1
|
Namuhan, Wang J, Yang G, Song Y, Yu Y, Wang J, Wang X, Shi Y, Shen Y, Han X, Wuyunna, Zhang H. Mechanisms of biodiversity loss under nitrogen enrichment: unveiling a shift from light competition to cation toxicity. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 243:1966-1979. [PMID: 38970455 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024]
Abstract
The primary mechanisms contributing to nitrogen (N) addition induced grassland biodiversity loss, namely light competition and soil cation toxicity, are often examined separately in various studies. However, their relative significance in governing biodiversity loss along N addition gradient remains unclear. We conducted a 4-yr field experiment with five N addition rates (0, 2, 10, 20, and 50 g N m-2 yr-1) and performed a meta-analysis using global data from 239 observations in N-fertilized grassland ecosystems. Results from our field experiment and meta-analysis indicate that both light competition and soil cation (e.g. Mn2+ and Al3+) toxicity contribute to plant diversity loss under N enrichment. The relative importance of these mechanisms varied with N enrichment intensity. Light competition played a more significant role in influencing species richness under low N addition (≤ 10 g m-2 yr-1), while cation toxicity became increasingly dominant in reducing biodiversity under high N addition (>10 g m-2 yr-1). Therefore, a transition from light competition to cation toxicity occurs with increasing N availability. These findings imply that the biodiversity loss along the N gradient is regulated by distinct mechanisms, necessitating the adoption of differential management strategies to mitigate diversity loss under varying intensities of N enrichment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Namuhan
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Dalian Minzu University, Dalian, 116600, China
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, China
| | - Jing Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
| | - Guojiao Yang
- College of Ecology and Environment, Hainan University, Hainan, 570228, China
| | - Yantao Song
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Dalian Minzu University, Dalian, 116600, China
| | - Yunguang Yu
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Dalian Minzu University, Dalian, 116600, China
| | - Jidong Wang
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Dalian Minzu University, Dalian, 116600, China
| | - Xiaoguang Wang
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Dalian Minzu University, Dalian, 116600, China
| | - Yiping Shi
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Dalian Minzu University, Dalian, 116600, China
| | - Yue Shen
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Dalian Minzu University, Dalian, 116600, China
| | - Xingguo Han
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Wuyunna
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Dalian Minzu University, Dalian, 116600, China
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, China
| | - Haiyang Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
- School of Life Sciences, Hebei Basic Science Center for Biotic Interaction, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Wang Z, Li T, Lu C, Wang C, Wu H, Li X, Cai J, Feng X, Liu H, Zhang Y, Han X, Li H, Jiang Y. Mowing aggravates the adverse effects of nitrogen addition on soil acid neutralizing capacity in a meadow steppe. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 362:121293. [PMID: 38833923 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Soil acidification induced by reactive nitrogen (N) inputs is a major environmental issue in grasslands, as it lowers the acid neutralizing capacity (ANC). The specific impacts of different N compound forms on ANC remain unclear. Grassland management practices like mowing and grazing can remove a considerable amount of soil N and other nutrients, potentially mitigating soil acidification by removing N from the ecosystem or aggravating it by removing base cations. However, empirical evidence regarding the joint effects of adding different forms of N compounds and mowing on ANC changes in different-sized soil aggregates is still lacking. This study aimed to address this knowledge gap by examining the effects of three N compounds (urea, ammonium nitrate, and ammonium sulfate) combined with mowing (mown vs. unmown) on soil ANC in different soil aggregate sizes (>2000 μm, 250-2000 μm, and <250 μm) through a 6-year field experiment in Inner Mongolia grasslands. We found that the average decline in soil ANC caused by ammonium sulfate (AS) addition (-78.9%) was much greater than that by urea (-25.0%) and ammonium nitrate (AN) (-52.1%) as compared to control. This decline was attributed to increased proton (H+) release from nitrification and the leaching of exchangeable Ca2+ and Mg2+. Mowing aggravated the adverse effects of urea and AN on ANC, primarily due to the reduction in soil organic matter (SOM) contents and the removal of exchangeable Ca2+, K+, and Na + via plant biomass harvest. This pattern was consistent across all aggregate fractions. The lack of variation in soil ANC among different soil aggregate fractions is likely due to the contrasting trend in the distribution of exchangeable Ca2+ and Mg2+. Specifically, the concentration of exchangeable Ca2+ increased with increasing aggregate size, while the opposite was true for that of exchangeable Mg2+. These findings underscore the importance of considering the forms of N compounds when assessing the declines of ANC induced by N inputs, which also calls for an urgent need to reduce N emissions to ensure the sustainable development of the meadow ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhirui Wang
- Erguna Forest-Steppe Ecotone Ecosystem Research Station, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, PR China.
| | - Tianpeng Li
- Erguna Forest-Steppe Ecotone Ecosystem Research Station, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, PR China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225127, PR China.
