Nitrogen‐induced terrestrial eutrophication: cascading effects and impacts on ecosystem services

Clark, Christopher M.; Bell, Michael D.; Boyd, James; Compton, Jana E.; Davidson, Eric A.; Davis, Clayton L.; Fenn, Mark E.; Geiser, Linda H.; Jones, Laurence; Blett, Tamara

doi:10.1002/ecs2.1877

Cited by 53 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 95 publications

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“…These lichens provide majority of the winter diet and nesting material of the northern flying squirrel ( Glaucomys sabrinus ) and population declines have been linked to N deposition in the Marine West Coast Forests Ecoregion. Horsehair lichens also constitute the bulk of winter forage for the woodland caribou ( Rangifer tarandus caribou ) (Clark et al., ).…”

Section: Impacts On Higher Trophic Levelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Atmospheric nitrogen deposition in terrestrial ecosystems: Its impact on plant communities and consequences across trophic levels

2018

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The global nitrogen cycle has been greatly perturbed by human activities resulting in elevated nitrogen deposition in many parts of the world. The threat nitrogen deposition poses to ecosystem function and biodiversity is increasingly recognised. In terrestrial systems, impacts on the plant community are mainly through eutrophication and soil acidification. Interactions with secondary environmental drivers such as extreme weather and disease are also key mechanisms. Impacts on consumers can be caused by changes in the quality or quantity of food as a result of changes in food plant chemistry or species composition, changes in vegetation structure leading to a change in the availability of prey species, nesting sites or cooled microclimates or changes in the phenology of plants leading to causing phenological asynchrony. Primary consumers have received considerably less research attention than plants but negative impacts have been observed for both folivorous insects and pollinators. Mammal herbivores have received little research attention. New analysis of changes in plant traits along a gradient of nitrogen deposition in the UK shows that plants pollinated by large bees were negatively associated with N deposition whilst low pH was associated with lower nectar production, reduced occurrence of plants pollinated by long‐tongued insects and a reduction in plants with larger floral units. Very few studies have investigated the effects on secondary consumers, but those that have suggest that there are likely to be negative impacts. This review identifies considerable knowledge gaps in the impacts of N deposition on higher tropic levels and highlights that for many groups, knowledge of N deposition impacts is patchy at best. Evidence that has been collected suggests that there are likely to be impacts on primary and secondary consumers making this a priority area for investigation.

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Section: Impacts On Higher Trophic Levelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Atmospheric nitrogen deposition in terrestrial ecosystems: Its impact on plant communities and consequences across trophic levels

2018

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“…Inevitably, changes in the relative abundance of different tree species within these forests can impact the benefits that humans receive, both directly and indirectly, from these natural systems (Clark et al. , Irvine et al. ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nitrogen deposition and climate change effects on tree species composition and ecosystem services for a forest cohort

Houtven

Phelan

Clark

et al. 2019

Ecological Monographs

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The composition of forests in the northeastern United States and the ecosystem services they provide to future generations will depend on several factors. In this paper, we isolate the effects of two environmental drivers, nitrogen (N) deposition and climate (temperature and precipitation) change, through an analysis of a single cohort of 24 dominant tree species. We assembled a tree database using data from U.S. Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis monitoring plots. Applying observed species‐specific growth and survival responses, we simulated how forest stands in a 19‐state study area would change from 2005 to 2100 under 12 different future N deposition–climate scenarios. We then estimated implications for three selected forest ecosystem services: merchantable timber, aboveground carbon sequestration, and tree diversity. Total tree biomass (for 24 species combined) was positively associated with both increased N deposition and temperatures; however, due to differences in the direction and magnitude of species‐specific responses, forest composition varied across scenarios. For example, red maple ( Acer rubrum ) trees gained biomass under scenarios with more N deposition and more climate change, whereas biomass of yellow birch ( Betula alleghaniensis ) and red pine ( Pinus resinosa ) was negatively affected. Projections for ecosystem services also varied across scenarios. Carbon sequestration, which is positively associated with biomass accumulation, increased with N deposition and increasing climate change. Total timber values also increased with overall biomass; however, scenarios with increasing climate change tended to favor species with lower merchantable value, whereas more N deposition favored species with higher merchantable value. Tree species diversity was projected to decrease with greater changes in climate (warmer temperatures), especially in the northwestern, central, and southeastern portions of the study area. In contrast, the effects of N deposition on diversity varied greatly in magnitude and direction across the study area. This study highlights species‐specific and regional effects of N deposition and climate change in northeastern U.S. forests, which can inform management decision for air quality and forests in the region, as well as climate policy. It also provides a foundation for future studies that may incorporate other important factors such as multiple cohorts, sulfur deposition, insects, and diseases.

