Raised nutrient levels change heathland into grassland

Heil, G. W.; Diemont, W.H.

doi:10.1007/bf00043031

Cited by 353 publications

(194 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…From a previous study, it has emerged that small, 'regressive' populations of Gentiana pneumonanthe are mostly found in areas where the vegetation structure is very dense, often dominated by Molinia caerulea (Oostermeijer et al in press). It has also been found that the nutrient availability in such areas is higher as a result of atmospheric deposition and increased mineralization due to a lowering of the phreatic level (Heil and Diemont 1983). The maternal plants are therefore probably subject to stress from low water availability and strong competition for light and resources.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Offspring fitness in relation to population size and genetic variation in the rare perennial plant species Gentiana pneumonanthe (Gentianaceae)

1994

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Offspring fitness in relation to population size and genetic variation in the rare perennial plant species Gentiana pneumonanthe (Gentianaceae) Oostermeijer, J.G.B.; van Eijck, M.W.; den Nijs, J.C.M. Published in: Oecologia DOI:10.1007/BF00317317 Link to publication Citation for published version (APA):Oostermeijer, J. G. B., van Eijck, M. W., & den Nijs, J. C. M. (1994). Offspring fitness in relation to population size and genetic variation in the rare perennial plant species Gentiana pneumonanthe (Gentianaceae). Oecologia, 97, 289-296. DOI: 10.1007/BF00317317 General rightsIt is not permitted to download or to forward/distribute the text or part of it without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), other than for strictly personal, individual use, unless the work is under an open content license (like Creative Commons). Disclaimer/Complaints regulationsIf you believe that digital publication of certain material infringes any of your rights or (privacy) interests, please let the Library know, stating your reasons. In case of a legitimate complaint, the Library will make the material inaccessible and/or remove it from the website. Please Ask the Library: http://uba.uva.nl/en/contact, or a letter to: Library of the University of Amsterdam, Secretariat, Singel 425, 1012 WP Amsterdam, The Netherlands. You will be contacted as soon as possible. Offspring fitness in relation to population size and genetic variation in the rare perennial plant species Gentiana pneumonanthe (Gentianaceae) Received: 5 February 1993 / Accepted: 8 December 1993 Abstract Seeds were sampled from 19 populations of the rare Gentiana pneumonanthe, ranging in size from 5 to more than 50,000 flowering plants. An analysis was made of variation in a number of life-history characters in relation to population size and offspring heterozygosity (based on seven polymorphic isozyme loci). Life-history characters included seed weight, germination rate, proportion of seeds germinating, seedling mortality, seedling weight, adult weight, flower production per plant and proportion of plants flowering per family. Principal component analysis (PCA) reduced the dataset to three main fitness components. The first component was highly correlated with adult weight and flowering performance, the second with germination performance and the third component with seed and seedling weight and seedling mortality. The latter two components were considered as being maternally influenced, since these comprised life-history traits that were significantly correlated with seed weight. Multiple regression analysis showed that variation in the first fitness component was mainly associated with heterozygosity and not with population size, while the third fitness component was only correlated with population size and not with heterozygosity. The latter relationship appeared to be non-linear, which suggests a stronger loss of fitness in the smallest populations. The second (germination) component was neither correlated with population size nor with genetic variati...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Offspring fitness in relation to population size and genetic variation in the rare perennial plant species Gentiana pneumonanthe (Gentianaceae)

1994

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“…This increased abundance was believed to be related to higher levels of N-rich compounds, particularly amino acids, in the foliage. C. vulgaris plants receiving N fertilization were more severely damaged by the heather beetle (Lochmae suturalis) than plants in nonfertilized plots (Heil and Diemont, 1983). Significant outbreaks of heather beetle can open large areas of canopy and increase light penetration, which leads to enhanced growth of understory grasses such as wavy hair-grass (Deschampsia jlexuosa) or purple moor-grass (Molinia caerulea) (Berdowski and Zeilinga, 1987;Pitcairn and Fowler, 1995;Bobbink et al, 1998).…”

Section: Complex Effects On Complex Ecosystemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological issues related to N deposition to natural ecosystems: research needs

Adams

2003

Environment International

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“…The increased dominance of grasses has been attributed to their higher growth rate potential than that of dwarf shrubs (Berendse and Elberse 1990). Furthermore, outbreaks of heather beetle in nitrogen-fertilised vegetation have also strongly accelerated the expansion of grasses (Heil and Diemont 1983;Bobbink and Heil 1993;Power et al 1998). Other factors (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of nutrient supply and light intensity on tannins and mycorrhizal colonisation in Dutch heathland ecosystems

Hofland-Zijlstra

Berendse

2008

Plant Ecol

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(1) Increased atmospheric nitrogen deposition has shifted plant dominance from ericaceous plants to grass species. To elucidate the reduced competitiveness of heather, we tested the hypothesis that additions of nitrogen reduce the concentrations of phenolics and condensed tannins in ericaceous leaves and retard mycorrhizal colonisation in ericaceous plants. We also tested the negative effects of reduced light intensity on carbon-based secondary compounds and mycorrhizal colonisation in ericaceous plants. (2) We performed a field inventory at three heathland sites in the Netherlands varying in nutrient supply and light intensity. Leaves of ericaceous plants and grasses were collected and analysed for concentrations of tannins, phenolics and nutrients. Similarly, we took root samples to record mycorrhizal colonisation and soil samples to measure the soil mineralisation. In addition, we conducted two-factorial experiments with Calluna vulgaris plants, in which we varied fertiliser and shade levels under greenhouse and field conditions. (3) The field inventory revealed that nitrogen addition and shading both negatively affected the concentration of total phenolics. The total phenolics and condensed tannin concentrations were positively correlated (P \ 0.001), but in the field experiment, the condensed tannins were not significantly affected by the treatments. Our results provide the first evidence that the carbon nutrient balance can be used to predict the amount of total phenolics in the dwarf shrub C. vulgaris. (4) In the field experiments, shading of plants resulted in significantly less mycorrhizal colonisation. Only in the greenhouse experiment did addition of nitrogen negatively affect mycorrhizal colonisation. (5) Our results imply that increased atmospheric nitrogen deposition can depress the tannin concentrations in ericaceous plants and the mycorrhizal colonisation in roots, thereby reducing the plants' competitiveness with respect to grasses. Additionally, if ericaceous plants are shaded by grasses that have become dominant due to increased nitrogen supply, these effects will be intensified and competitive replacement will be accelerated.

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Raised nutrient levels change heathland into grassland

Cited by 353 publications

References 21 publications

Offspring fitness in relation to population size and genetic variation in the rare perennial plant species Gentiana pneumonanthe (Gentianaceae)

Offspring fitness in relation to population size and genetic variation in the rare perennial plant species Gentiana pneumonanthe (Gentianaceae)

Ecological issues related to N deposition to natural ecosystems: research needs

The effect of nutrient supply and light intensity on tannins and mycorrhizal colonisation in Dutch heathland ecosystems

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