Nitrogen saturation and net ecosystem production (original) (raw)

Nature volume 451, page E1 (2008) Cite this article

Abstract

Arising from: F. Magnani et al. Nature 447, 849–851 (2007)10.1038/nature05847; Magnani et al. reply

Magnani et al.1 found that net carbon (C) sequestration of temperate and boreal forests is clearly driven by nitrogen (N) deposition. From the positive relationship between average net ecosystem production (NEP) and wet N deposition, the authors further conclude that “no signs of N saturation were apparent” in the studied forests and that this is “casting doubts on the risk of widespread ecosystem nitrogen saturation”. Nitrogen additions can clearly alter net ecosystem production, but net ecosystem production cannot be used as an indicator of N saturation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Forestry, Ghent University, Geraardsbergse Steenweg 267, 9090, Gontrode, Belgium
    An De Schrijver, Kris Verheyen, Jan Mertens, Jeroen Staelens & Karen Wuyts
  2. Division Forest, Nature and Landscape, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200E, 3001, Leuven, Belgium
    Bart Muys

Authors

  1. An De Schrijver
  2. Kris Verheyen
  3. Jan Mertens
  4. Jeroen Staelens
  5. Karen Wuyts
  6. Bart Muys

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De Schrijver, A., Verheyen, K., Mertens, J. et al. Nitrogen saturation and net ecosystem production.Nature 451, E1 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature06578

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