Abstract
The encroachment of some tall grass species in open dune vegetation, as observed in a Dutch dry dune area, is considered unfavourable from a conservation viewpoint. This paper investigates differences in vegetation and soil properties between grass-dominated and still existing open dune grassland plots at four locations along the coast. Soil properties studied include nitrogen and phosphorus pools and nitrogen availability by mineralization. Vegetation properties included are above and below-ground biomass and nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in above-ground biomass.
Systematic differences in N-pools between grass-dominated and open dune grassland plots were not observed. However, N-availability by mineralization and its turnover rates are higher in grass-dominated plots than in open dune grassland plots, as well as above and below-ground biomass. In open dune grassland plots, atmospheric N-input is an important source of N, whereas in grass-dominated plots mineralization largely exceeds atmospheric N-input. However, these observations do not explain the mosaic-like vegetation pattern. Grazing intensity is most likely the determinant factor in the dry dune system. It is concluded, that grass encroachment is probably triggered by atmospheric deposition and is enhanced by positive feedbacks in the N-cycle. The relevance of these results for restoration management is briefly discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anon. 1988.SAS/STAT User’ Guide, Release 6.03 edn. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC.
Aerts, R. 1989.Plant strategies and nutrient cycling in heathland ecosystems. Doctoral Thesis, University of Utrecht.
Aerts, R. & Berendse, F. 1988. The effect of increased nutrient availability on vegetation dynamics in wet heathlands.Vegetatio 76: 63–69.
Allison, L.E. 1960. Wet combustion apparatus and procedure for organic and inorganic carbon in soil.Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Proc. 24: 36–40.
Anderson, P. & Romeril, M.G. 1992. Mowing experiments to restore a species-rich sward on sand dunes in Jersey, Channel Islands, G. B. In: Carter, R.W.G., Curtis, T.G.F. & Sheehy-Skeffington, M.J. (eds.)Coastal dunes, geomorphology, ecology and management for conservation, pp. 219–234. Balkema, Rotterdam/Brookfield.
Bakker, J.P. 1989.Nature management by grazing and cutting. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht.
Belsky, A.J. 1992. Effects of grazing, competition, disturbances and fire on species composition and diversity in grassland communities.J. Veg. Sci 3: 187–200.
Berendse, F. & Aerts, R. 1984. Competition betweenErica tetralix L. andMolinia caerula (L.) Moench as affected by the availability of nutrients.Acta Oecol./Oecol. Plant 5: 3–14.
Bobbink, R. 1991. Effects of nutrient enrichment in Dutch chalk grasslands.J. Appl. Ecol. 28: 28–41.
Bobbink, R. & Willems, J.H. 1987. Increasing dominance ofBrachypodium pinnatum (L.) Beauv. in chalk grasslands: a threat to a species-rich ecosystem.Biol. Cons. 40: 301–314.
Bobbink, R., Bik, L. & Willems, J.H. 1988. Effects of nitrogen fertilization on vegetation structure and dominance ofBrachypodium pinnatum (L.) Beauv. in chalk grassland.Acta Bot. Neerl. 37: 231–241.
Bobbink, R., Heil, G. & Raessen, M. 1990.Atmospheric deposition and canopy exchange in heathland ecosystems. Dutch Priority Programme on Acidification, report project 119.
Boorman, L.A. & Fuller, R.M. 1982. Effects of added nutrients on dune swards grazed by rabbits.J. Ecol. 70: 345–355.
Gerlach, A. 1993. Biogeochemistry of nitrogen in a coastal dune succession on Spiekeroog (Germany) and the impact of climate.Phytocoenologia 23: 115–127.
Gerlach, A., Albers, E.A. & Broedlin, W. 1994. Development of the nitrogen cycle in the soils of a coastal dune succession.Acta Bot. Neerl. 43 (2): 189–203.
Gleeson, S.K. & Tilman, D. 1990. Allocation and the transient dynamics of succession on poor soils.Ecology 71: 1144–1155.
Heil, G.W. & Diemont, W.H. 1983. Raised nutrient levels change heathland into grassland.Vegetatio 53: 113–120.
Hill, M.O., Evans, D.F. & Bell, S.A. 1992. Long-term effects of excluding sheep from hill pastures in North Wales.J. Ecol. 80: 1–13.
