Nitrogen Fixation and Biomass Accumulation in Plant Communities Dominated by Cytisus scoparius L. in Oregon and Scotland

Wheeler, Chris; Helgerson, Ole T.; Perry, David A.; Gordon, John C.

doi:10.2307/2403800

Cited by 27 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 5 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…These species can be significant competitors to native forest plants, and examples exist of Cytisus, scoparius and Rubus discolor contributing to tree plantation failures (Wheeler et al, 1987;McClennan et al, 1991;Randall and Rejmfinek, 1993;Peterson and Prasad, 1998). Although the A.N.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Eight nonnative plants in western Oregon forests: Associations with environment and management

Gray

2005

Environ Monit Assess

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. Nonnative plants have tremendous ecological and economic impacts on plant communities globally, but comprehensive data on the distribution and ecological relationships of individual species is often scarce or nonexistent. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of vegetation type, climate, topography, and management history on the distribution and abundance of eight selected nonnative plant taxa in forests in western Oregon. These eight taxa were selected as being reliably detected by a multi-resource inventory of 1127 systematically-placed plots on nonfederal forest lands from 1995 to 1997 by the USFS Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program. One or more of the eight nonnative taxa studied were found on 20% of the sampled subplots in the study area, but relatively few stands were dominated by them. Overall abundance of nonnative taxa was likely much greater, because few composites and graminoids were identified to species in this general-purpose inventory. Distribution of most taxa was more closely associated with low density of overstory trees than with climate. Nonnative taxa were significantly more abundant in stands that had been recently clearcut or thinned than in stands that had not. Frequencies of several taxa decreased with elevation, which may reflect proximity to source populations and intensive land use rather than any climatic constraints. Although the greatest potential for displacement of native forest species appears to be in early-successional communities, the potential for spread of some shade-tolerant evergreen shrubs also seems high.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Eight nonnative plants in western Oregon forests: Associations with environment and management

Gray

2005

Environ Monit Assess

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…As in many systems under extensive grazing, volatilization of NH, is likely to occur from animal excreta (Floate 1981). In addition Cytisus scoparius has been found to fix about 35 kg N/ha/yr (Wheeler et al 1987) and root nodules are present in Cytisus scoparius at TM5 (Bonilla 1990).…”

Section: Watershed Nutrient Budgetsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutrient budgets in a dry heathland watershed in northeastern Spain

Belillas

Roda

1991

Biogeochemistry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. Dissolved nutrient inputs in bulk precipitation and outputs in streamwater were measured during 3 years of contrasting hydrological conditions in a 6.3-ha, grazed heathland watershed on schists in the Montseny mountains (NE Spain), drained by an intermittent stream. On average, 39% of the precipitation became streamflow. Bulk precipitation delivered positive net alkalinity (mean 0.22 keq/ha/yr), sulphate input was moderate (9.0 kg SO,-S/ha/yr), and the mean input of inorganic N was not exceptionally high (6.6 kg/ha/yr). Ion concentrations were relatively low in streamwater; SOd2-was the dominant anion. Most concentrations in streamwater varied seasonally, with maxima in late summer or early autumn and minima in spring. This pattern probably resulted from increased availability of ions for leaching due to decomposition of organic matter and chemical weathering during the warm period. Nitrate concentrations were relatively high in winter and dropped sharply in early spring, probably because of biological uptake. Annual element outputs in streamwater varied between years and seemed to be controlled by both the amount of annual streamflow and its seasonal distribution. Annual inputs exceeded outputs for dissolved inorganic N. The watershed accumulated H+ and Ca*+, had net losses of Na+ and Mg'+, and was close to steady state for K+, SO,'-, Cl-and alkalinity. The chloride budgets gave no evidence of substantial dry deposition in this system. The cationic denudation rate was negative (-0.14 keq/ha/yr) because Ca*+ retention was higher than net exports of Na+ and Mg?+ from silicate weathering. Low nutrient export and little production of alkalinity suggest that this watershed has a low buffering capacity.

show abstract

“…When exotic nitrogen-fixing plants become abundant in natural areas, they have been shown to increase nitrogen (N) levels and accelerate the rate of N cycling (Haubensak and Parker 2004;Vitousek and Walker 1989;Vitousek et al 1987;Wheeler et al 1987). Nitrogen is a limiting resource in many ecosystems, and the changes in competitive dynamics between plant species due to increased N can potentially cause broad changes in the composition of native communities (Vitousek and Walker 1989).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of invasive Melilotus officinalis in two native plant communities

Riper

Larson²

2008

Plant Ecol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study examines the impact of the exotic nitrogen-fixing legume Melilotus officinalis (L.) Lam. on native and exotic species cover in two Great Plains ecosystems in Badlands National Park, South Dakota. Melilotus is still widely planted and its effects on native ecosystems are not well studied. Melilotus could have direct effects on native plants, such as through competition or facilitation. Alternatively, Melilotus may have indirect effects on natives, e.g., by favoring exotic species which in turn have a negative effect on native species. This study examined these interactions across a 4-year period in two contrasting vegetation types: Badlands sparse vegetation and western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii) mixed-grass prairie. Structural equation models were used to analyze the pathways through which Melilotus, native species, and other exotic species interact over a series of 2-year time steps. Melilotus can affect native and exotic species both in the current year and in the years after its death (a lag effect). A lag effect is possible because the death of a Melilotus plant can leave an open, potentially nitrogen-enriched site on the landscape. The results showed that the relationship between Melilotus and native and exotic species varied depending on the habitat and the year. In Badlands sparse vegetation, there was a consistent, strong, and positive relationship between Melilotus cover and native and exotic species cover suggesting that Melilotus is acting as a nurse plant and facilitating the growth of other species. In contrast, in western wheatgrass prairie, Melilotus was acting as a weak competitor and had no consistent effect on other species. In both habitats, there was little evidence for a direct lag effect of Melilotus on other species. Together, these results suggest both facilitative and competitive roles for Melilotus, depending on the vegetation type it invades.

show abstract

Nitrogen Fixation and Biomass Accumulation in Plant Communities Dominated by Cytisus scoparius L. in Oregon and Scotland

Cited by 27 publications

References 5 publications

Eight nonnative plants in western Oregon forests: Associations with environment and management

Eight nonnative plants in western Oregon forests: Associations with environment and management

Nutrient budgets in a dry heathland watershed in northeastern Spain

Role of invasive Melilotus officinalis in two native plant communities

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About