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Long-term nitrogen deposition reduces the diversity of nitrogen-fixing plants.

Authors :
Moreno-García P
Montaño-Centellas F
Liu Y
Reyes-Mendez EY
Jha RR
Guralnick RP
Folk R
Waller DM
Verheyen K
Baeten L
Becker-Scarpitta A
Berki I
Bernhardt-Römermann M
Brunet J
Van Calster H
Chudomelová M
Closset D
De Frenne P
Decocq G
Gilliam FS
Grytnes JA
Hédl R
Heinken T
Jaroszewicz B
Kopecký M
Lenoir J
Macek M
Máliš F
Naaf T
Orczewska A
Petřík P
Reczyńska K
Schei FH
Schmidt W
Stachurska-Swakoń A
Standovár T
Świerkosz K
Teleki B
Vild O
Li D
Source :
Science advances [Sci Adv] 2024 Oct 18; Vol. 10 (42), pp. eadp7953. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Oct 18.
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

Biological nitrogen fixation is a fundamental part of ecosystem functioning. Anthropogenic nitrogen deposition and climate change may, however, limit the competitive advantage of nitrogen-fixing plants, leading to reduced relative diversity of nitrogen-fixing plants. Yet, assessments of changes of nitrogen-fixing plant long-term community diversity are rare. Here, we examine temporal trends in the diversity of nitrogen-fixing plants and their relationships with anthropogenic nitrogen deposition while accounting for changes in temperature and aridity. We used forest-floor vegetation resurveys of temperate forests in Europe and the United States spanning multiple decades. Nitrogen-fixer richness declined as nitrogen deposition increased over time but did not respond to changes in climate. Phylogenetic diversity also declined, as distinct lineages of N-fixers were lost between surveys, but the "winners" and "losers" among nitrogen-fixing lineages varied among study sites, suggesting that losses are context dependent. Anthropogenic nitrogen deposition reduces nitrogen-fixing plant diversity in ways that may strongly affect natural nitrogen fixation.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
2375-2548
Volume :
10
Issue :
42
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Science advances
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
39423266
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adp7953