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Redfern RC, DeWitte SN, Beaumont J, Millard AR, Hamlin C. A new method for investigating the relationship between diet and mortality: hazard analysis using dietary isotopes. Ann Hum Biol 2019; 46:378-387. [PMID: 31475587 DOI: 10.1080/03014460.2019.1662484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Background: The population of Roman Britain are renowned for having elevated nitrogen (δ15) stable isotope values, which have been interpreted as evidence for the increased consumption of marine products. However, such results are now understood to also reflect episodes of stress and disease, suggesting that new interpretations are warranted.Aim: To test a novel approach which combines hazard mortality analysis and stable isotope data to determine whether there is a relationship between age-at-death, elevated δ15N values and mortality risk.Subjects and methods: This study used published osteological and dietary stable isotope data for nitrogen (δ15N) and carbon (δ13C) of 659 1st-5th century AD individuals aged >12 years old excavated from Roman cemeteries in Britain. The relationship between diet and mortality risk was assessed using the Gompertz hazard model, and differences in median reported isotope values between the sexes was determined using a Mann Whitney test.Results: It was discovered that higher δ15N levels are associated with elevated risks of mortality, whereas the opposite pattern was observed for δ13C, and males had higher median δ13C and δ15N values.Conclusion: This study successfully demonstrated that stable isotope data can be integrated into hazard models, allowing one to connect diet and mortality in past populations. It supports the findings of other isotope studies which have established that individuals with childhood stress/trauma will have different isotope patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- R C Redfern
- Centre for Human Bioarchaeology, Museum of London, London, UK
| | - S N DeWitte
- Department of Anthropology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - J Beaumont
- School of Archaeological Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK
| | - A R Millard
- Department of Archaeology, Durham University, Durham, UK
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Zhang J, Yan X, Su F, Li Z, Wang Y, Wei Y, Ji Y, Yang Y, Zhou X, Guo H, Hu S. Long-term N and P additions alter the scaling of plant nitrogen to phosphorus in a Tibetan alpine meadow. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 625:440-448. [PMID: 29291558 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.12.292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2017] [Revised: 12/23/2017] [Accepted: 12/24/2017] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Nitrogen and phosphorus are two important nutrient elements for plants. The current paradigm suggests that the scaling of plant tissue N to P is conserved across environments and plant taxa because these two elements are coupled and coordinately change with each other following a constant allometric trajectory. However, this assumption has not been vigorously examined, particularly in changing N and P environments. We propose that changes in relative availability of N and P in soil alter the N to P relationship in plants. Taking advantage of a 4-yr N and P addition experiment in a Tibetan alpine meadow, we examined changes in plant N and P concentrations of 14 common species. Our results showed that while the scaling of N to P under N additions was similar to the previously reported pattern with a uniform 2/3 slope of the regression between log N and log P, it was significantly different under P additions with a smaller slope. Also, graminoids had different responses from forbs. These results indicate that the relative availability of soil N and P is an important determinant regulating the N and P concentrations in plants. These findings suggest that alterations in the N to P relationships may not only alter plant photosynthate allocation to vegetative or reproductive organs, but also regulate the metabolic and growth rate of plant and promote shifts in plant community composition in a changing nutrient loading environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juanjuan Zhang
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
| | - Xuebin Yan
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
| | - Fanglong Su
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
| | - Zhen Li
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
| | - Ying Wang
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
| | - Yanan Wei
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
| | - Yangguang Ji
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
| | - Yi Yang
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
| | - Xianhui Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland and Agro-Ecosystems, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
| | - Hui Guo
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China.
| | - Shuijin Hu
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China; Department of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, United States.