| | - Changming Lu
- Erguna Forest-Steppe Ecotone Ecosystem Research Station, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China.
| | - Cong Wang
- Erguna Forest-Steppe Ecotone Ecosystem Research Station, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China.
| | - Hui Wu
- Erguna Forest-Steppe Ecotone Ecosystem Research Station, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China.
| | - Xinyue Li
- Erguna Forest-Steppe Ecotone Ecosystem Research Station, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, PR China; College of Environment, Shenyang University, Shenyang, 110044, PR China.
| | - Jiangping Cai
- Erguna Forest-Steppe Ecotone Ecosystem Research Station, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, PR China.
| | - Xue Feng
- Erguna Forest-Steppe Ecotone Ecosystem Research Station, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, PR China.
| | - Heyong Liu
- Erguna Forest-Steppe Ecotone Ecosystem Research Station, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, PR China; College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, PR China.
| | - Yuge Zhang
- College of Environment, Shenyang University, Shenyang, 110044, PR China.
| | - Xingguo Han
- College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, PR China.
| | - Hui Li
- Erguna Forest-Steppe Ecotone Ecosystem Research Station, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, PR China.
| | - Yong Jiang
- College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Shao L, Peng Y, Liu H, Zhao R, Jiang L, Li Y, Han P, Jiang Y, Wei C, Han X, Huang J. Applied phosphorus is maintained in labile and moderately occluded fractions in a typical meadow steppe with the addition of multiple nutrients. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 345:118807. [PMID: 37591093 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Phosphorus (P) is a limiting nutrient second only to nitrogen (N) in the drylands of the world. Most previous studies have focused on N transformation processes in grassland ecosystems, particularly under artificial fertilization with N and atmospheric N deposition. However, P cycling processes under natural conditions and when P is applied as an inorganic P fertilizer have been understudied. Therefore, it is essential to examine the fate of applied P in grassland ecosystems that have experienced long-term grazing and, under certain circumstances, continuous hay harvest. We conducted a 3-year field experiment with the addition of multiple nutrient elements in a typical meadow steppe to investigate the fate of the applied P in various fractions of P pools in the top soil. We found that the addition of multiple nutrients significantly increased P concentrations in the labile inorganic P (Lab-Pi) and moderately occluded inorganic P (Mod-Pi) fractions but not in the recalcitrant inorganic P (Rec-Pi) fraction. An increase in the concentration of total inorganic P was found only when P and N were applied together. However, the addition of other nutrients did not change P concentrations in any fraction of the mineral soil. The addition of P and N significantly increased the total amount of P taken up by the aboveground plants but had no effect on the levels of organic and microbial P in the soil. Together, our results indicate that the P applied in this grassland ecosystem is taken up by plants, leaving most of the unutilized P as Lab-Pi and Mod-Pi rather than being immobilized in Rec-Pi or by microbial biomass. This implies that the grassland ecosystem that we studied has a relatively low P adsorption capacity, and the application of inorganic P to replenish soil P deficiency in degraded grasslands due to long-term grazing of livestock or continuous harvest of forage in the region could be a practical management strategy to maintain soil P fertility.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lingyu Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; Erguna Forest-Steppe Ecotone Ecosystem Research Station, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Yang Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Heyong Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
| | - Ruonan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Liangchao Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Peng Han
- Erguna Forest-Steppe Ecotone Ecosystem Research Station, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Yong Jiang
- School of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
| | - Cunzheng Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xingguo Han
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jianhui Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Wang L, Hamel C, Lu P, Wang J, Sun D, Wang Y, Lee SJ, Gan GY. Using enzyme activities as an indicator of soil fertility in grassland - an academic dilemma. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1175946. [PMID: 37484467 PMCID: PMC10360189 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1175946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Grasslands play an important role in conserving natural biodiversity and providing ecosystem functions and services for societies. Soil fertility is an important property in grassland, and the monitoring of soil fertility can provide crucial information to optimize ecosystem productivity and sustainability. Testing various soil physiochemical properties related to fertility usually relies on traditional measures, such as destructive sampling, pre-test treatments, labor-intensive procedures, and costly laboratory measurements, which are often difficult to perform. However, soil enzyme activity reflecting the intensity of soil biochemical reactions is a reliable indicator of soil properties and thus enzyme assays could be an efficient alternative to evaluate soil fertility. Here, we review the latest research on the features and functions of enzymes catalyzing the biochemical processes that convert organic materials to available plant nutrients, increase soil carbon and nutrient cycling, and enhance microbial activities to improve soil fertility. We focus on the complex relationships among soil enzyme activities and functions, microbial biomass, physiochemical properties, and soil/crop management practices. We highlight the biochemistry of enzymes and the rationale for using enzyme activities to indicate soil fertility. Finally, we discuss the limits and disadvantages of the potential new molecular tool and provide suggestions to improve the reliability and feasibility of the proposed alternative.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Li Wang
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, State & Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Ecological Treatment Technology of Urban Water Pollution, Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab for Water Environment and Marine Biological Resources Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center for Tideland Reclamation and Ecological Protection, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chantal Hamel
