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20 - Nitrogen as a threat to European terrestrial biodiversity

from Part IV - Managing nitrogen in relation to key societal threats

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 May 2011

By
Nancy B. Dise ,
Mike Ashmore ,
Salim Belyazid ,
Albert Bleeker ,
Roland Bobbink ,
Wim de Vries ,
Jan Willem Erisman ,
Till Spranger ,
Carly J. Stevens  and
Leon van den Berg
Edited by
Mark A. Sutton ,
Clare M. Howard ,
Jan Willem Erisman ,
Gilles Billen ,
Albert Bleeker ,
Peringe Grennfelt ,
Hans van Grinsven  and
Bruna Grizzetti
Nancy B. Dise
Affiliation:
Manchester Metropolitan University
Mike Ashmore
Affiliation:
University of York
Salim Belyazid
Affiliation:
Belyazid Consulting and Communication AB
Albert Bleeker
Affiliation:
Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands
Roland Bobbink
Affiliation:
Radboud University
Wim de Vries
Affiliation:
Wageningen University and Research Centre
Jan Willem Erisman
Affiliation:
Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands
Till Spranger
Affiliation:
Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety
Carly J. Stevens
Affiliation:
Open University
Leon van den Berg
Affiliation:
Radboud University Nijmegen
Mark A. Sutton
Affiliation:
NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK
Clare M. Howard
Affiliation:
NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK
Jan Willem Erisman
Affiliation:
Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam
Gilles Billen
Affiliation:
CNRS and University of Paris VI
Albert Bleeker
Affiliation:
Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands
Peringe Grennfelt
Affiliation:
Swedish Environmental Research Institute (IVL)
Hans van Grinsven
Affiliation:
PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency
Bruna Grizzetti
Affiliation:
European Commission Joint Research Centre
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Summary

Executive summary

Nature of the problem

  • Biodiversity is the variability among living organisms, from genes to the biosphere. The value of biodiversity is multifold, from preserving the integrity of the biosphere as a whole, to providing food and medicines, to spiritual and aesthetic well-being.

  • One of the major drivers of biodiversity loss in Europe is atmospheric deposition of reactive nitrogen (Nr).

Approaches

  • This chapter focuses on Nr impacts on European plant species diversity; in particular, the number and abundance of different species in a given area, and the presence of characteristic species of sensitive ecosystems.

  • We summarise both the scientific and the policy aspects of Nr impacts on diversity and identify, using a range of evidence, the most vulnerable ecosystems and regions in Europe.

Key findings/state of knowledge

  • Reactive nitrogen impacts vegetation diversity through direct foliar damage, eutrophication, acidification, and susceptibility to secondary stress.

  • Species and communities most sensitive to chronically elevated Nr deposition are those that are adapted to low nutrient levels, or are poorly buffered against acidification. Grassland, heathland, peatland, forest, and arctic/montane ecosystems are recognised as vulnerable habitats in Europe; other habitats may be vulnerable but are still poorly studied.

  • It is not yet clear if different wet-deposited forms of Nr (e.g. nitrate, NO3− versus ammonium, NH4+) have different effects on biodiversity. However, gaseous ammonia (NH3) can be particularly harmful to vegetation, especially lower plants, through direct foliar damage.

  • […]

Type
Chapter
Information
The European Nitrogen Assessment
Sources, Effects and Policy Perspectives
 , pp. 463 - 494
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2011

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