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Exotic plant invasion alters nitrogen dynamics in an arid grassland

Citation

Lynda Jo Sperry, R L Rimer, Jayne Belnap, and R David Evans, Exotic plant invasion alters nitrogen dynamics in an arid grassland: .

Summary

The introduction of nonnative plant species may decrease ecosystem stability by altering the availability of nitrogen (N) for plant growth. Invasive species can impact N availability by changing litter quantity and quality, rates of N2-fixation, or rates of N loss. We quantified the effects of invasion by the annual grass Bromus tectorum on N cycling in an arid grassland on the Colorado Plateau (USA). The invasion occurred in 1994 in two community types in an undisturbed grassland. This natural experiment allowed us to measure the immediate responses following invasion without the confounding effects of previous disturbance. Litter biomass and the C:N and lignin:N ratios were measured to determine the effects on litter dynamics. Long-term [...]

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Title Citation Exotic plant invasion alters nitrogen dynamics in an arid grassland

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