposition. Future research and policy-relevant recommendations are identified.

AB - This chapter reports the findings of a Working Group on how atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition affects both terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity. Regional and global scale impacts on biodiversity are addressed, together with potential indicators. Key conclusions are that: the rates of loss in biodiversity are greatest at the lowest and initial stages of N deposition increase; changes in species compositions are related to the relative amounts of N, carbon (C) and phosphorus (P) in the plant soil system; enhanced N inputs have implications for C cycling; N deposition is known to be having adverse effects on European and North American vegetation composition; very little is known about tropical ecosystem responses, while tropical ecosystems are major biodiversity hotspots and are increasingly recipients of very high N deposition rates; N deposition alters forest fungi and mycorrhyzal relations with plants; the rapid response of forest fungi and arthropods makes them good indicators of change; predictive tools (models) that address ecosystem scale processes are necessary to address complex drivers and responses, including the integration of N deposition, climate change and land use effects; criteria can be identified for projecting sensitivity of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems to N deposition. Future research and policy-relevant recommendations are identified.

KW - Biodiversity

KW - Flora

KW - Fauna

KW - Ecosystems

KW - Nitrogen effects

KW - Policy

U2 - 10.1007/978-94-007-7939-6_49

DO - 10.1007/978-94-007-7939-6_49

M3 - Chapter

SN - 9789400779389

SP - 465

EP - 480

BT - Nitrogen Deposition, Critical Loads and Biodiversity: Proceedings of the International Nitrogen Initiative Workshop, Linking Experts of the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution and the Convention on Biological Diversity

A2 - Sutton, Mark A.

A2 - Mason, Kate E.

A2 - Sheppard, Lucy J.

A2 - Sverdrup, Harald

A2 - Haeuber, Richard

A2 - HIcks, W. Kevin

PB - Springer

ER -