Effects of nitrogen on ecosystems; some examples by the ... · Effects of nitrogen on ecosystems:...

Effects of nitrogen on ecosystems;some examples

by the Working Group on Effects

Prepared by the Bureau of the Working Group on Effects in collaboration with the International Cooperative Programs

18/09/2008

observed N effects.ppt

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Nitrogen: what are its effects on ecosystems?

Exceedance of nutrient critical loads in 2010 with current legislation emission scenario

Models forecast widespread negative effects of nitrogen on ecosystems

Are there observed effects in the field ?

No exceedance< 200200 - 400400 - 700700 - 1200> 1200

no exceedance<200200 - 400400 - 700700 - 1200> 1200

eq ha-1a-1

no exceedance<200200 - 400400 - 700700 - 1200> 1200

Exceedance of nutrient CLs 2010

Dep-data: EMEP/MSC-WCCE

eq.ha-1.yr-1

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Effects of nitrogen on ecosystems: some examples from the activities of the Working Group on Effects

These examples are taken from different types of observations:� Damage to vegetation � Effects on biodiversity� Large-scale effects

due to:� N addition (experiments or atmospheric deposition) on natural

ecosystems over several years� High or low level additions� On ecosystems with naturally high or naturally low levels of

nitrogen

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Thanks

To all participants to ICP Modelling and Mapping who provided thoughts, energy, research time and the material presented here; in particular to:

� Annika Nordin (Sweden)� Brian Moss, Bridget Emmett, Nancy Dise, Sue Wallis (UK) � Erika Hiltbrunner (Switzerland)� Jean-Paul Hettelingh, Roland Bobbink (Netherlands)� Martin Jenssen (Germany)� Linda Pardo, Mark Fenn, Robert Diaz (USA)� And a few more...

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Damage to vegetation: Lichen (Cladonia) in UK

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Damage to vegetation: moss (Sphagnum) in UK

Healthy Nitrogen damaged

Wind

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In the Swiss Alps

NPK additions NPK additions

3 yrs later3 yrs later

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N addition experiment in the Netherlands (published in 1991)

Species-rich chalk grassland

4 yr

+ 100 kg/ha/a

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Cedar Creek Natural History Area, Minnesota

D. Tilman

Prairie grasslands, North America

-N

+N

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Nitrogen effects on Sweden boreal forest understorey

Nordin et al. 2006

+50 kg N/ha/a for 4 years

CL = < 10 kg N/ha/a

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Nitrogen deposition

10.2

No acidophytes

5.2

Neutrophyte dominance

kg/ha/a

In North America (California)

Many species feed on acidophytes lichens(e.g., squirrels, deer and a variety of invertebrates).

Acidophyte lichens, such as this wolf lichen, can be used to estimate critical loads

4.1

50% less abundant

2

Start of decrease in abundance

0 20

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Deschampsia flexuosa

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

1965 1975 1985 1995 2005

Year

Ave

rag

e C

ove

r (%

)

measurement

Site potentialwith Scots pine

Calamagrostis epigejos

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

1965 1975 1985 1995 2005

Year

Ave

rag

e C

ove

r (%

)

measurement

Site potentialwith Scots pine

Northern Brandenburg (Germany): effects of atmospheric deposition

1970 1990 2004

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Fertilization treatments on forests (Northeastern US)

N added annuallyTreatment kg/ha/a

Control 0

Low 15.4

High 31.4

� Ambient N deposition ~9 kg/ha/a

� NH4Cl added annually between 1988 and 2002

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Fertilization treatments on forests (Northeastern US)

Steve McNulty et al, 2005

Control

10 years low treatment

10 years high treatment

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http://www.countrysidesurvey.org.uk/

Evidence from national monitoring scheme (UK)

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Plant fertility score

Low High

N availability

0.1

Changes for UK vegetation types between 1990 and 1998 related to N availability

-0.1 0

crops/weeds

tallgrass/herb

fertile grassland

infertile grassland

lowland wooded

upland wooded

moorland

heath/bog

Change in fertility score

***

***

*

www.CS2000.org.uk

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Long-term plant distribution evolution held by the UK Biological Record Centre

Species which increased in cover between 1930-69 and 1987-99 were those usually associated with high fertility soils