- Soil Microbiology Scientist, Commerciale, Rivière-à-Pierre, QC, Canada
| | - Peina Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Junying Wang
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, State & Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Ecological Treatment Technology of Urban Water Pollution, Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab for Water Environment and Marine Biological Resources Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center for Tideland Reclamation and Ecological Protection, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Dandi Sun
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, State & Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Ecological Treatment Technology of Urban Water Pollution, Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab for Water Environment and Marine Biological Resources Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center for Tideland Reclamation and Ecological Protection, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yijia Wang
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, State & Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Ecological Treatment Technology of Urban Water Pollution, Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab for Water Environment and Marine Biological Resources Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center for Tideland Reclamation and Ecological Protection, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Soon-Jae Lee
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Gary Y. Gan
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, State & Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Ecological Treatment Technology of Urban Water Pollution, Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab for Water Environment and Marine Biological Resources Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center for Tideland Reclamation and Ecological Protection, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Agroecosystems, the uBC-Soil Group, Kelowna, BC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Andraczek K, Weigelt A, Hinderling J, Kretz L, Prati D, van der Plas F. Biomass removal promotes plant diversity after short-term de-intensification of managed grasslands. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0287039. [PMID: 37384725 PMCID: PMC10310043 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Land-use intensification is one of the main drivers threatening biodiversity in managed grasslands. Despite multiple studies investigating the effect of different land-use components in driving changes in plant biodiversity, their effects are usually studied in isolation. Here, we establish a full factorial design crossing fertilization with a combined treatment of biomass removal, on 16 managed grasslands spanning a gradient in land-use intensity, across three regions in Germany. Specifically, we investigate the interactive effects of different land-use components on plant composition and diversity using structural equation modelling. We hypothesize that fertilization and biomass removal alter plant biodiversity, directly and indirectly, mediated through changes in light availability. We found that, direct and indirect effects of biomass removal on plant biodiversity were larger than effects of fertilization, yet significantly differed between season. Furthermore, we found that indirect effects of biomass removal on plant biodiversity were mediated through changes in light availability, but also by changes in soil moisture. Our analysis thus supports previous findings, that soil moisture may operate as an alternative indirect mechanism by which biomass removal may affect plant biodiversity. Most importantly, our findings highlight that in the short-term biomass removal can partly compensate the negative effects of fertilization on plant biodiversity in managed grasslands. By studying the interactive nature of different land-use drivers we advance our understanding of the complex mechanisms controlling plant biodiversity in managed grasslands, which ultimately may help to maintain higher levels of biodiversity in grassland ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karl Andraczek
- Department of Life Sciences, Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity, University Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Alexandra Weigelt
- Department of Life Sciences, Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity, University Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Lena Kretz
- Department of Life Sciences, Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity, University Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Daniel Prati
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Fons van der Plas
- Department of Life Sciences, Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity, University Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Yang W, Yang J, Fan Y, Guo Q, Jiang N, Babalola OO, Han X, Zhang X. The two sides of resistance-resilience relationship in both aboveground and belowground communities in the Eurasian steppe. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023. [PMID: 37129435 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The ongoing nitrogen (N) deposition has led to profound changes in aboveground and belowground ecosystems. However, the stability of plant and soil microbial community toward N addition in terms of resistance and resilience is less understood. We established a long-running field trial (2008-2018) in a series of N applications in combination with a mowing and fencing (unmown) treatment in a semiarid steppe. We assessed the resistance via ongoing N treatment of one subplot and the resilience via discontinuing N treatment in another to promote natural recovery since 2014. Plant resistance was negatively correlated with N application rate, while microbial resistance was independent of N rate. Mowing significantly reduced plant resistance and resilience, reduced soil microbial resistance but improved its resilience. Generally, plants are more resilient but less resistant to N than soil microbes. The two sides of resistance-resilience relationship were revealed: trade-offs exist between resistance and resilience for both plants and microbes at the community level; and trade-offs between resistance and resilience cannot be scaled down to species/group level. This study provided an important theoretical basis for the recovery and conservation of semiarid steppe and new insight into resistance-resilience relationship.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Yang
- Key Laboratory of Dryland Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Junjie Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Yi Fan
- Key Laboratory of Dryland Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Quankuan Guo
- Key Laboratory of Dryland Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Nana Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Dryland Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Olubukola Oluranti Babalola
