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Nitrogen Pollution and the Meltdown of Urban Ecosystems

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  • Brenton Ladd

    (Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales, Universidad Científica del Sur, Panamericana Sur km19, Lima 33, Peru
    Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia)

Abstract

Urban ecosystems are carrying an extinction debt. Mitigating this debt will require the development of a predictive framework that improves our understanding of the factors causing decline of native biodiversity in urban areas. I argue that nitrogen is a common currency around which such a predictive framework could be built. I first summarise the evidence that shows the probable extent of nitrogen enrichment in urban ecosystems. I then review the body of empirical evidence that describes how nitrogen enrichment affects ecosystem process and function. By unifying these two bodies of empirical evidence, I generate a series of testable hypotheses that may allow for a better understanding of native biodiversity loss in urban areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Brenton Ladd, 2016. "Nitrogen Pollution and the Meltdown of Urban Ecosystems," Land, MDPI, vol. 5(3), pages 1-8, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:5:y:2016:i:3:p:23-:d:73366
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Tim Engelkes & Elly Morriën & Koen J. F. Verhoeven & T. Martijn Bezemer & Arjen Biere & Jeffrey A. Harvey & Lauren M. McIntyre & Wil L. M. Tamis & Wim H. van der Putten, 2008. "Successful range-expanding plants experience less above-ground and below-ground enemy impact," Nature, Nature, vol. 456(7224), pages 946-948, December.
    2. Robert B. McKane & Loretta C. Johnson & Gaius R. Shaver & Knute J. Nadelhoffer & Edward B. Rastetter & Brian Fry & Anne E. Giblin & Knut Kielland & Bonnie L. Kwiatkowski & James A. Laundre & Georgia M, 2002. "Resource-based niches provide a basis for plant species diversity and dominance in arctic tundra," Nature, Nature, vol. 415(6867), pages 68-71, January.
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