-0.8

-0.4

0

0.4

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Mea

n c

han

ge

ind

ex

Ellenberg indicatorSpecies frominfertile soils

Species fromfertile soilsPreston et al, 2002

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Species richness declines as total inorganic N deposition increases

r2=0.55

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

0 10 20 30 40

Total inorganic N deposition (kg N ha-1 yr-1)

Sp

ecie

s ri

chn

ess

(mea

n n

um

ber

o

f sp

ecie

s p

er q

uad

rat)

Stevens et al. 2004. Science: 1876-79

• 1 species reduced for every 2.5 kg N/ha/a

• 23% loss at European mean N deposition

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Loss of freshwater macrophyte diversity (Europe)

Water quality

standard

Nu

mb

er o

f w

ater

pla

nt

spec

ies

Winter nitrate-N (mg l-1)

James et al. 2005

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Evidence of reduced abundance of some species

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

0 10 20 30 40 50 60N input (kgN/ha/yr)

cove

r (h

its)

Racomitrium lanuginosum

Current mean UK deposition

Jones (2005)N removal N addition

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Effects on coastal ecosystems

>400 dots around the world that indicate sites where eutrophication of coastal ecosystems has been reported.

Their number has about doubled each decade since the 1960s.

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Artic Ocean

Atlantic Ocean

Pacific Ocean

Slovenia

Hungary

Slovakia

Poland

Lithuania

Latvia

Estonia

Finland

Armenia

Sweden

Georgia

Norway

Belarus

Czech Rep. Ukraine

Denmark

Moldova

Germany

Yugoslavia

Austria

Bulgaria

Liechtenstein

Turkey

Italy

Monaco

Cyprus

Switzerland

Malta

Netherlands

Greece

Belgium

F.Y.R.ofMacedonia

Luxembourg

Albania

France

Bosnia andHerzegovina

Spain

Croatia

Portugal

IrelandUnited Kingdom

Romania

Russian Federation

Iceland

Kara SeaBarents Sea

North Sea

Atlantic Ocean

Mediterranean Sea

Black Sea Caspian Sea

Aral Sea

Canada

of America

Kyrgyzstan

Artic Ocean

Atlantic Ocean

Pacific Ocean

Slovenia

Hungary

Slovakia

Poland

Lithuania

Latvia

Estonia

Finland

Armenia

Sweden

Georgia

Norway

Belarus

Czech Rep. Ukraine

Denmark

Moldova

Germany

Serbia and Montenegro

Austria

Bulgaria

Liechtenstein

Turkey

Italy

Monaco

Cyprus

Switzerland

Malta

Netherlands

Greece

Belgium

F.Y.R.ofMacedonia

Luxembourg

Albania

France

Bosnia andHerzegovina

Spain

Croatia

Portugal

IrelandUnited Kingdom

Romania

Russian Federation

Iceland

Kara SeaBarents Sea

North Sea

Atlantic Ocean

Mediterranean Sea

Black Sea Caspian Sea

Aral Sea

Canada

United Statesof America

Kyrgyzstan

Kazakhstan

Azerbaijan

Where the pictures have been taken

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Many more results in WGE documents and meetings

Siebenhuner B (2002b) How do scientific assessments learn?; Part 2. Case study of the LRTAPassessments and comparative conclusions. Environmental Science & Policy 5:421-427

Skeffington RA (1999) The use of critical loads in environmental policy making: a critical appraisal.Environmental Science and Technology June 1:245 A - 252 A

Skjelkvåle BL, Mannio J, Wilander A, Andersen T (2001) Recovery from acidification of lakes in Finland,Norway and Sweden 1990-1999. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences 5:327-337

Skjelkvåle BL, Stoddard JL, Jeffries DS, Torseth K, Hogasen T, Bowman J, Mannio J, Monteith DT,Mosello R, Rogora M (2005) Regional scale evidence for improvements in surface waterchemistry 1990-2001. Environmental Pollution 137:165-176

Solberg S, Kvindesland S, Aamlid D, Ven K (2002) Crown condition and needle chemistry of Norwayspruce in relation to critical loads of acidity in South-East Norway. Water Air and Soil Pollution140:157-171

Spranger T (2004) Final draft minutes of the 20th meeting of the Programme Task Force27 - 28 May 2004 in Laxenburg, Austria, International Cooperative Programme on Modelling and Mapping

of Critical Loads and Levels and Air Pollution Effects, Risks and Trends, Convention on longrange transboundary air pollution, Laxenburg, Austria

