1
|
Clark CM, Simkin SM, Allen EB, Bowman WD, Belnap J, Brooks ML, Collins SL, Geiser LH, Gilliam FS, Jovan SE, Pardo LH, Schulz BK, Stevens CJ, Suding KN, Throop HL, Waller DM. Potential vulnerability of 348 herbaceous species to atmospheric deposition of nitrogen and sulfur in the United States. Nat Plants 2019; 5:697-705. [PMID: 31263243 PMCID: PMC10790282 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-019-0442-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Atmospheric nitrogen and sulfur pollution increased over much of the United States during the twentieth century from fossil fuel combustion and industrial agriculture. Despite recent declines, nitrogen and sulfur deposition continue to affect many plant communities in the United States, although which species are at risk remains uncertain. We used species composition data from >14,000 survey sites across the contiguous United States to evaluate the association between nitrogen and sulfur deposition and the probability of occurrence for 348 herbaceous species. We found that the probability of occurrence for 70% of species was negatively associated with nitrogen or sulfur deposition somewhere in the contiguous United States (56% for N, 51% for S). Of the species, 15% and 51% potentially decreased at all nitrogen and sulfur deposition rates, respectively, suggesting thresholds below the minimum deposition they receive. Although more species potentially increased than decreased with nitrogen deposition, increasers tended to be introduced and decreasers tended to be higher-value native species. More vulnerable species tended to be shorter with lower tissue nitrogen and magnesium. These relationships constitute predictive equations to estimate critical loads. These results demonstrate that many herbaceous species may be at risk from atmospheric deposition and can inform improvements to air quality policies in the United States and globally.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M Clark
- National Center for Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, USA.
| | - Samuel M Simkin
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and INSTAAR, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
- National Ecological Observatory Network, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Edith B Allen
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - William D Bowman
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and INSTAAR, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Jayne Belnap
- Southwest Biological Science Center, US Geological Survey, Moab, UT, USA
| | - Matthew L Brooks
- Western Ecological Research Center, US Geological Survey, Oakhurst, CA, USA
| | - Scott L Collins
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Linda H Geiser
- Washington Office-Water, Fish, Wildlife, Air & Rare Plants, USDA Forest Service, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Frank S Gilliam
- Department of Biology, University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL, USA
| | - Sarah E Jovan
- Forest Inventory and Analysis Program, USDA Forest Service, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Linda H Pardo
- Northern Research Station, USDA Forest Service, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Bethany K Schulz
- Forest Inventory and Analysis Program, USDA Forest Service, Anchorage, AK, USA
| | - Carly J Stevens
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Katharine N Suding
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, USA
| | - Heather L Throop
- School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Donald M Waller
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Sebestyen SD, Ross DS, Shanley JB, Elliott EM, Kendall C, Campbell JL, Dail DB, Fernandez IJ, Goodale CL, Lawrence GB, Lovett GM, McHale PJ, Mitchell MJ, Nelson SJ, Shattuck MD, Wickman TR, Barnes RT, Bostic JT, Buda AR, Burns DA, Eshleman KN, Finlay JC, Nelson DM, Ohte N, Pardo LH, Rose LA, Sabo RD, Schiff SL, Spoelstra J, Williard KWJ. Unprocessed Atmospheric Nitrate in Waters of the Northern Forest Region in the U.S. and Canada. Environ Sci Technol 2019; 53:3620-3633. [PMID: 30830765 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b01276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Little is known about the regional extent and variability of nitrate from atmospheric deposition that is transported to streams without biological processing in forests. We measured water chemistry and isotopic tracers (δ18O and δ15N) of nitrate sources across the Northern Forest Region of the U.S. and Canada and reanalyzed data from other studies to determine when, where, and how unprocessed atmospheric nitrate was transported in catchments. These inputs were more widespread and numerous than commonly recognized, but with high spatial and temporal variability. Only 6 of 32 streams had high fractions (>20%) of unprocessed atmospheric nitrate during baseflow. Seventeen