pte20241021017 Environment/Energy, Research/Development
According to a study by the University of Potsdam, too much of a good thing leads to a loss of species richness
Potsdam (pte017/21.10.2024/12:30)
According to a new study by the University of Potsdam Anthropogenic nitrogen inputs, for example through fertilizer, and climate change reduce the competitive advantage of nitrogen-fixing plants. And that in turn leads to a lower diversity of these plants. Clovers, lupins, peas and vetches, but also alder trees, are affected.
Nitrogen fixation important
Binding nitrogen in plants, nitrogen fixation, is an ecosystem service in nutrient-poor soils. Since humans add extra nitrogen to agricultural land through fertilization and industry and traffic also contribute to widespread nitrogen deposition, nitrogen-fixing plants may lose their competitive advantage on nutrient-poor soils in the future, the researchers warn.
“In our study, we examined temporal trends in the diversity of these plants and their relationships to anthropogenic nitrogen inputs, while also taking into account changes in temperature and drought,” says botanist Thilo Heinken. Information from the “forestREplot“Database on the species richness and phylogenetic diversity of forest floor vegetation in temperate forests in Europe and the USA.
Entry often counterproductive
According to the Potsdam scientists, the abundance of nitrogen-fixing plants decreases with increasing nitrogen input, regardless of temperature changes and increasing drought. Details about the current investigation University of Potsdam can be found in the journal “Science Advances”.
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