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| Web URL(s): | http://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/2648569.pdf?acceptTC=true
Last checked: 10/06/2015
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| Publication Type:
| Refereed |
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| Author(s): | Bobbink, Roland;
Hornung, Michael;
Roelofs, Jan G. M. |
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| Author Affiliation: | Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, University of Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Merlewood Research Station, Cumbria LA, UK |
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| Title: | The effects of air-borne nitrogen pollutants on species diversity in natural and semi-natural European vegetation |
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| Section: | Essay review
Other records with the "Essay review" Section
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| Source: | Journal of Ecology. Vol. 86, No. 5, October 1998, p. 717-738. |
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| Publishing Information: | Blackwell Scientific Publications |
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| # of Pages: | 22 |
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| Keywords: | TIC Keywords: Pollutants; Air pollution; Nitrogen; Diversity; Ecosystems; Grasslands; Wetlands; Nutrient availability; Population dynamics; Acidic soils; Stress; Susceptibility
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| Abstract/Contents: | "The effects of increased atmospheric nitrogen inputs, from both NO^D[y and NHₓ, on diversity in various semi-natural and natural ecosystems are reviewed. The severity of these impacts depends on abiotic conditions (e.g. buffering capacity, soil nutrient status and soil factors that influence the nitrification potential and nitrogen immobilization rate) in the particular system. The sensitivity of fresh water ecosystems , wetlands and bogs, species-rich grasslands, heathlands and field layer of forests, all of which have conservational value, are discussed in detail. The most important effects of nitrogen deposition are (i) accumulation of nitrogenous compounds resulting in enhanced availability of nitrate or ammonium; (ii) soil-mediated effects of acidification; and (iii) increased susceptibility to secondary stress factors. Long-term nitrogen enrichment has gradually increased the availability of nitrogen in several vegetation types, leading to competitive exclusion of characteristic species by more nitrophilic plants, especially under oligo- to mesotrophic soil conditions. Soil acidification (with losses of buffering capacity and increased concentrations of toxic metals) is especially important after nitrification of ammonium in weakly buffered environments: acid-resistant plant species then become dominant at the expense of the often rare plants typical of intermediate pH. The related change in the balance between ammonium and nitrate may also affect the performance of several species. The susceptibility of plant species to secondary stress factors (pathogens; frost and drought) may be affected by air-borne nitrogen but data are only available for a few communities (e.g. dry heathlands). Most global biodiversity is contained within natural and semi-natural vegetation. It is thus crucial to control emissions of nitrogenous compounds to the atmosphere, in order to reduce or prevent effects on diversity in these systems. Most research has focused on acidification in forestry stands and lakes and on the effects on trees. We highlight serious gaps in knowledge of other ecosystems." |
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| Language: | English |
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| References: | 204 |
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| Note: | Graphs |
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| ASA/CSSA/SSSA Citation (Crop Science-Like - may be incomplete):
Bobbink, R., M. Hornung, and J. G. M. Roelofs. 1998. The effects of air-borne nitrogen pollutants on species diversity in natural and semi-natural European vegetation. J. Ecol. 86(5):p. 717-738. |
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| Web URL(s):
http://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/2648569.pdf?acceptTC=true
Last checked: 10/06/2015
Requires: PDF Reader
Access conditions: Item is within a limited-access website |
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MSU catalog number: QH 540 .J6 |
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