The response of four subalpine forbs to supplemental nitrogen within different soil moisture environments
Abstract
Anthropogenic environmental change currently threatens to alter resource availability across the planet, likely driving responses by plant species. In the Colorado Rocky Mountains, climate change is expected to decrease soil moisture availability and increased nitrogen deposition is expected to increase nitrogen availability. This study investigated the resource limitations of Erigeron speciosus, Heliomeris multiflora, Lathyrus leucanthus, and Lupinus spp. near the Rocky Mountain Biological Lab in Gothic, CO to provide a better understanding of what resources limit subalpine forbs and to supply evidence to help predict how subalpine forbs might respond to climate change and increased nitrogen deposition. In addition, a functional group level study was conducted to provide insights into how functional group responses could drive changes to biodiversity and ecosystem function. Growth rates and physiological responses were recorded and compared between plants receiving nitrogen and control plants as well as between different soil moisture conditions to investigate whether soil moisture availability might limit the response of subalpine plants to supplemental nitrogen. Results from this study suggest that the growth rate of Erigeron is limited by nitrogen and soil moisture, with soil moisture as the more important limiting factor. The growth rate of Heliomeris displayed a marginal response to both nitrogen and soil moisture, with soil moisture as the more important, marginally limiting factor. These two results suggest that decreased soil moisture due to climate change could limit the growth rate of Erigeron and Heliomeris. Lupine and Lathyrus did not significantly respond to nitrogen or soil moisture, suggesting that soil moisture and nitrogen are not important limiting factors for Lupine and Lathyrus. This study supports the hypothesis that changes in resource availability can drive plant responses and provides evidence to predict the response of subalpine forbs to anthropogenic environmental change. Ultimately, this research hopes to build on the body of knowledge addressing changes in plant biodiversity and ecosystem function driven by anthropogenic environmental change.
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