had high fractions during stormflow or snowmelt, which corresponded to large fractions in near-surface soil waters or groundwaters, but not deep groundwater. The remaining 10 streams occasionally had some (<20%) unprocessed atmospheric nitrate during stormflow or baseflow. Large, sporadic events may continue to be cryptic due to atmospheric deposition variation among storms and a near complete lack of monitoring for these events. A general lack of observance may bias perceptions of occurrence; sustained monitoring of chronic nitrogen pollution effects on forests with nitrate source apportionments may offer insights needed to advance the science as well as assess regulatory and management schemes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen D Sebestyen
- USDA Forest Service , Northern Research Station , 1831 Highway 169 E , Grand Rapids , Minnesota 55744-3399 , United States
| | - Donald S Ross
- University of Vermont , Dept. of Plant and Soil Science , Burlington , Vermont 05405-1737 , United States
| | - James B Shanley
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) , New England Water Science Center , Montpelier , Vermont 05602 , United States
| | - Emily M Elliott
- University of Pittsburgh , Dept. of Geology and Environmental Science , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15260-3332 , United States
| | - Carol Kendall
- USGS , Menlo Park , California 94025 , United States
| | - John L Campbell
- USDA Forest Service , Northern Research Station , Durham , New Hampshire 03824 , United States
| | - D Bryan Dail
- University of Maine , Department of Plant, Soil, and Environmental Science , Orono , Maine 04469 , United States
| | - Ivan J Fernandez
- University of Maine , School of Forest Resources , Orono , Maine 04469 , United States
| | - Christine L Goodale
- Cornell University , Ecology and Evolutionary Biology , Ithaca , New York 14850 , United States
| | | | - Gary M Lovett
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies , Millbrook , New York 12545 , United States
| | - Patrick J McHale
- State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry , Department of Environmental and Forest Biology , Syracuse , New York 13210 , United States
| | - Myron J Mitchell
- State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry , Department of Environmental and Forest Biology , Syracuse , New York 13210 , United States
| | - Sarah J Nelson
- University of Maine , School of Forest Resources , Orono , Maine 04469 , United States
| | - Michelle D Shattuck
- University of New Hampshire , Dept. of Natural Resources and the Environment , Durham , New Hampshire 03824 , United States
| | - Trent R Wickman
- USDA Forest Service , National Forest System - Eastern Region , Duluth , Minnesota 55808 , United States
| | - Rebecca T Barnes
- Colorado College , Environmental Program , Colorado Springs , Colorado 80903 , United States
| | - Joel T Bostic
- University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science , Appalachian Laboratory , Frostburg , Maryland 21532 , United States
| | - Anthony R Buda
- USDA Agricultural Research Service , Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Unit , University Park , Pennsylvania 16802-3702 , United States
| | - Douglas A Burns
- USGS , NY Water Science Center , Troy , New York 12180 , United States
| | - Keith N Eshleman
- University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science , Appalachian Laboratory , Frostburg , Maryland 21532 , United States
| | - Jacques C Finlay
- University of Minnesota , Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior , St. Paul , Minnesota 55108 , United States
| | - David M Nelson
- University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science , Appalachian Laboratory , Frostburg , Maryland 21532 , United States
| | - Nobuhito Ohte
- Kyoto University , Department of Social Informatics , Kyoto , Kyoto Prefecture 6068501 , Japan
| | - Linda H Pardo
- USDA Forest Service , Northern Research Station , Burlington , Vermont 05405 , United States
| | - Lucy A Rose
- University of Minnesota , Department of Forest Resources , St. Paul , Minnesota 55108 , United States
| | - Robert D Sabo
- USDA Forest Service , Northern Research Station , Burlington , Vermont 05405 , United States
| | - Sherry L Schiff
- University of Waterloo , Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences , Waterloo , Ontario N2L 3G1 , Canada
| | - John Spoelstra
- Environment and Climate Change Canada , Canada Center for Inland Waters , Burlington , Ontario L7S 1A1 , Canada
| | - Karl W J Williard
- Southern Illinois University , Forestry Center for Ecology , Carbondale , Illinois 62901 , United States
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Horn KJ, Thomas RQ, Clark CM, Pardo LH, Fenn ME, Lawrence GB, Perakis SS, Smithwick EAH, Baldwin D, Braun S, Nordin A, Perry CH, Phelan JN, Schaberg PG, St Clair SB, Warby R, Watmough S. Correction: Growth and survival relationships of 71 tree species with nitrogen and sulfur deposition across the conterminous U.S. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0212984. [PMID: 30794708 PMCID: PMC6386249 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
