Environmental and plant community determinants of species loss following nitrogen enrichment

Clark, CM; Cleland, EE; Collins, SL; Fargione, JE; Gough, L; Gross, KL; Pennings, SC; Suding, KN; Grace, JB

HERO ID

99026

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2007

Language

English

PMID

17542938

HERO ID 99026
In Press No
Year 2007
Title Environmental and plant community determinants of species loss following nitrogen enrichment
Authors Clark, CM; Cleland, EE; Collins, SL; Fargione, JE; Gough, L; Gross, KL; Pennings, SC; Suding, KN; Grace, JB
Journal Ecology Letters
Volume 10
Issue 7
Page Numbers 596-607
Abstract Global energy use and food production have increased nitrogen inputs to ecosystems worldwide, impacting plant community diversity, composition, and function. Previous studies show considerable variation across terrestrial herbaceous ecosystems in the magnitude of species loss following nitrogen (N) enrichment. What controls this variation remains unknown. We present results from 23 N-addition experiments across North America, representing a range of climatic, soil and plant community properties, to determine conditions that lead to greater diversity decline. Species loss in these communities ranged from 0 to 65% of control richness. Using hierarchical structural equation modelling, we found greater species loss in communities with a lower soil cation exchange capacity, colder regional temperature, and larger production increase following N addition, independent of initial species richness, plant productivity, and the relative abundance of most plant functional groups. Our results indicate sensitivity to N addition is co-determined by environmental conditions and production responsiveness, which overwhelm the effects of initial community structure and composition.
Doi 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2007.01053.x
Pmid 17542938
Wosid WOS:000247123900006
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Is Public Yes
Language Text English
Keyword Biogeochemistry; functional traits; meta-analysis; nitrogen; SEM; species loss
Is Qa No
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