Competition and Nutrient Availability in Heathland and Grassland Ecosystems

Berendse, F.; Elberse, W.Th.

doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-294452-9.50010-2

Cited by 198 publications

(145 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Both N and P were implicated in decreasing the cover of Sphagnum in peatlands in Sweden (Backeus, 1980). In Dutch heathlands, van Breemen and van Dijk (1988) documented an increase in grass species at the expense of ericaceous species as a result of high N deposition, a trend also documented by Berendse and Elberse (1990). In the first half of the 20th century, the evergreen dwarf shrub cross-leaved heath (Erica tetralix) dominated most wet heathlands in the Netherlands.…”

Section: Complex Effects On Complex Ecosystemsmentioning

confidence: 82%

Ecological issues related to N deposition to natural ecosystems: research needs

Adams

2003

Environment International

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Section: Complex Effects On Complex Ecosystemsmentioning

confidence: 82%

Ecological issues related to N deposition to natural ecosystems: research needs

Adams

2003

Environment International

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“…The importance of these below-ground resources increases as plants compete for these scarce resources (Lauenorth and Burke, 1995;Lauenorth and Coffin, 1992). Plants in tropical soils are adapted to these nutrient-poor environments either by increasing their ability to compete for nutrients through association with soil fungi such as mycorrhizal fungi or by reducing losses of nutrients by minimizing their biomass turnover (Alexander, 1989;Berendse and Elberse, 1990). Most plant species in natural ecosystems depend to various extents on the mycorrhizal fungi for the uptake of nutrients and water from the soil to maintain a steady growth.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution of roots and arbuscular mycorrhizal associations in tropical forest types of Xishuangbanna, southwest China

Muthukumar

Sha

Yang

et al. 2003

Applied Soil Ecology

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Root distribution and mycorrhizal associations were compared in primary, secondary and limestone forests in Xishuangbanna, southwest China. Soil cores to a depth of 20 cm were collected at random points from four 50 m 2 quadrats in each forest type. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) associations were the only form of mycorrhiza found in all forest types. The primary forest was characterized by high root mass, root lengths and AM colonization levels higher than other forest types. In contrast, secondary forests had greater AM fungal spore numbers and specific root length, indicating that plant species in secondary forests achieved a greater degree of soil exploration with less biomass allocation to roots. Root density, AM colonization and AM fungal spore numbers decreased with soil depth in all forest types. Although the correlation between AM colonization levels and spore numbers was insignificant when all forest types were considered together, significant relationships emerged when each forest type was considered individually. AM colonization and spore numbers were correlated with several root variables.

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“…and Molinia caerulea (L.) Moench. High levels of nitrogen deposition have strongly accelerated the accumulation of soil organic matter and the successional change from heathlands into grass-dominated vegetation and woodland (Berendse and Aerts 1984;Berendse and Elberse 1990;Berendse 1994). Previous experiments investigating competition between dwarf shrubs and dominant grasses have shown that the dominant grasses benefit more rapidly from an increased nutrient supply than the dwarf shrubs due to their faster growth rate at higher nutrient levels (Berendse and Aerts 1984;Heil and Bruggink 1987).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of litters with different concentrations of phenolics on the competition between Calluna vulgaris and Deschampsia flexuosa

Hofland-Zijlstra

Berendse

2009

Plant Soil

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We hypothesized that the outcome of competition between ericaceous plants and grasses is strongly affected by the concentrations of phenolics in the litter that they produce. To test the effect of phenolic-rich litter on soluble soil nitrogen concentrations, plant nitrogen uptake and inter-specific competition, we conducted a greenhouse experiment with the shrub Calluna vulgaris and the grass Deschampsia flexuosa and their leaf litters. Two litters of C. vulgaris were used, with equal nitrogen concentration but different (high and low) concentrations of total phenolics. The D. flexuosa leaf litter contained lower concentrations of phenolics, but higher concentrations of nitrogen than the C. vulgaris litters. The plants were grown in monocultures and in mixed cultures. Inorganic and dissolved organic nitrogen were measured monthly during the experiment. After four months, we measured above-and belowground biomass and the nutrient concentrations in above-and belowground plant parts. In monocultures, C. vulgaris produced more shoot and root biomass on its own litter than with no litter. Growth of Calluna was reduced on grass litter. D. flexuosa plants produced most biomass on their own litter type, whether in monocultures or in mixed cultures. Addition of Calluna litter stimulated the growth of D. flexuosa both in monoculture and in mixtures. The grass plants outcompeted Calluna both on shrub litter and on grass litter but not when grown without litter. The two C. vulgaris litter types that differed in their concentration of phenolics did not differ in their effects on the competition between the two species or on the production of inorganic and dissolved organic nitrogen. We conclude that the nitrogen content of the litter is more important as a plant feature driving competition between shrubs and grasses than the concentrations of phenolics.

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Competition and Nutrient Availability in Heathland and Grassland Ecosystems

Cited by 198 publications

References 16 publications

Ecological issues related to N deposition to natural ecosystems: research needs

Ecological issues related to N deposition to natural ecosystems: research needs

Distribution of roots and arbuscular mycorrhizal associations in tropical forest types of Xishuangbanna, southwest China

Effects of litters with different concentrations of phenolics on the competition between Calluna vulgaris and Deschampsia flexuosa

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