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3
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Calvo-Fernández J, Taboada Á, Fichtner A, Härdtle W, Calvo L, Marcos E. Time- and age-related effects of experimentally simulated nitrogen deposition on the functioning of montane heathland ecosystems. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 613-614:149-159. [PMID: 28910717 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.08.307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2017] [Revised: 08/23/2017] [Accepted: 08/24/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Ecosystems adapted to low nitrogen (N) conditions such as Calluna-heathlands are especially sensitive to enhanced atmospheric N deposition that affects many aspects of ecosystem functioning like nutrient cycling, soil properties and plant-microbial-enzyme relationships. We investigated the effects of five levels of experimentally-simulated N deposition rates (i.e., N fertilization treatments: 0, 10, 20 and 50kgNha-1yr-1 for 3years, and 56kgNha-1yr-1 for 10years) on: plant, litter, microbial biomass and soil nutrient contents, soil extracellular enzymatic activities, and plant root ericoid mycorrhizal colonization. The study was conducted in marginal montane Calluna-heathlands at different developmental stages resulting from management (young/building-phase and mature-phase). Our findings revealed that many soil properties did not show a statistically significant response to the experimental addition of N, including: total N, organic carbon (C), C:N ratio, extractable N-NO3-, available phosphorus (P), urease and β-glucosidase enzyme activities, and microbial biomass C and N. Our results also evidenced a considerable positive impact of chronic (10-year) high-N loading on soil extractable N-NH4+, acid phosphatase enzyme activity, Calluna root mycorrhizal colonization by ericoid fungi, Calluna shoot N and P contents, and litter N content and N:P ratio. The age of heathland vegetation influenced the effects of N addition on ericoid mycorrhizal colonization, resulting in higher colonized roots in young heathlands at the control, low and medium N-input rates; and in mature ones at the high and chronically high N rates. Also, young heathlands exhibited greater soil extractable N-NO3-, available P, microbial biomass N, Calluna shoot N and P contents, and litter N content, compared to mature ones. Our results highlighted that accounting for the N-input load and duration, as well as the developmental stage of the vegetation, is important for assessing the effects of added N, particularly at the heathlands' southern distribution limit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Calvo-Fernández
- Area of Ecology, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences & Institute of Environmental Research (IMA), University of León, 24071 León, Spain.
| | - Ángela Taboada
- Area of Ecology, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences & Institute of Environmental Research (IMA), University of León, 24071 León, Spain
| | - Andreas Fichtner
- Institute of Ecology, Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Scharnhorststrasse 1, 21335 Lüneburg, Germany
| | - Werner Härdtle
- Institute of Ecology, Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Scharnhorststrasse 1, 21335 Lüneburg, Germany
| | - Leonor Calvo
- Area of Ecology, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences & Institute of Environmental Research (IMA), University of León, 24071 León, Spain
| | - Elena Marcos
- Area of Ecology, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences & Institute of Environmental Research (IMA), University of León, 24071 León, Spain
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Sardans J, Alonso R, Janssens IA, Carnicer J, Vereseglou S, Rillig MC, Fernández‐Martínez M, Sanders TGM, Peñuelas J. Foliar and soil concentrations and stoichiometry of nitrogen and phosphorous across
E
uropean
P
inus sylvestris
forests: relationships with climate,
N
deposition and tree growth. Funct Ecol 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Sardans
- CSIC Unitat d'Ecologia Global CREAF‐CEAB‐CSIC‐UAB Edifici C Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Cerdanyola del Vallès Catalonia 08193 Barcelona Spain
- CREAF Cerdanyola del Vallès Catalonia 08193 Barcelona Spain
| | - Rocio Alonso
- Ecotoxicology of Air Pollution CIEMAT Avda. Complutense 22 (edif. 70) Madrid 28040 Spain
| | - Ivan A. Janssens
- UA University of Antwerpen Universiteitsplein 1 2610 Wilrjk Belgium
| | - Jofre Carnicer
- CSIC Unitat d'Ecologia Global CREAF‐CEAB‐CSIC‐UAB Edifici C Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Cerdanyola del Vallès Catalonia 08193 Barcelona Spain
- CREAF Cerdanyola del Vallès Catalonia 08193 Barcelona Spain
- Community and Conservation Ecology Group Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies Nijenborg 7 9747 AG Groningen The Netherlands
| | - Stavros Vereseglou
- Institut für Biologie Freie Universität Berlin Altensteinstr. 6 D‐14195 Berlin Germany
- Berlin‐Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB) D‐14195 Berlin Germany