Spranger T, Hettelingh JP, Slootweg J, Posch M (2008) Modelling and mapping long-term risks due toreactive nitrogen effects: An overview of LRTAP convention activities. Environmental Pollution154:482-487

Sumiran Satsangi G, Lawrence AJ, Lakhani A, Taneja A (2003) Assessment of the potential for soilacidification in North India using the critical load approach and locally derived data for acidicand basic inputs. Chemosphere 53:1011-1021

Sverdrup H (1990) The kinetics of base cation release due to chemical weathering, Vol. Lund UniversityPress, Lund, Sweden

Sverdrup H, de Vries W, Henriksen A (1990) Mapping critical loads: a guidance manual to criteria,calculation data collection and mapping. Report No. 14, Nordic council of ministers,Coppenhagen, Denmark

Tipping E, Lofts S, Smith EJ, Shotbolt L, Ashmore MR, Spurgeon D, Svendsen C (2003) Information andproposed methodology for determining critical loads of cadmium and lead; A UK contribution,UNECE ICP modelling and mapping, Paris

Ulrich E, Lanier M, Roman-Amat B (1999) Estimation of Nitrogen Deposition on 27 RENECOFOR Plots(France) from 1993 to 1996. In: Karjalainen T, Spieker H, Laroussinie O (eds) Causes andconsequences of accelerating tree growth in Europe. Proceeding No 27. European ForestInstitute, Joensuu, Finland

UNECE (2003) Atelier d'experts sur les charges critiques empiriques pour les dépôts d'azote sur lesécosystèmes (semi-) naturels. Report No. EB.AIR/WG.1/2003/14, Executive body for theconvention on long-range transboundary air pollution, Working group on effects, Geneva,Switzerland

UNECE (2005a) 2005 joint report of the international cooperative programmes and the task force on thehealth aspects of air pollution. Report No. EB.AIR/WG.1/2005/3, UN-ECE Convention on LongRange Trasboundary Air Pollution, Geneva, Switzerland

UNECE (2005b) Final results from the multipollutant programme including dose response functions oneffects on material. Report No. EB.AIR/WG.1/2005/7, UNECE convention on long rangetransboundary air pollution, ICP materials, Geneva, Switzerland

UNECE (2005c) Future convention priorities: Summary report and conclusions of the workshop on reviewand assessment of European air pollution policies. Report No. EB.AIR/WG.1/2005/14, UN-ECEConvention on Long Range Trasboundary Air Pollution, Geneva, Switzerland

UNECE (2005d) Modelling the effect of climate change on recovery of acidified freshwaters. Report No.EB.AIR/WG.1/2005/9, UNECE convention on long range transboundary air pollution, Workinggroup on effects, Geneva, Switzerland

UNECE LRTAP Secretariat (2007) Examen du protocole de Göteborg de 1999: Rapport sur l'Atelierconsacré à l'ammoniac atmosphérique: Détection des changements intervenus dans lesémissions et des incidences sur l'environnement, UNECE convention on long range transboundaryair pollution, Edinburg, UK

van ’t Zelfde M, Slootweg J (2005) Summary of National Data. In: Critical loads manual. ICP Mappingand modelling, p 18

Gregor H-D, Nagel H-D, Posch M (2001) The UN/ECE international programme on mapping critical loadsand levels. Water Air and Soil Pollution 1

Grennfelt P, Moldan F, Alveteg M, Warfvinge P, Sverdrup H (2001) Critical loads - Is there a need for anew concept ? Water Air and Soil Pollution 1:21-27

Hall J, Reynolds B, Aherne J, Hornung M (2001a) The importance of selecting appropriate criteria forcalculating acidity critical loads for terrestrial ecosystems using the simple mass balanceequation. Water Air and Soil Pollution 1:29-41

Hall J, Reynolds B, Langan S, Hornung M, Kennedy F, Aherne J (2001b) Investigating the uncertainties inthe simple mass balance aquation for acidity critical loads for terrestrial ecosystems in theUnited Kingdom. Water Air and Soil Pollution 1:43-56

Hall J, Ullyett J, Hornung M, Kennedy F, Reynolds B, Curtis C, Langan S, Fowler D (2001c) Status of UKcritical loads and exceedances: Part 1 - Critical loads and critical loads maps update to January1998 report: February 2001, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Huntingdon