- Food Security and Safety Niche Area, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho, 2735, South Africa
| | - Xingguo Han
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Ximei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Dryland Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Guo H, Quan Q, Niu S, Li T, He Y, Fu Y, Li J, Wang J, Zhang R, Li Z, Tian D. Shifting biomass allocation and light limitation co-regulate the temporal stability of an alpine meadow under eutrophication. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 860:160411. [PMID: 36574548 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Eutrophication generally promotes but destabilizes grassland productivity. Under eutrophication, plants tend to decrease biomass allocation to roots but increase aboveground allocation and light limitation, likely affecting community stability. However, it remains unclear to understand how shifting plant biomass allocation and light limitation regulate grassland stability in response to eutrophication. Here, using a 5-yr multiple nutrient addition experiment in an alpine meadow, we explored the role of changes in plant biomass allocation and light limitation on its community stability under eutrophication as well as traditionally established mechanisms (i.e., plant Shannon diversity, species asynchrony and grass subcommunity stability). Our results showed that nitrogen (N) addition, rather than phosphorus (P) or potassium (K) addition, significantly reduced the temporal stability of the alpine meadow. In accordance with previous studies, we found that N addition decreased plant Shannon diversity, species asynchrony and grass subcommunity stability, further destabilizing meadow community productivity. In addition, we also found the decrease in biomass allocation to belowground by N addition, further weakening its community stability. Moreover, this shifts in plant biomass allocation from below- to aboveground, intensifying plant light limitation. Further, the light limitation reduced plant species asynchrony, which finally weakened its community stability. Overall, in addition to traditionally established mechanisms, this study highlights the role of plant biomass allocation shifting from belowground to aboveground in determining grassland community stability. These "unseen" mechanisms might improve our understanding of grassland stability in the context of ongoing eutrophication.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hongbo Guo
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Beijing 100101, China; School of Natural Resources, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Quan Quan
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Shuli Niu
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Beijing 100101, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Tingting Li
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yicheng He
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Beijing 100101, China; College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yiwen Fu
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Beijing 100101, China; College of Environmental Mapping and Engineering, Suzhou University, Suzhou, Anhui 234000, China
| | - Jiapu Li
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Jinsong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Ruiyang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Zhaolei Li
- College of Resources and Environment and Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Dashuan Tian
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Beijing 100101, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Functional structure mediates the responses of productivity to addition of three nitrogen compounds in a meadow steppe. Oecologia 2023; 201:575-584. [PMID: 36688977 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-022-05310-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition is altering grassland productivity and community structure worldwide. Deposited N comes in different forms, which can have different consequences for productivity due to differences in their fertilization and acidification effects. We hypothesize that these effects may be mediated by changes in plant functional traits. We investigated the responses of aboveground primary productivity and community functional composition to addition of three nitrogen compounds (NH4NO3, [NH4]2SO4, and CO[NH2]2) at the rates of 0, 5, 10, 20 g N m-2 yr-1. We used structural equation modeling (SEM) to evaluate how functional structure influences the responses of productivity to the three N compounds. Nitrogen addition increased community-level leaf chlorophyll content but decreased leaf dry matter content and phosphorus concentration. These changes were mainly due to intra-specific variation. Functional dispersion of traits was reduced by N addition through changes in species composition. SEM revealed that fertilization effects were more important than soil acidification for the responses of productivity to CO(NH2)2 addition, which enhanced productivity by decreasing functional trait dispersion. In contrast, the effects of (NH4)2SO4 and NH4NO3 were primarily due to soil acidification, influencing productivity via community-weighted means of functional traits. Our results suggest that N forms with different fertilizing and acidifying effects influence productivity via different functional traits pathways. Our study also emphasizes the need for in situ experiments with the relevant N compounds to accurately understand and predict the ecological effects of atmospheric N deposition on ecosystems.
Collapse
|
9
|
Peng Y, Yang J, Leitch IJ, Guignard MS, Seabloom EW, Cao D, Zhao F, Li H, Han X, Jiang Y, Leitch AR, Wei C. Plant genome size modulates grassland community responses to multi-nutrient additions. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2022; 236:2091-2102. [PMID: 36110049 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Grassland ecosystems cover c. 40% of global land area and contain c. 40% of soil organic carbon. Understanding the effects of adding nutrients to grasslands is essential because they provide much of our food, support diverse ecosystem services and harbor rich biodiversity. Using the meadow steppe (grassland) study site of Inner Mongolia, we manipulated seven key nutrients and a cocktail of micronutrients to examine their effects on grassland biomass productivity and diversity. The results, explained in structural equation models, link two previously disparate hypotheses in grassland ecology: (1) the light asymmetry competition hypothesis and (2) the genome size-nutrient interaction hypothesis. We show that aboveground net primary productivity increases predominantly from species with large genome sizes with the addition of nitrogen, and nitrogen plus phosphorus. This drives an asymmetric competition for light, causing a decline in species richness mainly in species with small genome sizes. This dynamic is likely to be caused by the nutrient demands of the nucleus and/or the scaling effects of nuclear size on cell size which impact water use efficiency. The model will help inform the best management approaches to reverse the rapid and unprecedented degradation of grasslands globally.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yang Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- Erguna Forest-Steppe Ecotone Ecosystem Research Station, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Jianxia Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Ilia J Leitch
