Abstract
Results from four intensive site-level manipulations and one extensive field survey in northern temperate and boreal forests show a consistent set of responses to chronic N additions. These include 1) initial and often large increase in net N mineralization followed by decreases, 2) increases in net nitrification. 3) increases in N concentration in foliage, and 4) decreased Mg∶N and Ca∶Al ratios, and declining tree growth and vigor in all evergreen stands. These results are synthesized into a set of proposed summary relationships that define the temporal pattern of responses of N-limited systems to N additions.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aber, J.D.: 1992, Trends in Ecology and Evolution 7, 220–223.
Aber, J.D., Magill, A., Boone, R., Melillo, J.M., Steudler, P., Bowden, R.: 1993, Ecological Applications 3, 156–166.
Aber, J.D., Nadelhoffer, K.J., Steudler, P., Melillo, J.M.: 1989, BioScience 39, 378–386.
Aber, J.D., Ollinger, S.V., Federer, C.A., Reich, P.B., Goulden, M.L., Kicklighter, D.W., Melillo, J.M., Lathrop, R.G.: 1995, Climate Research (in press)
Agren, G.I., Bosatta, E.: 1988, Environmental. Pollution. 54, 185–197.
Baath, E., Lundgren, B., Soderstrom, B.: 1981, Zentralblat for Bakteriologie, Mikrobiologie und Hygiene. I. Abt. Originale C 2, 90–98.
Berg, B.: 1986, Scandinavian. Journal. of. Forest. Research. 1, 359–369.
Bormann, F.H.: 1982, Ambio. 11, 338–346.
Boxman, A.W., van Dam, D., van Dyck, H.F.G., Hogervorst, R.F., Koopmans, C.J.: 1995, Forest Ecology and Management 71, 7–30
Cronan, C.R., Grigal, D.F.: 1995, Journal of Environmental Quality 24, 209–226
Dise, N.B., Wright, R.F.: 1995, Forest Ecology and Management 71, 153–162.
Emmett, B.A., Brittain, A., Hughes, S., Gorres, J., Kennedy, V., Norris, D., Rafarel, R., Reynolds, B., Stevens, P.A.: 1995, Forest Ecology and Management 71, 45–60.
Friedland, A.J., Hawley, G.J., Gregory, R.A.: 1988, Plant. and. Soil. 105, 189–193.
Gundersen, P., Rasmussen, L.: 1995, Forest Ecology and Management 71, 75–88.
Kahl, J.S., Norton, S.A., Fernandez, I.J, Nadelhoffer, K.J., Driscoll, C.T., Aber, J.D.: 1993, Environmental Science and Technology 27, 565–568.
Magill, A.H., Aber, J.D., Hendricks, J.J., Bowden, R.D., Melillo, J.M., Steudler, P.: 1995a, Ecological Applications (submitted).
Magill, A.H., Downs, M.R., Nadelhoffer, K.J, Hallett, R.A., Aber, J.D.: 1995b, Canadian Journal of Forest Researchj (isubmitted).
McNulty, S.G., Aber, J.D.: 1993, Canadian Journal of Forest Research 23, 1252–1263.
McNulty, S.G., Aber, J.D., Boone, R.D.: 1991, Biogeochemistry. 14, 13–29.
McNulty, S.G., Aber, J.D., McLellan, T.M., Katt, S.M.: 1990, Ambio. 19, 38–40.
McNulty, S.G., Aber, J.D., Newman, S.D.: 1995, Ecological Applications (submitted)
Micks, P.: 1994, Soil respiration and nitrogen application in two forest stands: Short- and long-term responses. M.S. Thesis, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH. 81pp.
Nadelhoffer, K.J., Aber, J.D., Melillo, J.M.: 1983, Canadian Journal of Forest Research 13, 12–21.
Nadelhoffer, K.J., Downs, M.: 1995, Oecologia (in press).
Pastor, J., Aber, J.D., McClaugherty, C.A., Melillo, J.M.: 1984, Ecology 65, 256–268.
Richter, D.D., Johnson, D.W., Dai, K.H.: 1992. In: Johnson, D.W., Lindberg, S.E. (Eds) Atmospheric Deposition and Forest Nutrient Cycling, pp. 341–377
Rustad, L.E., Fernandez, I.J., Fuller, R.D., David, M.B., Nodvin, S.C. and Halteman, W.A.: 1993,
Schulze, E.D.: 1989, Science. 244, 776–783.
Shortle, W.C., Smith, K.T.: 1988, Science. 240, 239–240.
Smith, W.H.: 1974, Environmental. Pollution. 6, 111–129.
Soderstrom, B., Baath, E., Lundgren, B.: 1983, Canadian Journal of Microbiology 29, 1500–1506.
Stoddard, J.L.: 1994. In: Baker, L.A. (Ed) Environmental Chemistry of Lakes and Waters, pp. 223–284
Tietema, A., Beier, C.: 1995, Forest Ecology and Management 71, 143–152.
Wright, R.F., Tietema, A.: 1995, Forest Ecology and Management 71, 133–142.
Wright, R.F., van Breeman, N.: 1995, Forest Ecology and Management 71, 1–6.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Aber, J.D., Magill, A., Mcnulty, S.G. et al. Forest biogeochemistry and primary production altered by nitrogen saturation. Water Air Soil Pollut 85, 1665–1670 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00477219
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00477219