Shifting rangeland mineral resource limitations: ecological responses to atmospheric Nitrogen deposition
Deposition ofm fixed nitrogen (N) from the atmosphere into natural and managed systems is increasing worldwide, primarily as a result of fossil fuel combustion and agricultural fertilization practices.While historically most rangelands have been subjected to relatively low N deposition rates, N deposition is projected to increase in rangelands.This unintentional wide‐ scale fertilization has the potential to dramatically shift mineral resource limitations in rangeland ecosystems.In contrast to forested ecosystem response to N deposition, one of the most evident rangeland responses to N deposition is a shift in community composition, with declines in biodiversity and potentially shifts in the dominant functional groups.Evidence to date suggests that many other ecological processes, such as interactions with insect herbivores and carbon (C) and N cycling may in turn be affected by this shift in species composition.Increasing predictive capability of rangeland responses to N deposition is crucial for developing appropriate management strategies.
nitrogen deposition biodiversity nutrient limitations global change
Heather L.Throop
Department of Biology,New Mexico State University,MSC 3A F,Las Cruces,NM 88005,USA
国际会议
呼和浩特
英文
2008-06-29（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）