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Nitrogen Saturation of Terrestrial Ecosystems: Some Recent Findings and Their Implications for Our Conceptual Framework

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Book cover Acid Rain - Deposition to Recovery

The consequences of nitrogen (N) enrichment for terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems are of increasing concern in many areas due to continued or increasing high emission rates of reactive N. Within terrestrial ecosystems various conceptual frameworks and modelling approaches have been developed which have enhanced our understanding of the sequence of changes associated with increased N availability and help us predict their future impacts. Here, some recent findings are described and their implications for these conceptual frameworks and modelling approaches discussed. They are: (a) an early loss of plant species that are characteristic of low N conditions as N availability increases and a loss of species with high N retention efficiencies (so called N ‘filters’), (b) suppression of microbial immobilisation of deposited NO3 − due to increased NH4 + availability in the early stages of N saturation, (c) the early onset of NO3 − leaching due to these changes (a and b above) in both plant and microbial functioning, (d) reduced sensitivity of vegetation to N additions in areas with high historical N deposition, (e) delayed changes in soil C:N changes due to increased net primary productivity and reduced decomposition of soil organic matter. Some suggestions of early indicators of N saturation are suggested (occurrence of mosses; NH4 + : NO3 − ratio in surface soils) which indicate either a shift in ecosystem function and/or structure.

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  1. Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Orton Building, Deiniol Rd, Bangor, LL57 2UP, UK

    Bridget A. Emmett

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  1. University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK

    Peter Brimblecombe

  2. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan

    Hiroshi Hara

  3. Saint-Lawrence Centre, Montreal, Environment Canada, Quebec, Canada

    Daniel Houle

  4. Forest Division, Quebec Ministry of Natural Resources and Wildlife, Quebec, Canada

    Daniel Houle

  5. Czech Geological Survey, Prague, Czech Republic

    Martin Novak

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Emmett, B.A. (2007). Nitrogen Saturation of Terrestrial Ecosystems: Some Recent Findings and Their Implications for Our Conceptual Framework. In: Brimblecombe, P., Hara, H., Houle, D., Novak, M. (eds) Acid Rain - Deposition to Recovery. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-5885-1_12

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