Pollutant-Habitat | 16.12.2024

Nitrogen Deposition :: Coastal saltmarsh

Effects and implications

  • Increased graminoid (grasses) biomass, with potentially adverse effects on forbs.

Overview: evidence, processes and main impacts

 There are very few studies of N deposition effects on these systems, but work undertaken in the Netherlands suggest salt marsh vegetation is N limited (Mitsch & Gosselink, 2000), which would make it vulnerable to eutrophication effects from atmospheric N deposition.

Pollutant-Habitat | 16.12.2024

Nitrogen deposition :: Broadleaved, Mixed and Yew Woodland

Effects and implications:

Trees

  • Increased growth, greatest where soil organic layer C:N ratio is high.
  • Destabilisation; faster growth, reduced investments in roots leading to increased risk of drought stress (Anders et al 2002) and increased risk of uprooting. Damage to mature beech in the 1999 storm in Switzerland positively correlated with leaf N (Meyer et al.

Pollutant-Habitat | 16.12.2024

Nitrogen deposition :: Bogs

Effects and implications

  • N can cause visible damage in S. capillifolium (Sheppard et al., 2011) especially the predominantly green pigmented capitula lose their bright sheen, and turn a dull olive brown. In this state these capitula can be easily dislodged.
  • N deposition can change Sphagnum hummock integrity through changes in morphology: S.