| | - Matthias C. Rillig
- Institut für Biologie Freie Universität Berlin Altensteinstr. 6 D‐14195 Berlin Germany
- Berlin‐Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB) D‐14195 Berlin Germany
| | - Marcos Fernández‐Martínez
- CSIC Unitat d'Ecologia Global CREAF‐CEAB‐CSIC‐UAB Edifici C Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Cerdanyola del Vallès Catalonia 08193 Barcelona Spain
- CREAF Cerdanyola del Vallès Catalonia 08193 Barcelona Spain
| | - Tanja G. M. Sanders
- Thünen‐Institute of Forest Ecosystems Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries Alfred‐Moeller‐Str. 1 16225 Eberswalde Germany
- Institute for Botany and Landscape Ecology University Greifswald Grimmer Str. 88 17487 Greifswald Germany
| | - Josep Peñuelas
- CSIC Unitat d'Ecologia Global CREAF‐CEAB‐CSIC‐UAB Edifici C Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Cerdanyola del Vallès Catalonia 08193 Barcelona Spain
- CREAF Cerdanyola del Vallès Catalonia 08193 Barcelona Spain
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Wei HW, Lü XT, Lü FM, Han XG. Effects of nitrogen addition and fire on plant nitrogen use in a temperate steppe. PLoS One 2014; 9:e90057. [PMID: 24594654 PMCID: PMC3940713 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0090057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2013] [Accepted: 01/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant nitrogen (N) use strategies have great implications for primary production and ecosystem nutrient cycling. Given the increasing atmospheric N deposition received by most of the terrestrial ecosystems, understanding the responses of plant N use would facilitate the projection of plant-mediated N cycling under global change scenarios. The effects of N deposition on plant N use would be affected by both natural and anthropogenic disturbances, such as prescribed fire in the grassland. We examined the effects of N addition (5.25 g N m−2 yr−1) and prescribed fire (annual burning) on plant N concentrations and N use characters at both species and community levels in a temperate steppe of northern China. We found that N addition and fire independently affected soil N availability and plant N use traits. Nitrogen addition increased aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP), inorganic N, and N uptake, decreased N response efficiency (NRE), but did not affect biomass-weighed N concentrations at community level. Prescribed fire did not change the community level N concentrations, but largely decreased N uptake efficiency and NRE. At the species level, the effects of N addition and fire on plant N use were species-specific. The divergent responses of plant N use at community and species levels to N addition and fire highlight the importance of the hierarchical responses of plant N use at diverse biological organization levels to the alteration of soil N availability. This study will improve our understanding of the responses of plant-mediated N cycling to global change factors and ecosystem management strategies in the semiarid grasslands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Wei Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Forest and Soil Ecology, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
- Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Tao Lü
- State Key Laboratory of Forest and Soil Ecology, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
- * E-mail:
| | - Fu-Mei Lü
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xing-Guo Han
- State Key Laboratory of Forest and Soil Ecology, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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6
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Edmondson J, Terribile E, Carroll JA, Price EAC, Caporn SJM. The legacy of nitrogen pollution in heather moorlands: ecosystem response to simulated decline in nitrogen deposition over seven years. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2013; 444:138-144. [PMID: 23262328 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.11.074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2012] [Revised: 11/15/2012] [Accepted: 11/21/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Eutrophication and acidification of heather moorlands by chronic atmospheric nitrogen (N) pollution, is of major concern within these internationally important ecosystems. However, in the UK and Western Europe generally emissions of NO(y) and NH(x) peaked during the 20th century. Due to the history and scale of atmospheric N pollution, the legacy of these high levels of N deposition, through accumulation in soil, may hinder or prevent ecosystem recovery. Effects of N pollution on heather moorland were investigated throughout the ecosystem including; the dominant plant species, Calluna vulgaris, the bryophyte and lichen community and the soil system using a long-term experiment simulating wet N deposition. We observed an increase in C. vulgaris height, shoot extension and canopy density, litter mineral N, total N concentration, N:P and C:N ratios in response to N addition. Bryophyte species diversity, bryophyte and lichen frequency and the frequency of