Prolonged nitrogen deposition reduces biodiversity in terrestrial ecosystems
Extensive empirical research, including global meta-analyses and long-term field experiments, consistently demonstrates that prolonged nitrogen deposition leads to soil acidification and a significant reduction in biodiversity across terrestrial ecosystems.
The claim that prolonged nitrogen deposition reduces biodiversity in terrestrial ecosystems is strongly supported by multiple papers in the provided set. Papers [1], [2], [6], [8], and [9] all present global meta-analyses or long-term field experiments explicitly showing that nitrogen addition or enrichment leads to soil acidification and significant losses in plant, microbial, and biocrust biodiversity. No papers refute the claim.
Chen Chen, Wenya Xiao, Han Y. H. Chen. Mapping global soil acidification under N deposition. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16813
A global meta-analysis shows that nitrogen addition causes soil acidification and highlights atmospheric nitrogen deposition as a major threat to global terrestrial biodiversity.
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K. Kimmel, G. Furey, S. Hobbie, F. Isbell, D. Tilman, P. Reich. Diversity‐dependent soil acidification under nitrogen enrichment constrains biomass productivity. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15329
A long-term grassland experiment demonstrates that nitrogen enrichment leads to significant declines in species richness and soil pH.
Minghua Song, Yuqiang Tian, Yikang Li, Xingliang Xu, Lili Zheng, Huakun Zhou, Y. Kuzyakov, Guiqiang Wang, Yangjian Zhang, Johannes H. C. Cornelissen. Loss of taxonomic and functional diversity and decrease in primary productivity with nitrogen enrichment after a long-term release from grazing in an alpine grassland.. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177570
A 19-year field experiment confirms that nitrogen enrichment reduces plant diversity and species richness in grasslands.
Pan H, Hui Y, Wu W, Liu S, Wei G, Jiao S. Critical thresholds for co-benefits of carbon accumulation and biodiversity conservation under global nitrogen enrichment.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-68090-9
A global meta-analysis indicates that nitrogen enrichment promotes biodiversity loss in plants, bacteria, and fungi beyond specific thresholds.
Qiu D, Xiao B, Saez-Sandino T, Ochoa-Hueso R. Biocrusts Are Highly Vulnerable to Multidimensional Global Change.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.70723
A meta-analysis demonstrates that nitrogen addition leads to severe declines in biocrust cover and species richness in terrestrial environments.
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