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AB, UK
| | - Maïté S Guignard
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AB, UK
- School of Biological and Behavioral Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Eric W Seabloom
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Dong Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Fangyuan Zhao
- National Hulunber Grassland Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
- School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010021, China
| | - Huanlong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xingguo Han
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yong Jiang
- School of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
| | - Andrew R Leitch
- School of Biological and Behavioral Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Cunzheng Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Niu G, Wang Y, Dai G, Xie S, Jin Y, Yang J, Huang J. Effects of 12-Year Nitrogen Addition and Mowing on Plant-Soil Micronutrients in a Typical Steppe. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:3042. [PMID: 36432772 PMCID: PMC9697658 DOI: 10.3390/plants11223042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Changes in soil micronutrient availability may have adverse consequences on grassland productivity, yet it’s still largely unclear how concurrent human practices, such as fertilization and mowing, affect micronutrient cycling in the plant-soil systems. Here, we measured six essential micronutrient (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Co and Mo) contents in both plant pool (separated as aboveground plant parts, litter, and belowground roots) at the community level and soil pool (0−10 cm depth) after 12-year consecutive nitrogen (N) addition (0, 2, 10, and 50 g N m−2 year−1) and mowing in a typical steppe of the Mongolian Plateau. The results show that (i) medium-N (10 g m−2 year−1) and high-N (50 g m−2 year−1) addition rates significantly increased contents of soil-available Fe (+310.0%, averaging across the two N addition rates), Mn (+149.2%), Co (+123.6%) and Mo (+73.9%) irrespective of mowing treatment, whereas these addition treatments usually decreased contents of soil total Fe (−8.9%), Mn (−21.6%), Cu (−15.9%), Zn (−19.5%), Co (−16.4%) and Mo (−34.7%). (ii) Contents of Fe in aboveground plant parts, litter, and roots significantly decreased, whereas plant Mn increased with N addition. Contents of above ground plant Cu, Zn, Co, and Mo significantly decreased at high-N addition rate, whereas contents of micronutrients in roots and litters, except for Fe, generally increased with N addition. Moreover, the total amount of micronutrients in the plant pool (contents × biomass) significantly increased at the medium-N addition rate but decreased at the high-N addition rate. All N addition rates significantly enlarged the pool of litter micronutrients, and roots could hold more micronutrients under N addition, especially combined with mowing treatment. Importantly, although mowing could regulate the effects of N addition on variables (i) and (ii), the effects were weaker overall than those of N addition. (iii) Changes in root micronutrients, except for Mn, could explain corresponding changes in plant micronutrients (R2: 0.19−0.56, all p < 0.01), and significant linear correlations were also observed between soil-available Fe and Fe in plant and roots. Aboveground plant Mn was significantly correlated with soil-available Mn, while Co and Mo in roots were also significantly correlated with soil-available Co and Mo. These results indicate that soil micronutrient supply capacity may decrease due to a decrease in total micronutrient contents after long-term N addition and mowing. They also suggest that different magnitude responses of soil micronutrients in plants (i.e., litters, roots) and soil should be considered when comprehensively examining nutrient cycling in grassland ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guoxiang Niu
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
- South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou 510650, China
| | - Yinliu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiangshan, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Guangyi Dai
- South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou 510650, China
- Opening public laboratory, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
| | - Siwei Xie
- College of Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0LZ, UK
| | - Yiqian Jin
- International department, High School Affiliated to South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510650, China
| | - Junjie Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiangshan, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Jianhui Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiangshan, Beijing 100093, China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Gillespie MA, Buckley HL, Condron L, Wratten SD. Grassland plant and invertebrate species richness increases from mowing are mediated by impacts on soil chemistry. Basic Appl Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2022.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
|
12
|
Yang G, Zhang Z, Zhang G, Liu Q, Zheng P, Wang R. Tipping point of plant functional traits of Leymus chinensis to nitrogen addition in a temperate grassland. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:982478. [PMID: 36061793 PMCID: PMC9428514 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.982478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
