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Driving factors behind the eutrophication signal in understorey plant communities of deciduous temperate forests

  • 1. Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition is expected to change forest understorey plant community composition and diversity, but results of experimental addition studies and observational studies are not yet conclusive. A shortcoming of observational studies, which are generally based on resurveys or sampling along large deposition gradients, is the occurrence of temporal or spatial confounding factors. 2. We were able to assess the contribution of N deposition versus other ecological drivers on forest understorey plant communities by combining a temporal and spatial approach. Data from 1205 (semi-)permanent vegetation plots taken from 23 rigorously selected understorey resurvey studies along a large deposition gradient across deciduous temperate forest in Europe were compiled and related to various local and regional driving factors, including the rate of atmospheric N deposition, the change in large herbivore densities and the change in canopy cover and composition. 3. Although no directional change in species richness occurred,1. Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition is expected to change forest understorey plant community composition and diversity, but results of experimental addition studies and observational studies are not yet conclusive. A shortcoming of observational studies, which are generally based on resurveys or sampling along large deposition gradients, is the occurrence of temporal or spatial confounding factors. 2. We were able to assess the contribution of N deposition versus other ecological drivers on forest understorey plant communities by combining a temporal and spatial approach. Data from 1205 (semi-)permanent vegetation plots taken from 23 rigorously selected understorey resurvey studies along a large deposition gradient across deciduous temperate forest in Europe were compiled and related to various local and regional driving factors, including the rate of atmospheric N deposition, the change in large herbivore densities and the change in canopy cover and composition. 3. Although no directional change in species richness occurred, there was considerable floristic turnover in the understorey plant community and a shift in species composition towards more shade-tolerant and nutrient-demanding species. However, atmospheric N deposition was not important in explaining the observed eutrophication signal. This signal seemed mainly related to a shift towards a denser canopy cover and a changed canopy species composition with a higher share of species with more easily decomposed litter. 4. Synthesis. Our multi-site approach clearly demonstrates that one should be cautious when drawing conclusions about the impact of atmospheric N deposition based on the interpretation of plant community shifts in single sites or regions due to other, concurrent, ecological changes. Even though the effects of chronically increased N deposition on the forest plant communities are apparently obscured by the effects of canopy changes, the accumulated N might still have a significant impact. However, more research is needed to assess whether this N time bomb will indeed explode when canopies will open up again.show moreshow less

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Author details:Kris Verheyen, Lander Baeten, Pieter De Frenne, Markus Bernhardt-Römermann, Jorg Brunet, Johnny Cornelis, Guillaume Decocq, Hartmut DierschkeGND, Ove Eriksson, Radim Hedl, Thilo HeinkenORCiD, Martin Hermy, Patrick Hommel, Keith J. KirbyGND, Tobias Naaf, George Peterken, Petr Petrik, Joerg Pfadenhauer, Hans Van Calster, Gian-Reto Walther, Monika WulfORCiD, Gorik Verstraeten
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2745.2011.01928.x
ISSN:0022-0477
Title of parent work (English):The journal of ecology
Publisher:Wiley-Blackwell
Place of publishing:Hoboken
Publication type:Article
Language:English
Year of first publication:2012
Publication year:2012
Release date:2017/03/26
Tag:(semi-)permanent plots; Ellenberg indicator values; atmospheric deposition; determinants of plant community diversity and structure; forest herbs; forest management; large herbivores; north-western Europe; resurveys
Volume:100
Issue:2
Number of pages:14
First page:352
Last Page:365
Funding institution:Institute for Nature and Forest Research (INBO); Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO); Institute for the Promotion of Innovation through Science and Technology in Flanders (IWT-Vlaanderen); FWO; [AV0 IAA600050812]; [AV0 Z60050516]
Organizational units:Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät / Institut für Biochemie und Biologie
Peer review:Referiert
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