title: Long-term nitrogen deposition depletes grassland seed banks.
abstract: Nitrogen (N) pollution is a global threat to the biodiversity of many plant communities, but its impacts on grassland soil seed banks are unknown. Here we show that size and richness of an acid grassland seed bank is strongly reduced after 13 years of simulated N deposition. Soils receiving 140 kg N ha(-1) per year show a decline in total seed abundance, seed species richness, and the abundance of forbs, sedges and grasses. These results reveal larger effects of N pollution on seed banks than on aboveground vegetation as cover and flowering is not significantly altered for most species. Further, the seed bank shows no recovery 4 years after the cessation of N deposition. These results provide insights into the severe negative effects of N pollution on plant communities that threaten the stability of populations, community persistence and the potential for ecosystems to recover following anthropogenic disturbance or climate change.
authors: Unidad de Ecología y Sistemática, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Carrera 7 No. 43-82 Ed. Jesús Emilio Ramírez (53), Bogotá, Colombia.
authors: Sofía
authors: S
authors: Basto
authors: Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, The University of Sheffield, Western Bank, S10 2TN Sheffield, UK.
authors: Ken
authors: K
authors: Thompson
authors: Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, The University of Sheffield, Western Bank, S10 2TN Sheffield, UK.
authors: Gareth
authors: G
authors: Phoenix
authors: Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, The University of Sheffield, Western Bank, S10 2TN Sheffield, UK.
authors: Victoria
authors: V
authors: Sloan
authors: Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, The University of Sheffield, Western Bank, S10 2TN Sheffield, UK.
authors: Jonathan
authors: J
authors: Leake
authors: Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, The University of Sheffield, Western Bank, S10 2TN Sheffield, UK.
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Rees
mesh_terms: D044822:Biodiversity; D003198:Computer Simulation; D065948:Grassland; D006801:Humans; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D006109:Poaceae / Q000502:physiology*; D000068098:Seed Bank; D012639:Seeds / Q000502:physiology*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D009584:Nitrogen