Publication details
Foliar N concentration and d15N signature reflect the herb layer species diversity and composition in oak-dominated forests
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2012 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Applied Vegetation Science |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1654-109X.2011.01174.x |
| Field | Ecology |
| Keywords | Soil nutrients;Species composition;Species richness |
| Description | The herb layer species diversity and composition was significantly related to N availability at our study sites. Foliar N concentration and the d15N signature may reliably indicate: (i) the current N status of oak-dominated forests, in accordance with previous published findings; and (ii) the consequences of that N status for the herb layer species diversity and composition. Foliar d15N may also be used to detect the susceptibility of an ecosystem to the spread of a few species with high colonization ability in the herb layer, at the expense of other forest species. |