Long‐term vegetation changes in Nardus grasslands indicate eutrophication, recovery from acidification, and management change as the main drivers

Abstract

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Extreme droughts in oligotrophic mountain grasslands cause substantial species abundance changes and amplify community filtering

“…We assigned species to species groups according to two criteria (Appendix ). First, we defined sociological groups based on their occurrence in certain syntaxa and, in the case of two groups, in combination with their nutrient demand: Character species ( Nardetalia specialists in open habitats according to Peppler‐Lisbach & Petersen, 2001) Low‐productive grassland species (other species of anthropo‐zoogenic heathlands/grasslands with an Ellenberg indicator score for nitrogen (N) of <4, according to Ellenberg et al, 2001), Species of agricultural grasslands (species of anthropo‐zoogenic heathlands/grasslands and with an Ellenberg indicator score for N of ≥4, according to Peppler‐Lisbach et al, 2020). …”

Drought stress triggers differential survival and functional trait responses in the establishment of Arnica montana seedlings

“…This means that the strength of the trait-fitness correlation is key to our functional trait concept. Here, we evaluated a set of morphological and physiological above-and belowground functional traits commonly used as proxies for species growth and size and which indicate drought stress (P erez-Harguindeguy et al, 2013).…”

“…A. montana depends, like other perennials plants, on sexual reproduction to adapt to future environmental changes (Eckert, 2001;St€ ocklin et al, 2009). This species relies for its generative reproduction on bare soil patches in grassland swards, which provide both low competition for germination sites and a beneficial microclimate for seedling establishment (Schwabe, 1990;Kahmen & Poschlod, 1998), which are increasingly rare due to changes in habitat structures and current management of mountain grasslands (Hollmann et al, 2020;Peppler-Lisbach et al, 2020). Moreover, recent field observations from in situ reintroduction projects suggest increased pressure of drought on A. montana seedlings in the early establishment phase after successful germination (Blachnik & Saller, 2015).…”

“…Precipitation amounts[monthly sum (mm)]. The measurement, sampling, and further processing of trait samples were performed according to P erez-Harguindeguy et al (2013). Leaf area was determined by using ImageJ2(Rueden et al, 2017) and the size-related root traits using WinRHIZO TM (version 2016a) (Regent Instruments, Qu ebec, Canada).…”

Fertilization Failed to Make Positive Effects on Torreya grandis in Severe N-Deposition Subtropics

“…Furthermore, the excessive use of chemical fertilizer has also generated serious adverse environmental consequences, such as non-point source pollution [6] and N-induced soil acidification (especially due to NH 4+ ), both of which have been observed in multiple ecosystems [7][8][9]. It should be noted that soil acidification would change ecosystem biogeochemistry, accelerating cationic nutrient (such as Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ ) leaching and thereby, reducing plant productivity in turn [10,11] and negatively affecting local biodiversity [12,13].…”