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Species Composition of Subalpine Grassland is Sensitive to Nitrogen Deposition, but Not to Ozone, After Seven Years of Treatment

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Abstract

Reactive nitrogen (N) and ozone (O3) are the most widespread atmospheric pollutants with significant implications for conservation of semi-natural vegetation; their combined effects have, however, not been tested in long-term field experiments. To investigate these effects on the species composition of a subalpine Geo-Montani-Nardetum pasture, 180 turf monoliths were exposed for seven years to five N loads (0, +5, +10, +25, +50 kg N ha−1 y−1) in combination with three O3 levels (ambient, 1.2 or 1.6× ambient concentration) in a free-air fumigation experiment at 2000 m a.s.l. in the Central Alps. Aboveground biomass of grasses, forbs, sedges, and legumes, as well as individual species abundance was recorded annually. N addition caused strong changes in community composition and slightly reduced Shannon diversity: Sedges (Carex sempervirens and Carex ornithopoda) tripled their fractional biomass at the expense of legumes (Trifolium alpinum), grasses (Agrostis capillaris, Briza media, Festuca spp.), and forbs, the latter of which responded inconsistently. Compositional changes were significant with +5 kg ha−1 y−1; at all levels of N, however, changes ceased after 5 years. Elevated O3 and the combined O3 × N exposure had no effect on functional group productivity. Overall the results reveal high N sensitivity of the subalpine grassland, but low sensitivity to O3, singly or in combination with N. Thus, in the longer term any input of N above the current ambient deposition may cause a shift in the plant community composition of these ecosystems which are considered hotspots for biodiversity.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Swiss Federal Office of Environment in the framework of the International Cooperative Programme (ICP Vegetation) under the UNECE CLRTAP and it contributes to the EU project ECLAIRE. The help of M. Montani, D. Al Jabaji, R. Giger, V. Blanke, J. Schalajda, U. Zell, and A.L. Wahl in performing field work and vegetation relevés is greatly acknowledged.

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  1. Agroscope ART Reckenholz, Swiss Federal Research Station, Air Pollution/Climate Group, Reckenholzstrasse 191, 8046, Zurich, Switzerland

    Seraina Bassin, Matthias Volk & Juerg Fuhrer

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  1. Seraina Bassin
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  2. Matthias Volk
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  3. Juerg Fuhrer
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Correspondence to Seraina Bassin.

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SB designed study, performed research, analyzed data, wrote the article. MV designed study. JF designed study, edited article.

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Bassin, S., Volk, M. & Fuhrer, J. Species Composition of Subalpine Grassland is Sensitive to Nitrogen Deposition, but Not to Ozone, After Seven Years of Treatment. Ecosystems 16, 1105–1117 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-013-9670-3

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