two individual bryophyte species (Lophozia ventricosa and Campylopus flexuosus) were significantly reduced by N addition. We developed an N recovery experiment, using a split-plot design, on the long-term N treatment plots to investigate ecosystem response to a simulated decline in N deposition. Two years after cessation of N treatment the only ecosystem component that responded to the recovery experiment was C. vulgaris shoot extension, however after seven years of recovery there were significant declines in litter total N concentration and mineral N and an increase in litter C:N ratio. Although bryophytes and lichens form a close relationship with atmospheric N deposition these organisms did not show a significant response to the N recovery experiment, two years after cessation of N treatment. These data indicate that low nutrient ecosystems, such as moorlands, have the capacity to respond to declines in N deposition however the accumulation of pollution may hinder recovery of sensitive organisms, such as bryophytes and lichens.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Edmondson
- School of Science and the Environment, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, Oxford Road, M1 5GD, UK.
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7
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Fagúndez J. Heathlands confronting global change: drivers of biodiversity loss from past to future scenarios. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2013; 111:151-72. [PMID: 23223202 PMCID: PMC3555525 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcs257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Heathlands are dynamic plant communities characterized by a high cover of sclerophyllous, ericoid shrubs that develop over nutrient-poor soils. Interest in the preservation of these habitats in Europe has increased over the last decades, but over this time there has been a general decline in habitat quality, affecting community structure, ecosystem functions and biodiversity. Negative drivers that trigger these changes include land-use changes (i.e. habitat destruction and fragmentation), pollution, climate change, natural succession and human management, as well as the presence of invasive exotic species. SCOPE Based on recent scientific literature, the effect of each of these potential drivers on a wide set of factors, including physiological traits, species richness and diversity, community structure, ecosystem functions and soil conditions, is reviewed. The effects of these drivers are generally understood, but the direction and magnitude of factor interactions, whenever studied, have shown high variability. CONCLUSIONS Habitat loss and fragmentation affect sensitive species and ecosystem functions. The nature of the surrounding area will condition the quality of the heathland remnants by, for example, propagule pressure from invasive species. The dominant ericoid shrubs can be out-competed by vigorous perennial grasses with increased atmospheric nitrogen deposition, although interactions with climate and management practices may either counteract or enhance this process. Grazing or periodic burning promotes heath loss but site-specific combined treatments maintain species diversity and community structure. Climate change alone moderately affects plant diversity, community structure and ecosystem functions. Combined with other factors, climatic changes will condition heath development, mainly with regard to key aspects such as seed set and seedling establishment, rare species occurrence and nutrient cycling in the soil. It is essential to address the effects of not only individual factors, but their interactions, together with land-use history, on heathland development and conservation in order to predict habitat response to future scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime Fagúndez
- Departamento de Bioloxía Animal, Bioloxía Vexetal e Ecoloxía, Facultade de Ciencias, Universidade da Coruña, A Coruña, Spain.
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Sardans J, Peñuelas J. The role of plants in the effects of global change on nutrient availability and stoichiometry in the plant-soil system. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2012; 160:1741-61. [PMID: 23115250 PMCID: PMC3510107 DOI: 10.1104/pp.112.208785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2012] [Accepted: 10/29/2012] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Sardans
- Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Global Ecology Unit, Centre de Recerca Ecològica i Aplicacions Forestats-Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes-Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08913, Catalonia, Spain.
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9
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Interactive Effects of N Deposition, Land Management and Weather Patterns on Soil Solution Chemistry in a Scottish Alpine Heath. Ecosystems 2010. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-010-9348-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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