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Nitrogen deposition effects on plant species diversity; threshold loads from field data

Tipping, E. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6618-6512; Henrys, P.A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4758-1482; Maskell, L.C. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4006-7755; Smart, S.M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2750-7832. 2013 Nitrogen deposition effects on plant species diversity; threshold loads from field data. Environmental Pollution, 179. 218-223. 10.1016/j.envpol.2013.04.008

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Abstract/Summary

National-scale plant species richness data for Great Britain in 1998 were related to modelled contemporary N deposition (Ndep) using a broken stick median regression, to estimate thresholds above which Ndep definitely has had an effect. The thresholds (kgN ha-1 a-1) are 7.9 for acid grassland 14.9 for bogs, 23.6 for calcareous grassland, 7.8 for deciduous woodland and 8.8 for heath. The woodland and heath thresholds are not significantly greater than the lowest Ndep, which implies that species loss may occur over the whole range of contemporary Ndep. This also applies to acid grassland if it is assumed that Ndep has substituted for previous N fixation. The thresholds for bog and calcareous grassland are both significantly above the lowest Ndep. The thresholds are lower than the mid-range empirical Critical Loads for acid grassland, deciduous woodland and heath, higher for bogs, and approximately equal for calcareous grassland.

Item Type: Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI): 10.1016/j.envpol.2013.04.008
Programmes: CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biodiversity > BD Topic 1 - Observations, Patterns, and Predictions for Biodiversity > BD - 1.3 - Long-term/large-scale monitoring and experiments ...
CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biodiversity > BD Topic 1 - Observations, Patterns, and Predictions for Biodiversity > BD - 1.4 - Quantify and model interactions to determine impacts ...
CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biodiversity > BD Topic 1 - Observations, Patterns, and Predictions for Biodiversity
CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biogeochemistry > BGC Topic 2 - Biogeochemistry and Climate System Processes > BGC - 2.1 - Quantify & model processes that control the emission, fate and bioavailability of pollutants
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas: Parr
Shore
ISSN: 0269-7491
Additional Keywords: Countryside Survey, diversity, nitrogen deposition, plants, species richness
NORA Subject Terms: Ecology and Environment
Date made live: 13 Jun 2013 15:36 +0 (UTC)
URI: https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/502141

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