title: Nitrogen deposition threatens species richness of grasslands across Europe.
abstract: Evidence from an international survey in the Atlantic biogeographic region of Europe indicates that chronic nitrogen deposition is reducing plant species richness in acid grasslands. Across the deposition gradient in this region (2-44 kg N ha(-1) yr(-1)) species richness showed a curvilinear response, with greatest reductions in species richness when deposition increased from low levels. This has important implications for conservation policies, suggesting that to protect the most sensitive grasslands resources should be focussed where deposition is currently low. Soil pH is also an important driver of species richness indicating that the acidifying effect of nitrogen deposition may be contributing to species richness reductions. The results of this survey suggest that the impacts of nitrogen deposition can be observed over a large geographical range.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK. c.j.stevens@open.ac.uk
authors.forename: Carly J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Duprè
authors.forename: Edu
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dorland
authors.forename: Cassandre
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gaudnik
authors.forename: David J G
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Gowing
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bleeker
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Diekmann
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alard
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bobbink
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fowler
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Corcket
authors.forename: J Owen
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Mountford
authors.forename: Vigdis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vandvik
authors.forename: Per Arild
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Aarrestad
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.forename: Nancy B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Dise
mesh_terms: D044822:Biodiversity; D017753:Ecosystem; D004777:Environment; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005060:Europe; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D006109:Poaceae / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D012989:Soil Pollutants; D009584:Nitrogen