Kooijman, A.M. & de Haan, M.W.A. 1995. Grazing as a measure against ‘grass-encroachment» in Dutch dry dune grasslands: effects on vegetation and soil.J. Coast. Conserv. 1: 127–134.
Kooijman, A.M. & van der Meulen, F. 1996. Grazing as a control against ‘grass-encroachment’ in dry dune grasslands in The Netherlands.Landscape Urban Plann. 34: 323–333.
Morecroft, M.D., Sellers, E.K. & Lee, L.A. 1994. An experimental investigation into the effects of atmospheric nitrogen deposition on two semi-natural grasslands.J. Ecol. 82: 475–483.
Page, A.L., Miller, R.H. & Keeney, D.R. (eds.) 1982.Methods of soil analysis; Part 2 Chemical and microbiological properties, pp. 1–11. Am. Soc. Agr., Soil Sci. Soc. Am., Madison, WI.
Prins, A.H., Berdowski, J.J.M. & Latuhihin, M.J. 1991. Effect of NH4-fertilization on the maintenance of aCalluna vulgaris vegetation.Acta Bot. Neerl. 40: 269–279.
Ranwell, D.S. 1960. Newborough Warren, Anglesey, III. Changes in the vegetation on parts of the dune system after the loss of rabbits by myxomatosis.J. Ecol. 48: 385–397.
ten Harkel, M.J. 1997. The effects of particle-size distribution and chloride depletion of sea-salt aerosols on estimating atmospheric deposition at a coastal site.Atmosph. Environ. 31: 417–427.
ten Harkel, M.J. & van der Meulen, F. 1996. Impact of grazing and atmospheric nitrogen deposition on the vegetation of dry coastal dune grasslands.J. Veg. Sci. 7: 445–452.
Thomas, A.S. 1963. Further changes in vegetation since the advent of myxomatosis.J. Ecol. 51: 151–183.
Tilman, D. 1993. Species richness of experimental productivity gradients: how important is colonization limitation?Ecology 74: 2179–2191.
van der Eerden, L.J., Dueck, Th.A., Berdowski, J.J.M., Greven, H. & van Dobben, H.F. 1991. Influence of NH3 and (NH4)2SO4 on heathland vegetation.Acta Bot. Neerl. 40: 281–296.
van der Meulen, F., Kooijman, A.M., Veer, M.A.C. & van Boxel, J. 1996.Effectgerichte maatregelen tegen verzuring en eutrofiering in open droge duinen. Eindrapp. fase 1. Fys. Geogr. Bodemk. Lab., Universiteit van Amsterdam. (In Dutch.)
van Vuuren, M.M.I. 1992.Effects of plant species on nutrient cycling in heathlands. PhD Thesis, University of Utrecht.
Wardenaar, E.C.P. 1987. A new hand tool for cutting soil monoliths.Can. J. Soil Sci. 67: 405–407.
Wedin, D.A. & Tilman, D. 1990. Species effects on nitrogen cycling: a test with perennial grasses.Oecologia (Berl.) 84: 433–441.
Westhoff, V. 1985. Nature management in coastal areas of Western Europe.Vegetatio 62: 523–532.
Westhoff, V. & den Held, A.J. 1969.Plantengemeenschappen in Nederland. Thieme, Zutphen. (In Dutch.)
Willis, A.J. 1963. Braunton Burrows: the effects on the vegetation of the addition of mineral nutrients to the dune soils.J. Ecol. 51: 353–374.
Willis, A.J. & Yemm, E.W. 1961. Braunton Burrows: mineral nutrient status of the dune soils.J. Ecol. 49: 377–390.
Wilson, E.J., Wells, T.C.E. & Sparks, T.H. 1995. Are calcareous grasslands in the UK under threat from nitrogen deposition?—an experimental determination of a critical load.J. Ecol. 83: 823–832.
Wilson, J.B. & Agnew, A.D.Q. 1992. Positive-feedback switches in plant communities.Adv. Ecol. Res. 23: 263–336.
Zeevalking, H.J. & Fresco, L.F.M. 1977. Rabbit, grazing and species diversity in a dune area.Vegetatio 35: 193–196.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Veer, M.A.C. Nitrogen availability in relation to vegetation changes resulting from grass encroachment in Dutch dry dunes. J Coast Conserv 3, 41–48 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02908178
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02908178