Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://dx.doi.org/10.25673/117322
Title: Divergent roles of herbivory in eutrophying forests
Author(s): Segar, Josiane
Pereira, Henrique M.Look up in the Integrated Authority File of the German National Library
Baeten, Lander
Bernhardt-Römermann, MarkusLook up in the Integrated Authority File of the German National Library
De Frenne, Pieter
Fernándes, Néstor
Gilliam, Frank S.Look up in the Integrated Authority File of the German National Library
Lenoir, Jonathan
Ortmann-Ajkai, Adrienne
Verheyen, Kris
Waller, Donald
Teleki, Balázs
Brunet, Jörg
Chudomelová, Markéta
Decocq, GuillaumeLook up in the Integrated Authority File of the German National Library
Dirnböck, Thomas
Hédl, Radim
Heinken, Thilo
Jaroszewicz, Bogdan
Kopecký, MartinLook up in the Integrated Authority File of the German National Library
Macek, Martin
Malís̆, Frantis̆ek
Naaf, TobiasLook up in the Integrated Authority File of the German National Library
Orczewska, Anna
Recynska, Kamila
Schmidt, WolfgangLook up in the Integrated Authority File of the German National Library
S̆ebesta, Jan
Stachurska-Swakoń, Alina
Standovár, TiborLook up in the Integrated Authority File of the German National Library
Swierkosz, Kysztof
Vild, Ondrĕj
Wulf, Monika
Staude, Ingmar F.
Issue Date: 2022
Type: Article
Language: English
Abstract: Ungulate populations are increasing across Europe with important implications for forest plant communities. Concurrently, atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition continues to eutrophicate forests, threatening many rare, often more nutrient-efficient, plant species. These pressures may critically interact to shape biodiversity as in grassland and tundra systems, yet any potential interactions in forests remain poorly understood. Here, we combined vegetation resurveys from 52 sites across 13 European countries to test how changes in ungulate herbivory and eutrophication drive long-term changes in forest understorey communities. Increases in herbivory were associated with elevated temporal species turnover, however, identities of winner and loser species depended on N levels. Under low levels of N-deposition, herbivory favored threatened and small-ranged species while reducing the proportion of non-native and nutrient-demanding species. Yet all these trends were reversed under high levels of N-deposition. Herbivores also reduced shrub cover, likely exacerbating N effects by increasing light levels in the understorey. Eutrophication levels may therefore determine whether herbivory acts as a catalyst for the “N time bomb” or as a conservation tool in temperate forests.
URI: https://opendata.uni-halle.de//handle/1981185920/119281
http://dx.doi.org/10.25673/117322
Open Access: Open access publication
License: (CC BY 4.0) Creative Commons Attribution 4.0(CC BY 4.0) Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
Journal Title: Nature Communications
Publisher: Springer Nature
Publisher Place: [London]
Volume: 13
Original Publication: 10.1038/s41467-022-35282-6
Appears in Collections:Open Access Publikationen der MLU

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