Divergent roles of herbivory in eutrophying forests

Josiane Segar (), Henrique M. Pereira, Lander Baeten, Markus Bernhardt-Römermann, Pieter Frenne, Néstor Fernández, Frank S. Gilliam, Jonathan Lenoir, Adrienne Ortmann-Ajkai, Kris Verheyen, Donald Waller, Balázs Teleki, Jörg Brunet, Markéta Chudomelová, Guillaume Decocq, Thomas Dirnböck, Radim Hédl, Thilo Heinken, Bogdan Jaroszewicz, Martin Kopecký, Martin Macek, František Máliš, Tobias Naaf, Anna Orczewska, Kamila Reczynska, Wolfgang Schmidt, Jan Šebesta, Alina Stachurska-Swakoń, Tibor Standovár, Krzysztof Swierkosz, Ondřej Vild, Monika Wulf and Ingmar R. Staude
Additional contact information
Josiane Segar: German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena Leipzig
Henrique M. Pereira: German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena Leipzig
Lander Baeten: Ghent University
Markus Bernhardt-Römermann: German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena Leipzig
Pieter Frenne: Ghent University
Néstor Fernández: German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena Leipzig
Frank S. Gilliam: University of West Florida
Jonathan Lenoir: Université de Picardie Jules Verne
Adrienne Ortmann-Ajkai: University of Pécs
Kris Verheyen: Ghent University
Donald Waller: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Balázs Teleki: MTA-DE Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Research Group
Jörg Brunet: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Markéta Chudomelová: Czech Academy of Sciences
Guillaume Decocq: Université de Picardie Jules Verne
Thomas Dirnböck: Spittelauer Lände 5
Radim Hédl: Czech Academy of Sciences
Thilo Heinken: University of Potsdam, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology
Bogdan Jaroszewicz: University of Warsaw
Martin Kopecký: Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences
Martin Macek: Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences
František Máliš: Technical University in Zvolen
Tobias Naaf: Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF)
Anna Orczewska: University of Silesia
Kamila Reczynska: University of Wroclaw
Wolfgang Schmidt: University of Göttingen
Jan Šebesta: Mendel University in Brno
Alina Stachurska-Swakoń: Jagiellonian University
Tibor Standovár: Loránd Eötvös University
Krzysztof Swierkosz: University of Wroclaw
Ondřej Vild: Czech Academy of Sciences
Monika Wulf: Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF)
Ingmar R. Staude: German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena Leipzig

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Ungulate populations are increasing across Europe with important implications for forest plant communities. Concurrently, atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition continues to eutrophicate forests, threatening many rare, often more nutrient-efficient, plant species. These pressures may critically interact to shape biodiversity as in grassland and tundra systems, yet any potential interactions in forests remain poorly understood. Here, we combined vegetation resurveys from 52 sites across 13 European countries to test how changes in ungulate herbivory and eutrophication drive long-term changes in forest understorey communities. Increases in herbivory were associated with elevated temporal species turnover, however, identities of winner and loser species depended on N levels. Under low levels of N-deposition, herbivory favored threatened and small-ranged species while reducing the proportion of non-native and nutrient-demanding species. Yet all these trends were reversed under high levels of N-deposition. Herbivores also reduced shrub cover, likely exacerbating N effects by increasing light levels in the understorey. Eutrophication levels may therefore determine whether herbivory acts as a catalyst for the “N time bomb” or as a conservation tool in temperate forests.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35282-6

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