|
4
|
Simkin SM, Allen EB, Bowman WD, Clark CM, Belnap J, Brooks ML, Cade BS, Collins SL, Geiser LH, Gilliam FS, Jovan SE, Pardo LH, Schulz BK, Stevens CJ, Suding KN, Throop HL, Waller DM. Conditional vulnerability of plant diversity to atmospheric nitrogen deposition across the United States. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:4086-4091. [PMID: 27035943 DOI: 10.5061/dryad.7kn53] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition has been shown to decrease plant species richness along regional deposition gradients in Europe and in experimental manipulations. However, the general response of species richness to N deposition across different vegetation types, soil conditions, and climates remains largely unknown even though responses may be contingent on these environmental factors. We assessed the effect of N deposition on herbaceous richness for 15,136 forest, woodland, shrubland, and grassland sites across the continental United States, to address how edaphic and climatic conditions altered vulnerability to this stressor. In our dataset, with N deposition ranging from 1 to 19 kg N⋅ha(-1)⋅y(-1), we found a unimodal relationship; richness increased at low deposition levels and decreased above 8.7 and 13.4 kg N⋅ha(-1)⋅y(-1) in open and closed-canopy vegetation, respectively. N deposition exceeded critical loads for loss of plant species richness in 24% of 15,136 sites examined nationwide. There were negative relationships between species richness and N deposition in 36% of 44 community gradients. Vulnerability to N deposition was consistently higher in more acidic soils whereas the moderating roles of temperature and precipitation varied across scales. We demonstrate here that negative relationships between N deposition and species richness are common, albeit not universal, and that fine-scale processes can moderate vegetation responses to N deposition. Our results highlight the importance of contingent factors when estimating ecosystem vulnerability to N deposition and suggest that N deposition is affecting species richness in forested and nonforested systems across much of the continental United States.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samuel M Simkin
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309;
| | - Edith B Allen
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521; Center for Conservation Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521
| | - William D Bowman
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309
| | - Christopher M Clark
- National Center for Environmental Assessment, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460
| | - Jayne Belnap
- Southwest Biological Science Center, United States Geological Survey, Moab, UT 84532
| | - Matthew L Brooks
- Western Ecological Research Center, United States Geological Survey, Oakhurst, CA 93644
| | - Brian S Cade
- Fort Collins Science Center, United States Geological Survey, Fort Collins, CO 80226
| | - Scott L Collins
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131
| | - Linda H Geiser
- Pacific Northwest Region Air Resource Management Program, United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Corvallis, OR 97339
| | - Frank S Gilliam
- Department of Biological Sciences, Marshall University, Huntington, WV 25755
| | - Sarah E Jovan
- Forest Inventory and Analysis Program, United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Portland, OR 97339
| | - Linda H Pardo
- Northern Research Station, United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Burlington, VT 05405
| | - Bethany K Schulz
- Forest Inventory and Analysis Program, United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Anchorage, AK 99501
| | - Carly J Stevens
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, United Kingdom
| | - Katharine N Suding
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309
| | - Heather L Throop
- School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287; School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287
| | - Donald M Waller
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Simkin SM, Allen EB, Bowman WD, Clark CM, Belnap J, Brooks ML, Cade BS, Collins SL, Geiser LH, Gilliam FS, Jovan SE, Pardo LH, Schulz BK, Stevens CJ, Suding KN, Throop HL, Waller DM. Conditional vulnerability of plant diversity to atmospheric nitrogen deposition across the United States. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:4086-91. [PMID: 27035943 PMCID: PMC4839424 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1515241113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition has been shown to decrease plant species richness along regional deposition gradients in Europe and in experimental manipulations. However, the general response of species richness to N deposition across different vegetation types, soil conditions, and climates remains largely unknown even though responses may be contingent on these environmental factors. We assessed the effect of N deposition on herbaceous richness for 15,136 forest, woodland, shrubland, and grassland sites across the continental United States, to address how edaphic and climatic conditions altered vulnerability to this stressor. In our dataset, with N deposition ranging from 1 to 19 kg N⋅ha(-1)⋅y(-1), we found a unimodal relationship; richness increased at low deposition levels and decreased above 8.7 and 13.4 kg N⋅ha(-1)⋅y(-1) in open and closed-canopy vegetation, respectively. N deposition exceeded critical loads for loss of plant species richness in 24% of 15,136 sites examined nationwide. There were negative relationships between species richness and N deposition in 36% of 44 community gradients. Vulnerability to N deposition was consistently higher in more acidic soils whereas the moderating roles of temperature and precipitation varied across scales. We demonstrate here that negative relationships between N deposition and species richness are common, albeit not universal, and that fine-scale processes can moderate vegetation responses to N deposition. Our results highlight the importance of contingent factors when estimating ecosystem vulnerability to N deposition and suggest that N deposition is affecting species richness in forested and nonforested systems across much of the continental United States.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samuel M Simkin
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309;
| | - Edith B Allen
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521; Center for Conservation Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521
| | - William D Bowman
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309
| | - Christopher M Clark
- National Center for Environmental Assessment, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460
| | - Jayne Belnap
- Southwest Biological Science Center, United States Geological Survey, Moab, UT 84532
| | - Matthew L Brooks
- Western Ecological Research Center, United States Geological Survey, Oakhurst, CA 93644
| | - Brian S Cade
- Fort Collins Science Center, United States Geological Survey, Fort Collins, CO 80226
| | - Scott L Collins
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131
| | - Linda H Geiser
- Pacific Northwest Region Air Resource Management Program, United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Corvallis, OR 97339
| | - Frank S Gilliam
- Department of Biological Sciences, Marshall University, Huntington, WV 25755
| | - Sarah E Jovan
- Forest Inventory and Analysis Program, United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Portland, OR 97339
| | - Linda H Pardo
- Northern Research Station, United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Burlington, VT 05405
| | - Bethany K Schulz
- Forest Inventory and Analysis Program, United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Anchorage, AK 99501
| | - Carly J Stevens
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, United Kingdom
| | - Katharine N Suding
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309
| | - Heather L Throop
- School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287; School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287
| | - Donald M Waller
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Halman JM, Schaberg PG, Hawley GJ, Pardo LH, Fahey TJ. Calcium and aluminum impacts on sugar maple physiology in a northern hardwood forest. Tree Physiol 2013; 33:1242-1251. [PMID: 24300338 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpt099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Forests of northeastern North America have been exposed to anthropogenic acidic inputs for decades, resulting in altered cation relations and disruptions to associated physiological processes in multiple tree species, including sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.). In the current study, the impacts of calcium (Ca) and aluminum (Al) additions on mature sugar maple physiology were evaluated at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest (Thornton, NH, USA) to assess remediation (Ca addition) or exacerbation (Al addition) of current acidified conditions. Fine root cation concentrations and membrane integrity, carbon (C) allocation, foliar cation concentrations and antioxidant activity, foliar response to a spring freezing event and reproductive ability (flowering, seed quantity, filled seed and seed germination) were evaluated for dominant sugar maple trees in a replicated plot study. Root damage and foliar antioxidant activity were highest in Al-treated trees, while growth-associated C, foliar re-flush following a spring frost and reproductive ability were highest in Ca-treated trees. In general, we found that trees on Ca-treated plots preferentially used C resources for growth and reproductive processes, whereas Al-treated trees devoted C to defense-based processes. Similarities between Al-treated and control trees were observed for foliar cation concentrations, C partitioning and seed production, suggesting that sugar maples growing in native forests may be more stressed than previously perceived. Our experiment suggests that disruption of the balance of Ca and Al in sugar maples by acid deposition continues to be an important driver of tree health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua M Halman
- Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont, 81 Carrigan Drive, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Clark CM, Morefield PE, Gilliam FS, Pardo LH. Estimated losses of plant biodiversity in the United States from historical N deposition (1985–2010). Ecology 2013; 94:1441-8. [DOI: 10.1890/12-2016.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
|
8
|
Groffman PM, Rustad LE, Templer PH, Campbell JL, Christenson LM, Lany NK, Socci AM, Vadeboncoeur MA, Schaberg PG, Wilson GF, Driscoll CT, Fahey TJ, Fisk MC, Goodale CL, Green MB, Hamburg SP, Johnson CE, Mitchell MJ, Morse JL, Pardo LH, Rodenhouse NL. Long-Term Integrated Studies Show Complex and Surprising Effects of Climate Change in the Northern Hardwood Forest. Bioscience 2012. [DOI: 10.1525/bio.2012.62.12.7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
|
9
|
Craine JM, Elmore AJ, Aidar MPM, Bustamante M, Dawson TE, Hobbie EA, Kahmen A, Mack MC, McLauchlan KK, Michelsen A, Nardoto GB, Pardo LH, Peñuelas J, Reich PB, Schuur EAG, Stock WD, Templer PH, Virginia RA, Welker JM, Wright IJ. Global patterns of foliar nitrogen isotopes and their relationships with climate, mycorrhizal fungi, foliar nutrient concentrations, and nitrogen availability. New Phytol 2009; 183:980-992. [PMID: 19563444 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2009.02917.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 227] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Ratios of nitrogen (N) isotopes in leaves could elucidate underlying patterns of N cycling across ecological gradients. To better understand global-scale patterns of N cycling, we compiled data on foliar N isotope ratios (delta(15)N), foliar N concentrations, mycorrhizal type and climate for over 11,000 plants worldwide. Arbuscular mycorrhizal, ectomycorrhizal, and ericoid mycorrhizal plants were depleted in foliar delta(15)N by 2 per thousand, 3.2 per thousand, 5.9 per thousand, respectively, relative to nonmycorrhizal plants. Foliar delta(15)N increased with decreasing mean annual precipitation and with increasing mean annual temperature (MAT) across sites with MAT >or= -0.5 degrees C, but was invariant with MAT across sites with MAT < -0.5 degrees C. In independent landscape-level to regional-level studies, foliar delta(15)N increased with increasing N availability; at the global scale, foliar delta(15)N increased with increasing foliar N concentrations and decreasing foliar phosphorus (P) concentrations. Together, these results suggest that warm, dry ecosystems have the highest N availability, while plants with high N concentrations, on average, occupy sites with higher N availability than plants with low N concentrations. Global-scale comparisons of other components of the N cycle are still required for better mechanistic understanding of the determinants of variation in foliar delta(15)N and ultimately global patterns in N cycling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph M Craine
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Andrew J Elmore
- University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Appalachian Laboratory, 301 Braddock Road, Frostburg, MD 21532, USA
| | - Marcos P M Aidar
- Department of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Institute of Botany, PB 4005 CEP 01061-970 São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Todd E Dawson
- Division of Ecosystem Sciences, Mulford Hall, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Center for Stable Isotope Biogeochemistry, Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Valley Life Sciences Building, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Erik A Hobbie
- Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space, Morse Hall, University of New Hampshire, 39 College Road, Durham, NH 03824, USA
| | - Ansgar Kahmen
- Center for Stable Isotope Biogeochemistry, Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Valley Life Sciences Building, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Michelle C Mack
- Department of Botany, University of Florida, PO Box 118526, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | | | - Anders Michelsen
- Department of Terrestrial Ecology, Institute of Biology, Oester Farimagsgade 2D, DK-1353 Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Gabriela B Nardoto
