Spatio-temporal trends of nitrogen deposition and climate effects on Sphagnum productivity in European peatlands.
To quantify potential nitrogen (N) deposition impacts on peatland carbon (C) uptake, we explored temporal and spatial trends in N deposition and climate impacts on the production of the key peat forming functional group (Sphagnum mosses) across European peatlands for the period 1900-2050. Using a modelling approach we estimated that between 1900 and 1950 N deposition impacts remained limited irrespective of geographical position. Between 1950 and 2000 N deposition depressed production between 0 and 25% relative to 1900, particularly in temperate regions. Future scenarios indicate this trend will continue and become more pronounced with climate warming. At the European scale, the consequences for Sphagnum net C-uptake remained small relative to 1900 due to the low peatland cover in high-N areas. The predicted impacts of likely changes in N deposition on Sphagnum productivity appeared to be less than those of climate. Nevertheless, current critical loads for peatlands are likely to hold under a future climate.
School of Geography and Earth Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada; Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7050, SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: Gustaf.Granath@gmail.com.
Gustaf
G
Granath
Nature Conservation and Plant Ecology Group, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3a, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: juul.limpens@wur.nl.
Juul
J
Limpens
Coordination Centre for Effects (CCE), RIVM, PO Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands. Electronic address: max.posch@rivm.nl.
Maximilian
M
Posch
Alterra, Wageningen University and Research Centre (WUR), PO Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: sander.mucher@wur.nl.
Sander
S
Mücher
Alterra, Wageningen University and Research Centre (WUR), PO Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands; Environmental Systems Analysis Group, Wageningen University, PO Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: wim.devries@wur.nl.
Wim
W
de Vries
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis; D057231:Climate Change; D005060:Europe; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D044003:Sphagnopsida / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological
D000393:Air Pollutants; D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen
Air pollution; Carbon balance; Critical load; Ecosystem change; Peat mosses