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- Title
Effects of increased temperature and nitrogen availability on the displacement of Calluna vulgaris by Pteridium aquilinum.
- Authors
Werkman, Ben R.; Callaghan, Terry V.
- Abstract
. Atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations will continue to rise for the foreseeable future, and, due to radiative forcing, surface temperatures will also increase. If soils warm sufficiently, this will result in increased litter decomposition rates, while nitrogen availability will also rise due to increased deposition. A field-based experiment manipulating air temperatures using polythene tents and nitrogen availability by adding 50 kg N ha-1 yr-1 has shown that this will result in further encroachment of Pteridium into Calluna moorland. Although this experiment, treating plots on and around the boundary between Pteridium and Calluna, did not show any statistically significant effect on the movement of the boundary, there were clear indications of Calluna dieback at the boundary. In addition, the frequency of Pteridium fronds increased in the Calluna-dominated areas, while Calluna became less abundant in the pure Pteridium plots. Calluna dieback was not due to litter accumulation as is frequently assumed, but the dieback is likely to be caused by shading of Calluna by the increased growth of Pteridium fronds. Botanical diversity was higher in the Pteridium plots, but considering the importance of grouse shooting for the maintenance of Calluna moorland, displacement of Calluna by Pteridium may result in a lower conservation and economic value of moorlands.
- Subjects
HEATHER; PTERIDIUM aquilinum; GREENHOUSE gases; HIGH temperatures; MOORS (Wetlands); RESEARCH on conservation of natural resources
- Publication
Applied Vegetation Science, 1999, Vol 2, Issue 2, p201
- ISSN
1402-2001
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.2307/1478983