It has widely been documented that nitrogen (N) enrichment stimulates plant growth and modifies plant functional traits in the terrestrial ecosystem. However, it remains unclear whether there are critical transitions or tipping points for the response of plant growth or traits to N enrichment, and how these responses differ to different N forms. We chose the native, perennial clonal grass, Leymus chinensis in Inner Mongolia steppe, and conducted a field experiment, in which six N addition rates (0, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 g N m-2 year-1) and five N compound types [NH4NO3, (NH4)2SO4, NH4HCO3, CO(NH2)2, slow-release CO(NH2)2] are considered. Here, we found that the different N compound types had no significant effect on the growth of L. chinensis. N addition rate significantly increased plant aboveground biomass and leaf nitrogen concentration, whereas decreased leaf dry matter content. The tipping point for N-induced aboveground biomass increase was at 10 g N m-2 year-1, and the changes in functional traits were at N addition rates of 20 g N m-2 year-1. Our findings suggested that the responses of aboveground biomass and functional traits to N addition were asymmetric, in which responses in aboveground biomass were more sensitive than that in functional traits. The differential sensitivity of aboveground biomass and functional traits of L. chinensis occurred to N deposition highlights the importance of functional traits in mediating ecosystem functioning in the face of N deposition, regardless of which chemical forms dominate in the deposited N.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guojiao Yang
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Forestry Environmental Processes and Ecological Regulation of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Zijia Zhang
- Hainan Ecological Environment Monitoring Center, Haikou, China
| | - Guangming Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Changzhi Medical College, Changzhi, China
| | - Qianguang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Forestry Environmental Processes and Ecological Regulation of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Peiming Zheng
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- Shandong Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center for Vegetation Ecology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- Qingdao Forest Ecology Research Station of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Renqing Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- Shandong Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center for Vegetation Ecology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- Qingdao Forest Ecology Research Station of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Qin S, Yang G, Zhang Y, Song M, Sun L, Cui Y, Dong J, Wang N, Liu X, Zheng P, Wang R. Mowing Did Not Alleviate the Negative Effect of Nitrogen Addition on the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Community in a Temperate Meadow Grassland. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:917645. [PMID: 35755642 PMCID: PMC9228033 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.917645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
As nitrogen deposition intensifies under global climate change, understanding the responses of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi to nitrogen deposition and the associated mechanisms are critical for terrestrial ecosystems. In this study, the effects of nitrogen addition and mowing on AM fungal communities in soil and mixed roots were investigated in an Inner Mongolia grassland. The results showed that nitrogen addition reduced the α-diversity of AM fungi in soil rather than that of root. Besides, nitrogen addition altered the composition of AM fungal community in soil. Soil pH and inorganic nitrogen content were the main causes of changes in AM fungal communities affected by nitrogen addition. Mowing and the interaction of nitrogen addition and mowing had no significant effect on AM fungal community diversity. In contrast, while mowing may reduce the negative effects of nitrogen addition on the richness and diversity of plants by alleviating light limitation, it could not do so with the negative effects on AM fungal communities. Furthermore, AM fungal communities clustered phylogenetically in all treatments in both soil and roots, indicating that environmental filtering was the main driving force for AM fungal community assembly. Our results highlight the different responses of AM fungi in the soil and roots of a grassland ecosystem to nitrogen addition and mowing. The study will improve our understanding of the effects of nitrogen deposition on the function of ecosystem.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Siqi Qin
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center for Vegetation Ecology, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Qingdao Forest Ecology Research Station of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Guojiao Yang
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- College of Ecology and Environment, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center for Vegetation Ecology, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Qingdao Forest Ecology Research Station of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Meixia Song
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center for Vegetation Ecology, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Qingdao Forest Ecology Research Station of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Lu Sun
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center for Vegetation Ecology, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Qingdao Forest Ecology Research Station of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Yangzhe Cui
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center for Vegetation Ecology, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Qingdao Forest Ecology Research Station of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Jibin Dong
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center for Vegetation Ecology, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Qingdao Forest Ecology Research Station of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Ning Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center for Vegetation Ecology, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Qingdao Forest Ecology Research Station of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Xiao Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center for Vegetation Ecology, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Qingdao Forest Ecology Research Station of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Peiming Zheng
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center for Vegetation Ecology, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Qingdao Forest Ecology Research Station of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Renqing Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center for Vegetation Ecology, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Qingdao Forest Ecology Research Station of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Yang GJ, Hautier Y, Zhang ZJ, Lü XT, Han XG. Decoupled responses of above- and below-ground stability of productivity to nitrogen addition at the local and larger spatial scale. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:2711-2720. [PMID: 35098614 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Temporal stability of net primary productivity (NPP) is important for predicting the reliable provisioning of ecosystem services under global changes. Although nitrogen (N) addition is known to affect the temporal stability of aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP), it is unclear how it impacts that of belowground net primary productivity (BNPP) and NPP, and whether such effects are scale dependent. Here, using experimental N addition in a grassland, we found different responses of ANPP and BNPP stability to N addition at the local scale and that these responses propagated to the larger spatial scale. That is, N addition significantly decreased the stability of ANPP but did not affect the stability of BNPP and NPP at the two scales investigated. Additionally, spatial asynchrony of both ANPP and BNPP among communities provided greater stability at the larger scale and was not affected by N addition. Our findings challenge the traditional view that N addition would reduce ecosystem stability based on results from aboveground dynamics, thus highlighting the importance of viewing ecosystem stability from a whole system perspective.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guo-Jiao Yang
