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Endangered plants persist under phosphorus limitation

Author

Listed:
  • Martin J. Wassen

    (Utrecht University)

  • Harry Olde Venterink

    (Geobotanical Institute ETH)

  • Elena D. Lapshina

    (State University of Tomsk
    Yugra State University)

  • Franziska Tanneberger

    (Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University)

Abstract

Biodiversity under threat The assumption that nitrogen enrichment caused by human activities is threatening biodiversity in Europe and North America may be false. A survey of herbaceous terrestrial ecosystems covering a gradient of decreasing nitrogen deposition from Western Europe to Siberia suggests that phosphorus, not nitrogen, is often the key element. In the 274 sites examined, many more endangered plant species persist under phosphorus-limited than nitrogen-limited conditions, so extra phosphorus is the more likely to cause species loss. Conservation policies biased towards reducing nitrogen enrichment are unlikely to succeed; rather, attention should focus on reducing phosphorus availability. On the cover, Great Vasyugan in Western Siberia, a peatland harbouring many plant species under P-limited conditions, some of which are shown on the cover. Main image: Wladimir Bleuten; inserts: Franziska Tanneberger.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin J. Wassen & Harry Olde Venterink & Elena D. Lapshina & Franziska Tanneberger, 2005. "Endangered plants persist under phosphorus limitation," Nature, Nature, vol. 437(7058), pages 547-550, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:437:y:2005:i:7058:d:10.1038_nature03950
    DOI: 10.1038/nature03950
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    Cited by:

    1. Ting-Shuai Shi & Scott L. Collins & Kailiang Yu & Josep Peñuelas & Jordi Sardans & Hailing Li & Jian-Sheng Ye, 2024. "A global meta-analysis on the effects of organic and inorganic fertilization on grasslands and croplands," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Shiekh Marifatul Haq & Umer Yaqoob & Eduardo Soares Calixto & Manoj Kumar & Inayat Ur Rahman & Abeer Hashem & Elsayed Fathi Abd_Allah & Maha Abdullah Alakeel & Abdulaziz A. Alqarawi & Mohnad Abdalla &, 2021. "Long-Term Impact of Transhumance Pastoralism and Associated Disturbances in High-Altitude Forests of Indian Western Himalaya," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-20, November.
    3. Le, Quang Bao & Nkonya, Ephraim & Mirzabaev, Alisher, 2014. "Biomass Productivity-Based Mapping of Global Land Degradation Hotspots," Discussion Papers 177961, University of Bonn, Center for Development Research (ZEF).
    4. Agata Klimkowska & Klara Goldstein & Tomasz Wyszomirski & Łukasz Kozub & Mateusz Wilk & Camiel Aggenbach & Jan P Bakker & Heinrich Belting & Boudewijn Beltman & Volker Blüml & Yzaak De Vries & Beate G, 2019. "Are we restoring functional fens? – The outcomes of restoration projects in fens re-analysed with plant functional traits," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(4), pages 1-22, April.
    5. Nkonya, Ephraim & von Braun, Joachim & Mirzabaev, Alisher & Le, Quang Bao & Kwon, Ho Young & Kirui, Oliver K., 2013. "Economics of Land Degradation Initiative: Methods and Approach for Global and National Assessments," Discussion Papers 158663, University of Bonn, Center for Development Research (ZEF).
    6. Tim Schnoor & Hans Henrik Bruun & Pål Axel Olsson, 2015. "Soil Disturbance as a Grassland Restoration Measure—Effects on Plant Species Composition and Plant Functional Traits," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(4), pages 1-16, April.

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