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“…Losses of plant diversity and eutrophication are widespread in developed regions (Stevens et al 2004, Bobbink et al 2010, Simkin et al 2016, Clark et al 2017) and acidification of soils and surface waters have occurred in the most heavily impacted regions (Driscoll et al 2001, Tian and Niu 2015. Losses of plant diversity and eutrophication are widespread in developed regions (Stevens et al 2004, Bobbink et al 2010, Simkin et al 2016, Clark et al 2017) and acidification of soils and surface waters have occurred in the most heavily impacted regions (Driscoll et al 2001, Tian and Niu 2015.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Given the potential for long-lasting impacts of N deposition on ecosystem structure and function, including the decline of key ecosystem services such as water quality and forage (Galloway et al 2008, Clark et al 2017 selecting metrics that show greater recovery such as species abundances as critical load standards should be considered to prevent more severe impacts. Only the cover of the nitrophilic species Carex rupestris decreased in association with cessation of N additions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Atmospheric deposition of N into terrestrial ecosystems has resulted in enhancement of forest growth (Thomas et al 2010), a loss of plant diversity (Stevens et al 2004, Bobbink et al 2010, Simkin et al 2016, depletion of nutrient base cations, and subsequent acidification and enhancement of toxic soluble aluminum (Al) and manganese (Mn) in soils and surface waters (van Breemen et al 1983, Driscoll et al 2001. As inputs of N and cycling rates increase, greater NO À 3 leaching occurs, leading to loss of base cations, greater soluble Al in soil solution, decreased pH, contributing to decreases in NPP (Aber et al 1998, Lovett and Goodale 2011, Bowman et al 2015, Clark et al 2017. Subsequently, plant diversity and microbial biomass often decrease in association with ecosystem eutrophication, followed by enhanced rates of N cycling linked with decreased carbon:N of ecosystem pools.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Limited Ecosystem Recovery from Simulated Chronic Nitrogen Deposition

Bowman¹,

Ayyad²,

Mesquita³

et al. 2019

Bulletin Ecologic Soc America

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The realization that anthropogenic nitrogen (N) deposition is causing significant environmental change in many ecosystems has led to lower emissions of reactive N and deposition rates in many regions. However, the impacts of N deposition on terrestrial ecosystems can be long lasting, with significant inertia in the return of the biota and biogeochemical processes to baseline levels. To better understand patterns of recovery and the factors that may contribute to slow or no responses following declines in N deposition, we followed plant species composition, microbial abundance, N cycling rates, soil pH, and pools of NO 3 À and extractable cations in an impacted alpine ecosystem following cessation of 12-yr experiment increasing N deposition rates by 0, 20, 40, and 60 kg NÁha À1 Áyr À1 . Simulated N deposition had resulted in a tripling in the cover of the nitrophilic species Carex rupestris, while the dominant sedge Kobresia myosuroides had decreased by more than half at the highest N input level. In addition, nitrification rates were elevated, soil extractable magnesium (Mg 2+ ) and pH decreased, and aluminum (Al 3+ ) and manganese (Mn 2+ ) were elevated at the highest N treatment inputs. Over the nine years following cessation of N additions to the impacted plots, only the cover of the nitrophilic C. rupestris showed any recovery to prior levels. Abundances of both bacteria and fungi were lower with N addition in both treatment and recovery plots. Rates of nitrification and pools of NO 3 À remained elevated in the recovery plots, likely contributing to the lack of biotic response to the cessation of N inputs. In addition, nutrient base cations (Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ ) and soil pH remained depressed, and the toxic metal cations (Al 3+ and Mn 2+ ) remained elevated in recovery plots, also potentially influencing biotic recovery. These results emphasize the importance of considering long-term environmental impacts of N deposition associated with legacy effects, such as elevated N cycling and losses of base cations, in determining environmental standards such as the metrics used for critical loads.

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Nitrogen‐induced terrestrial eutrophication: cascading effects and impacts on ecosystem services

Cited by 53 publications

References 95 publications

Atmospheric nitrogen deposition in terrestrial ecosystems: Its impact on plant communities and consequences across trophic levels

Atmospheric nitrogen deposition in terrestrial ecosystems: Its impact on plant communities and consequences across trophic levels

Nitrogen deposition and climate change effects on tree species composition and ecosystem services for a forest cohort

Limited Ecosystem Recovery from Simulated Chronic Nitrogen Deposition

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