Hayashi K, Okazaki M (2001) Acid deposition and critical load map of Tokyo. Water Air and Soil Pollution130:1211-1216

Henriksen A, Fjeld E, Hesthagen T (1999) Critical load exceedance and damage to fish populations.Ambio 28:583-586

Henriksen A, Posch M (1998) Critical loads and their exceedances for ICP-Waters sites. Report No.45/1998, Norwegian Institute for Water Research, NIVA, Olso, Norway

Henriksen A, Posch M (2001) Steady state models for calculating critical loads of acidity for surfacewaters. Water Air and Soil Pollution Focus 1:375-398

Henriksen A, Skjelkvale BL, Mannio J, Wilander A, Harriman R, Curtis C, Jensen JP, Fjeld E, Moiseenko T(1998) Northern European Lake Survey, 1995 - Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, RussianKola, Russian Karelia, Scotland and Wales. Ambio 27:80-91

Hettelingh JP, Downing RJ, de Smet PAM (1991a) Chapter 2: European critical loads maps. In:Hettelingh JP, Downing RJ, de Smet PAM (eds) Mapping Critical Loads for Europe, CCE TechnicalReport No. 1, 1991, Vol 1. Coordination Center for Effects, National Institute of Public Healthand Environmental Protection (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands

Hettelingh JP, Downing RJ, de Smet PAM (1991b) Mapping Critical Loads for Europe, Vol CCE TechnicalReport No. 1. Coordination Center for Effects, National Institute of Public Health andEnvironmental Protection (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands

Hettelingh JP, Posch M, De Smet PAM (2001) Multi-effect critical loads used in multi-pollutant reductionagreements in Europe. Water Air and Soil Pollution 130:1133-1138

Hettelingh JP, Posch M, Slootweg J, Dutchak S, Ilyin I (2005) Critical Loads of Cd, Pb and Hg in Europe -Executive Summary. In: Critical load manual. ICP Mapping and modelling, p 10Hettelingh JP, Slootweg J, Posch M, Dutchak S, Ilyin I (2002) Preliminary modelling and mapping of

critical loads for cadmium and lead in Europe. Report No. RIVM 259101011/2002, Working Groupon Effects, ICP M&M Coordination Center for Effects, EMEP – Meteorological Synthesizing Centre- East, Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution, Bilthoven, the Netherlands

Heywood E, Hall J, Reynolds B (2006) A review of uncertainties in the inputs to critical loads of acidityand nutrient nitrogen for woodland habitats. Environmental Science & Policy 9:78-88

Hindar A, Posch M, Henriksen A (2001) Effects of in-lake retention of nitrogen on critical loadcalculations. Water Air and Soil Pollution 130:1403-1408

Hodson ME, Langan SJ (1999) Considerations of uncertainty in setting critical loads of acidity of soils:the role of weathering rate determination. Environmental Pollution 106:73-81

Holmberg M, Mulder J, Posch M, Starr M, Forsius M, Johansson M, Bak J, Ilvesniemi H, Sverdrup H (2001)Critical loads of acidity for forest soils: tentative modifications. Water Air and Soil PollutionFocus 1:31-101

Holoubek I, Ansorgova A, Shatalov V, Dutchak S, Kohoutek J (2001) Regional background monitoring ofPBT compounds. The comparison of the results from measurements and modelling.Environmental Science & Pollution Research 8:201-211

Hornung M, Bull KR, Cresser M, Hall J, Langan S, Leveland P, Smith C (1995) An empirical map of criticalloads of acidity for soils in Great Britain. Environmental Pollution 90:301-310

Hruska J, Kram P (2003) Modelling long-term changes in stream water and soil chemistry in catchmentswith contrasting vulnerability to acidification (Lysina and Pluhuv Bor, Czech Republic).Hydrology & Earth System Sciences 7:525-539









































































































































































Available literature

http://www.unece.org/env/lrtap/

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Conclusions and outlook

The visualized results confirm that

� Effects are observed at experimental sites and in (semi-)natural ecosystems.

� Effects occur at low and high deposition levels.

Other studies, including many reported within the LRTAP Convention, show that:

� Effects can be linked to soil and water chemical parameters.

� Chemical parameters are used to define thresholds.

� Thresholds are used in models.

� Models are useful to optimize policies.

Effects of nitrogen on ecosystems; some examples by the ... · Effects of nitrogen on ecosystems:...

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