Can on-site management mitigate nitrogen deposition impacts in non-wooded habitats?

Jones, L. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4379-9006; Stevens, C; Rowe, E.C. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4784-7236; Payne, R.; Caporn, S.J.M.; Evans, C.D. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7052-354X; Field, C.; Dale, S.. 2017 Can on-site management mitigate nitrogen deposition impacts in non-wooded habitats? Biological Conservation, 212 (B). 464-475. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2016.06.012

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Abstract/Summary

Nitrogen (N) deposition is a major cause of plant biodiversity loss, with serious implications for appropriate management of protected sites. Reducing N emissions is the only long-term solution. However, on-site management has the potential to mitigate some of the adverse effects of N deposition. In this paper we review how management activities such as grazing, cutting, burning, hydrological management and soil disturbance measures can mitigate the negative impacts of N across a range of temperate habitats (acid, calcareous and neutral grasslands, sand dunes and other coastal habitats, heathlands, bogs and fens). The review focuses mainly on European habitats, which have a long history of N deposition, and it excludes forested systems. For each management type we distinguish between actions that improve habitat suitability for plant species of conservation importance, and actions that immobilize N or remove it from the system. For grasslands and heathlands we collate data on the quantity of N removal by each management type. Our findings show that while most activities improve habitat suitability, the majority do little to slow or to reduce the amount of N accumulating in soil pools at current deposition rates. Only heavy cutting/mowing with removal in grasslands, high intensity burns in heathlands and sod cutting remove more N than comes in from deposition under typical management cycles. We conclude by discussing some of the unintended consequences of managing specifically for N impacts, which can include damage to non-target species, alteration of soil processes, loss of the seedbank and loss of soil carbon.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2016.06.012
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Emmett
ISSN:	0006-3207
Additional Keywords:	biodiversity, leaching, grazing, mowing, burning, turf stripping
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	31 Aug 2016 15:19 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/514372

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