10.5061/DRYAD.01JC1
Zhang, Yunhai
Chinese Academy of Sciences
Stevens, Carly J.
Lancaster University
Lü, Xiaotao
Chinese Academy of Sciences
He, Nianpeng
Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research
Huang, Jianhui
Chinese Academy of Sciences
Han, Xingguo
Chinese Academy of Sciences
Data from: Fewer new species colonize at low frequency N addition in a
temperate grassland
Dryad
dataset
2016
interspecific competition
ammonium accumulative
Grassland science
acidification
nitrogen addition frequency
Ecosystem ecology
ecological processes
2016-09-23T00:00:00Z
2016-09-23T00:00:00Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.12585
29105 bytes
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CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
1. Biologically reactive nitrogen (Nr) enrichment threatens biodiversity
in diverse ecosystems. Previous controlled N addition experiments may
overestimate the effects of atmospheric Nr deposition on the rate of
species loss, as it has been found that low frequency Nr additions, as
used in traditional studies, lead to more rapid biodiversity loss. It
remains unclear, however, whether the colonization of new species (gain)
or extinction of old species (loss) is the cause of this difference. 2. By
independently manipulating the frequency (twice vs. monthly additions
yr–1) and the rate (from 0 to 50 g N m–2 yr–1) of NH4NO3 inputs for six
years in a temperate grassland of northern China, we aimed to examine the
contribution of gain and loss of species to the reduction in species
richness under different regimes of Nr inputs. 3. Results showed that the
gain of new species was higher at a high frequency of N addition than that
at a low addition frequency, whilst loss of existing species was similar
between the two frequencies of N addition. The number of new species
gained decreased and old species lost increased with the increasing rate
of Nr addition at both annual and five-year intervals. Cumulative gain of
new species was negatively correlated with soil acidification, ammonium
concentration and community biomass accumulation, whereas cumulative loss
of old species was positively correlated with these variables. 4. Our
results revealed lower new species colonization results in lower species
richness at low frequency of Nr addition. Findings from this study
highlight the important role of N addition frequency in regulating the
effects of Nr addition on community dynamics. To assess the effects of
atmospheric Nr deposition on ecosystem structure and functioning, it is
necessary to assess not only the dose but also the frequency of N
addition.
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data for "Fewer new species colonize at low frequency N addition in a
temperate grassland"