- Erguna Forest-Steppe Ecotone Research Station, CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
- College of Ecology and Environment, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Yann Hautier
- Ecology and Biodiversity Group, Department of Biology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Zi-Jia Zhang
- Erguna Forest-Steppe Ecotone Research Station, CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - Xiao-Tao Lü
- Erguna Forest-Steppe Ecotone Research Station, CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - Xing-Guo Han
- Erguna Forest-Steppe Ecotone Research Station, CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation of Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Wu W, Wang X, Ren Z, Zhou X, Du G. N-Induced Species Loss Dampened by Clipping Mainly Through Suppressing Dominant Species in an Alpine Meadow. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:815011. [PMID: 35392523 PMCID: PMC8980528 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.815011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Nitrogen addition and clipping can exert substantial impact on species diversity but their interactions and the underlying mechanisms still remain unclear. Resource competition theory holds that sufficiently strong competitive ability of dominant species can lead to the losses of subordinate species through competitive exclusion, while niche differentiation theory suggests that the persistence of subordinate species in competitive systems can be promoted by guaranteeing positive growth rates of rare species. Taking advantage of a field experiment with nitrogen addition (10 g N m-2 year-1) and different clipping intensities (2, 15, and 30 cm) treatments in a Tibetan alpine meadow across 2015-2020, we assessed the relative importance of competitively dominant species and niche differentiation in driving species diversity changes via using community weighted mean (CWM) and variation coefficient of nearest neighbor distance (CV_NND) of functional traits including height, specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf dry matter content (LDMC). We show that nitrogen enrichment drove a strong plant diversity loss (P < 0.001). Clipping at different intensities had little effect on species diversity, but it can reduce the N-induced diversity loss. Nitrogen addition and clipping caused changes in community diversity were mainly indirectly attributed to their effects on community functional composition, and the competitive ability of dominant species. Nitrogen increased the CWM of functional traits to improve the competitive ability of dominant species. In contrast, clipping influenced species diversity positively by decreasing CWMheight (P < 0.001), and also negatively by increasing CWMSLA (P < 0.001) and decreasing CV_NNDSLA (P < 0.05). Interacting with N addition, clipping resulted in a neutral effect on species diversity, because clipping could offset the negative effects of nitrogen addition through an opposite effect on CWMheight. This study provides new insights into the mechanisms of diversity maintenance with respect to nitrogen addition and clipping. Thus, clipping is recommended as a useful management strategy to alleviate the species loss caused by nutrients enrichment and maintain the diversity of grassland ecosystems.
Collapse
|
16
|
Assessing the roles of nitrogen, biomass, and niche dimensionality as drivers of species loss in grassland communities. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2112010119. [PMID: 35235460 PMCID: PMC8915794 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2112010119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Nutrient enrichment of natural ecosystems is a primary characteristic of the Anthropocene and a known cause of biodiversity loss, particularly in grasslands. In a global meta-analysis of 630 resource addition experiments, we conduct a simultaneous test of the three most prominent explanations of this phenomenon. Our results conclusively indicate that nitrogen is the leading cause of species loss. This result is important because of the increase in nitrogen deposition and the frequent use of nitrogen-based fertilizers worldwide. Our findings provide global-scale, experimental evidence that minimizing nitrogen inputs to ecological systems may help to conserve the diversity of grassland ecosystems. Eutrophication is a major driver of species loss in plant communities worldwide. However, the underlying mechanisms of this phenomenon are controversial. Previous studies have raised three main explanations: 1) High levels of soil resources increase standing biomass, thereby intensifying competitive interactions (the “biomass-driven competition hypothesis”). 2) High levels of soil resources reduce the potential for resource-based niche partitioning (the “niche dimension hypothesis”). 3) Increasing soil nitrogen causes stress by changing the abiotic or biotic conditions (the “nitrogen detriment hypothesis”). Despite several syntheses of resource addition experiments, so far, no study has tested all of the hypotheses together. This is a major shortcoming, since the mechanisms underlying the three hypotheses are not independent. Here, we conduct a simultaneous test of the three hypotheses by integrating data from 630 resource addition experiments located in 99 sites worldwide. Our results provide strong support for the nitrogen detriment hypothesis, weaker support for the biomass-driven competition hypothesis, and negligible support for the niche dimension hypothesis. The results further show that the indirect effect of nitrogen through its effect on biomass is minor compared to its direct effect and is much larger than that of all other resources (phosphorus, potassium, and water). Thus, we conclude that nitrogen-specific mechanisms are more important than biomass or niche dimensionality as drivers of species loss under high levels of soil resources. This conclusion is highly relevant for future attempts to reduce biodiversity loss caused by global eutrophication.
