Ecosystem responses to reduced and oxidised nitrogen inputs in European terrestrial habitats

Stevens, Carly J.; Manning, Pete; Van den Berg, Leon J. L.; De Graaf, Maaike C. C.; Wamelink, G. W. Weiger; Boxman, Andries W.; Bleeker, Albert; Vergeer, Philippine; Arroniz-Crespo, Maria; Limpens, Juul; Lamers, Leon P. M.; Bobbink, Roland and Dorland, Edu (2011). Ecosystem responses to reduced and oxidised nitrogen inputs in European terrestrial habitats. Environmental Pollution, 159(3) pp. 665–676.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2010.12.008

Abstract

While it is well established that ecosystems display strong responses to elevated nitrogen deposition, the importance of the ratio between the dominant forms of deposited nitrogen (NH_x and NO_y) in determining ecosystem response is poorly understood. As large changes in the ratio of oxidised and reduced nitrogen inputs are occurring, this oversight requires attention. One reason for this knowledge gap is that the NH_x:NO_y ratio which plants are exposed to differs to that in deposition as inputs are modified by soil transformations, mediated by soil pH. Consequently species of neutral and alkaline habitats are less likely to encounter high NH₄⁺ concentrations than species from acid soils. We suggest that the response of vascular plant species to changing ratios of NH_x:NO_y deposits will be driven primarily by a combination of soil pH and nitrification rates. Testing this hypothesis requires a combination of experimental and survey work in a range of systems.

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