- Lab. Ecologia Isotópica - CENA/USP, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Centenário, 303, Piracicaba SP 13416-000, Brazil
| | - Linda H Pardo
- USDA Forest Service, PO Box 968, Burlington, VT 05402, USA
| | - Josep Peñuelas
- Unitat d'Ecofisiologia CSIC-CREAF-CEAB, Centre de Recerca Ecològica i Aplicacions Forestals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Peter B Reich
- Department of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota, 115 Green Hall, 1530 Cleveland Avenue North, St Paul, MN 55108, USA
| | - Edward A G Schuur
- Department of Botany, University of Florida, PO Box 118526, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - William D Stock
- Centre for Ecosystem Management, School of Natural Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup 6027, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Pamela H Templer
- Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Street, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Ross A Virginia
- Environmental Studies, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Jeffrey M Welker
- Environment and Natural Resources Institute, University of Alaska, 707 A Street, Anchorage, AK 99501, USA
| | - Ian J Wright
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University 2109, Sydney, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Pardo LH, McNulty SG, Boggs JL, Duke S. Regional patterns in foliar (15)N across a gradient of nitrogen deposition in the northeastern US. Environ Pollut 2007; 149:293-302. [PMID: 17643595 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2007.05.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2007] [Accepted: 05/04/2007] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies have demonstrated that natural abundance (15)N can be a useful tool for assessing nitrogen saturation, because as nitrification and nitrate loss increase, delta(15)N of foliage and soil also increases. We measured foliar delta(15)N at 11 high-elevation spruce-fir stands along an N deposition gradient in 1987-1988 and at seven paired northern hardwood and spruce-fir stands in 1999. In 1999, foliar delta(15)N increased from -5.2 to -0.7 per thousand with increasing N deposition from Maine to NY. Foliar delta(15)N decreased between 1987-1988 and 1999, while foliar %N increased and foliar C:N decreased at most sites. Foliar delta(15)N was strongly correlated with N deposition, and was also positively correlated with net nitrification potential and negatively correlated with soil C:N ratio. Although the increase in foliar %N is consistent with a progression towards N saturation, other results of this study suggest that, in 1999, these stands were further from N saturation than in 1987-1988.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Linda H Pardo
- USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, PO Box 968, Burlington, VT 05402, USA.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Boggs JL, McNulty SG, Pardo LH. Changes in conifer and deciduous forest foliar and forest floor chemistry and basal area tree growth across a nitrogen (N) deposition gradient in the northeastern US. Environ Pollut 2007; 149:303-14. [PMID: 17600603 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2007.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2007] [Accepted: 05/04/2007] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
We evaluated foliar and forest floor chemistry across a gradient of N deposition in the Northeast at 11 red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) sites in 1987/1988 and foliar and forest floor chemistry and basal area growth at six paired spruce and deciduous sites in 1999. The six red spruce plots were a subset of the original 1987/1988 spruce sites. In 1999, we observed a significant correlation between mean growing season temperature and red spruce basal area growth. Red spruce and deciduous foliar %N correlated significantly with N deposition. Although N deposition has not changed significantly from 1987/1988 to 1999, net nitrification potential decreased significantly at Whiteface. This decrease in net potential nitrification is not consistent with the N saturation hypothesis and suggests that non-N deposition controls, such as climatic factors and immobilization of down dead wood, might have limited N cycling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Johnny L Boggs
- Southern Global Change Program, Southern Research Station, USDA Forest Service, 920 Main Campus Drive, Suite 300, Venture Center II, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Groffman PM, Fisk MC, Driscoll CT, Likens GE, Fahey TJ, Eagar C, Pardo LH. Calcium Additions and Microbial Nitrogen Cycle Processes in a Northern Hardwood Forest. Ecosystems 2007. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-006-0177-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|