Stoichiometric traits (N:P) of understory plants contribute to reductions in plant diversity following long-term nitrogen addition in subtropical forest.

ABSTRACT: Nitrogen enrichment is pervasive in forest ecosystems, but its influence on understory plant communities and their stoichiometric characteristics is poorly understood. We hypothesize that when forest is enriched with nitrogen (N), the stoichiometric characteristics of plant species explain changes in understory plant diversity. A 13-year field experiment was conducted to explore the effects of N addition on foliar carbon (C): N: phosphorus (P) stoichiometry, understory plant species richness, and intrinsic water use efficiency (iWUE) in a subtropical Chinese fir forest. Four levels of N addition were applied: 0, 6, 12, and 24 g m^-2 year^-1. Individual plant species were categorized into resistant plants, intermediate resistant plants, and sensitive plants based on thei

SUBMITTER: Wu J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8093670 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature