Journal
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
Volume 159, Issue 10, Pages 2265-2279Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2010.12.019
Keywords
Dry deposition; Exotic plants; Fire cycle; Mediterranean-type ecosystems; N flushes; Phosphorus; Seasonality
Categories
Funding
- Spanish Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia [AP2006-04638]
- [CGL-2009-11015]
- [AGL-2006-13848-C02-01/AGR]
- [S2009/AMB-1783]
- [S-0505/AMB/0032]
- Natural Environment Research Council [ceh010023] Funding Source: researchfish
Ask authors/readers for more resources
We review the ecological consequences of N deposition on the five Mediterranean regions of the world. Seasonality of precipitation and fires regulate the N cycle in these water-limited ecosystems, where dry N deposition dominates. Nitrogen accumulation in soils and on plant surfaces results in peaks of availability with the first winter rains. Decoupling between N flushes and plant demand promotes losses via leaching and gas emissions. Differences in P availability may control the response to N inputs and susceptibility to exotic plant invasion. Invasive grasses accumulate as fuel during the dry season, altering fire regimes. California and the Mediterranean Basin are the most threatened by N deposition; however, there is limited evidence for N deposition impacts outside of California. Consequently, more research is needed to determine critical loads for each region and vegetation type based on the most sensitive elements, such as changes in lichen species composition and N cycling. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available