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6976401 
Journal Article 
The contributions of nitrogen-fixing symbioses to coastal heathland succession 
Dudley, JL; Michener, B; Lajtha, K; , 
1996 
Yes 
American Midland Naturalist
ISSN: 0003-0031
EISSN: 1938-4238 
AMER MIDLAND NATURALIST 
NOTRE DAME 
334-342 
WOS:A1996UG15200016 
Nutrient availability has been linked to successional change in the extremely N-limited coastal heathland ecosystem. A study nas conducted on Nantucket Island (Massachusetts) to determine if plants with N-fixing symbioses affect nutrient availability and community succession in coastal heathland ecosystems. N-availability was no different in soils collected beneath N-fixing species than in soils collected away from N-fixing species. Furthermore there was no difference in nitrogen content of grasses and soils found in association with N-fixing species than those located away from N-fixers. The N-15 content of soils and plants distributed within and without the canopy of N-fixing species was no different. The annual height and weight increments of pines growing within and away from patches of the N-fixing shrub Myrica pensylvanica were not significantly different, indicating that nitrogen derived from N-fixing synbioses did not contribute to the growth of pines. The lack of noticeable effects of N-fixing species on neighboring plants may be the result of leaching in these sandy soils, which would minimize lateral plant-to-plant N transfers via the soil.