Collapse
|
17
|
Liu H, Wang R, Lü XT, Cai J, Feng X, Yang G, Li H, Zhang Y, Han X, Jiang Y. Effects of nitrogen addition on plant-soil micronutrients vary with nitrogen form and mowing management in a meadow steppe. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 289:117969. [PMID: 34426201 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) addition and mowing can significantly influence micronutrient cycling in grassland ecosystems. It remains largely unknown about how different forms of added N affect micronutrient status in plant-soil systems. We examined the effects of different N compounds of (NH4)2SO4, NH4NO3, and urea with and without mowing on micronutrient Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn in soil-plant systems in a meadow steppe. The results showed that (NH4)2SO4 addition had a stronger negative effect on soil pH compared with NH4NO3 and urea, resulting in higher increases in soil available Fe and Mn herein. Nitrogen addition decreased plant community-level biomass weighted (hereafter referred to as community-level) Fe concentration but increased Mn concentration, with a greater effect under (NH4)2SO4 addition. Community-level Cu concentration increased with (NH4)2SO4 and NH4NO3 addition only under mowing treatment. Mowing synergistically interacted with urea addition to increase community-level Mn and Zn concentrations even with decreased soil organic matter, possibly because of compensatory plant growth and thus higher plant nutrient uptake intensity under mowing treatment. Overall, responses of plant-soil micronutrients to N addition varied with mowing and different N compounds, which were mainly regulated by soil physicochemical properties and plant growth. Different magnitude of micronutrient responses in plants and soils shed light on the necessity to consider the role of various N compounds in biogeochemical models when projecting the effects of N enrichment on grassland ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Heyong Liu
- Erguna Forest-Steppe Ecotone Research Station, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Ruzhen Wang
- Erguna Forest-Steppe Ecotone Research Station, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China.
| | - Xiao-Tao Lü
- Erguna Forest-Steppe Ecotone Research Station, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Jiangping Cai
- Erguna Forest-Steppe Ecotone Research Station, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Xue Feng
- Erguna Forest-Steppe Ecotone Research Station, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Guojiao Yang
- Erguna Forest-Steppe Ecotone Research Station, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Hui Li
- Erguna Forest-Steppe Ecotone Research Station, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Yuge Zhang
- College of Environment, Shenyang University, Shenyang, 110044, China
| | - Xingguo Han
- Erguna Forest-Steppe Ecotone Research Station, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China; State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Yong Jiang
- Erguna Forest-Steppe Ecotone Research Station, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Wang X, Wang M, Tao Y, Fang N, Yang G, Cai J, Jiang Y, Han X, Yu FH, Li MH. Beneficial effects of nitrogen deposition on carbon and nitrogen accumulation in grasses over other species in Inner Mongolian grasslands. Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
|
19
|
Goodwillie C, McCoy MW, Peralta AL. Long‐term nutrient enrichment, mowing, and ditch drainage interact in the dynamics of a wetland plant community. Ecosphere 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Carol Goodwillie
- Department of Biology East Carolina University Greenville North Carolina27858USA
| | - Michael W. McCoy
- Department of Biology East Carolina University Greenville North Carolina27858USA
| | - Ariane L. Peralta
- Department of Biology East Carolina University Greenville North Carolina27858USA
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Soil nematode community composition and stability under different nitrogen additions in a semiarid grassland. Glob Ecol Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e00965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
|
21
|
Gao S, Wang J, Knops JMH, Wang J. Nitrogen addition increases sexual reproduction and improves seedling growth in the perennial rhizomatous grass Leymus chinensis. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2020; 20:106. [PMID: 32143578 PMCID: PMC7060518 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-020-2307-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Eurasian steppe is an important vegetation type characterized by cold, arid and nitrogen poor conditions. At the Eastern edge, including in the Songnen grassland, the vegetation is dominated by Leymus chinensis (henceforth L. chinensis) and is increasing threatened by elevated anthropogenic nitrogen deposition. L. chinensis is a perennial grass that mainly reproduces vegetatively and its sexual reproduction is limited. However, sexual reproduction plays an important role influencing colonization after large disturbances. To develop an understanding of how elevated nitrogen deposition changes the plant community structure and functioning we need a better understanding how sexual reproduction of L. chinensis changes with nitrogen enrichment. Here we report on a field experiment where we added 10 g N m- 2 yr- 1 and examined changes in seed traits, seed germination and early seedling growth. RESULTS Nitrogen addition increased seed production by 79%, contributing to this seed increases were a 28% increase in flowering plant density, a 40% increase in seed number per plant and a 11% increase in seed weight. Seed size increased with a 42% increase in large seeds and a 49% decrease in the smallest seed size category. Seed germination success improved by 10% for small seeds and 18% for large seeds. Combined, the increased in seed production and improved seed quality doubled the potential seed germination. Subsequent seedling above and below-ground biomass also significantly increased. CONCLUSIONS All aspects of L. chinensis sexual reproduction increased with nitrogen addition. Thus, L. chinensis competitive ability may increase when atmospheric nitrogen deposition increases, which may further reduce overall plant diversity in the low diversity Songnen grasslands.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Song Gao
- Graduate School, Changchun University, Changchun, 130022, China
| | - Junfeng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, Institute of Grassland Science, School of Life Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, China.
| | - Johannes M H Knops
- Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong Liverpool University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Jiao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, Institute of Grassland Science, School of Life Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, China
| |
Collapse
|