Nutrient deficiency in dune slack pioneer vegetation: a review

Lammerts, E.J.; Grootjans, Albert

doi:10.1007/bf02908183

Cited by 41 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…In this state its availability is considerably higher than on mineral soil, especially under anaerobic and acid conditions (Patrick & Khalid 1974). However, in most studies on nutrient limitation in dune slacks a primary N-and a secondary P-limitation is reported (Willis 1963;Dougherty et al 1990;Olff et al 1993;Lammerts & Grootjans 1997), probably because the general focus is on only one or two successional stages, neglecting the very early pioneer stages. We assume that the decline of basiphilous species in the course of dune slack succession, starting with a rapid accumulation of organic matter (personal observations in many dune slacks), is related to a shift from P-to N-limitation, at least to a decreasing Plimitation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Nutrient limitation and vegetation changes in a coastal dune slack

Lammerts

Pegtel

Grootjans

et al. 1999

J Vegetation Science

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. Basiphilous pioneer species are among the most endangered plant species in The Netherlands. They find most of their refuges in young coastal dune slacks, especially on the Wadden Sea islands. For the purpose of nature management it is important to know which processes control the presence of basiphilous pioneer communities, and to learn about the nature of slacks harbouring the concerning successional sequences. In a large dune slack on the Island of Terschelling, we assessed soil nutrient status and tested for nutrient limitation in four chronosequential stages: 2, 6, 37 and ca. 80 yr of age. Stage 2 harboured a basiphilous pioneer vegetation; in the stages 3 and 4 a dense vegetation of dwarf shrubs and grasses occurred. Soil organic matter and nutrient concentrations in each stage were measured in 1991. In 1992 and 1993 fertilizers were applied to all stages to detect nutrient limitation. Rates of accumulation of organic matter, nutrients and above‐ground biomass were estimated. When interpreted as successional stages, the different stages represent a sequence as expected on the basis of general successional theory. There was a peak in yearly nutrient accumulation between the 6‐ and 37‐yr old stage and a steady state after ca. 80 yr. Between the first two and the latter two stages a shift occurred from allogenic to autogenic succession which correlated with a shift in emphasis from available nutrients to light availability as limiting resources. Basiphilous pioneer species suffered only deficiency of nitrogen, probably because of their low phosphorus requirements. It is concluded that in dune slack habitats, in addition to a low nutrient availability in general, a very low phosphorus availability favours basiphilous pioneer species to species showing co‐limitation of nitrogen and phosphorus as found in some grasses and dwarf shrubs. A comparison between the effects of lime addition and the effects of nitrogen and phosphorus additions suggests that, in the early stages, soil buffering increases the availability of nitrogen and inhibits the availability of phosphorus. Sod cutting is an effective technique for restoring basiphilous pioneer vegetation, when slacks are acidified only superficially and buffering‐mechanisms can be reactivated. Yearly mowing and removing of standing crop may prolong the life‐span of basiphilous pioneer vegetation, when soil acidification has not yet dropped below pH 6.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Nutrient limitation and vegetation changes in a coastal dune slack

Lammerts

Pegtel

Grootjans

et al. 1999

J Vegetation Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Eutrophication in these dune slack pools is more likely caused by atmospheric inputs or by high density of waterfowl than by the inflow of enriched surface water, because of their hydrological isolation. Very few experimental data exist on the sensitivity of these dune slack pools with respect to critical load setting, despite the generally well-known nitrogen limitation of dune slack wetlands (Lammerts and Grootjans, 1997). However, the impacts of atmospheric nitrogen deposition have been quantified in dune slack pool mesocosms (diameter ca.…”

Section: Permanent Oligotrophic Lakes Pools and Ponds (C116; Dune Smentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nowadays, many dune slacks have become part of nature reserves, and these are sometimes maintained via management as hay making or sod cutting (e.g. Lammerts and Grootjans, 1997;Davies and Moss, 2002). Because of their isolation in the landscape and their successional position, they mostly receive nutrients via atmospheric inputs.…”

Section: Coastal Moist To Wet Dune Slacks (B18)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Willis, 1963;Olff et al, 1993) and has been recently reviewed by Lammerts and Grootjans (1997). Factorial fertilization experiments have shown that in almost all studied moist to wet, primary or secondary dune slacks in the UK, USA or the Netherlands, the above-ground biomass is limited by nitrogen availability.…”

Section: Coastal Moist To Wet Dune Slacks (B18)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Single nitrogen additions have led to increased dominance of Carex and Juncus species, as well of tall grasses as Agrostis stolonifera and Calamagrostis epigejos. In some studies, typical forb species had declined in such situations (for an overview and the references, see Lammerts and Grootjans, 1997). Unfortunately, none of the studies have been done with low nitrogen additions (<100 N kg ha -1 yr -1 ; >1 year), and thus they are not adequate for setting a nitrogen critical load.…”

Section: Coastal Moist To Wet Dune Slacks (B18)mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Potential Approaches to Developing Lichen-Based Critical Loads and Levels for Nitrogen, Sulfur and Metal-Containing Atmospheric Pollutants in North America

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Seashore dune rehabilitation using an inland legume species

Yang

Chu

2019

Land Degrad Dev

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Dunes along seashores are vulnerable ecosystems that contain special resources and provide important services. Most of them today suffer from trampling due to human recreational use, and rehabilitating them is urgent for the sake of coast safety and human welfare. We examine whether sowing an inland legume species is a feasible, effective method for fast rehabilitating degraded backshore dunes. The rehabilitation experiment was conducted from 2012 in the Shandong Peninsula, China, where Astragalus adsurgens, an inland legume species, was intensively sown within degraded dune systems. We surveyed the recovering plant communities in 2016 by 100 quadrats of 1 m2. We measured coverage‐weighted height of each species in these quadrats, and evaluated potential role of A. adsurgens in restoring such backshore dune systems. We found that A. adsurgens established and grew successfully, thus contributing much to dune rehabilitation, and that it exerted no significant negative effects on native plants. This species did not overgrow to achieve a too large niche width, presumably limited by its innate intolerance to seawater inundation. Sowing this inland legume species is believed to be feasible and effective for backshore dune rehabilitation, and the sowing in the long run cannot overturn distinctiveness of the original backshore vegetation.

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Nutrient deficiency in dune slack pioneer vegetation: a review

Cited by 41 publications

References 20 publications

Nutrient limitation and vegetation changes in a coastal dune slack

Nutrient limitation and vegetation changes in a coastal dune slack

Potential Approaches to Developing Lichen-Based Critical Loads and Levels for Nitrogen, Sulfur and Metal-Containing Atmospheric Pollutants in North America

Seashore dune rehabilitation using an inland legume species

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