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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
The Influence Of Adjacent Forest And Agriculture On Restored Grassland Diversity And Composition, Rachel A. Chambers
The Influence Of Adjacent Forest And Agriculture On Restored Grassland Diversity And Composition, Rachel A. Chambers
Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository
Little native grassland remains in North America due to land-use changes. Conversion to agriculture is a common means of loss. This fragmentation creates edges in the landscape and associated edge effects. Grassland plant communities are susceptible to edge effects, directly via dispersal and indirectly through environment. This study took place in Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada, in a landscape of agriculture, forest, rural development, and patches of grassland restored by Nature Conservancy Canada. I examined restored grassland edges bordering forest and crops. An intensive study at a single site identified spatial and soil environmental influences on plant diversity and composition. I …
Increasing Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition: Implications For Tallgrass Prairie Restoration, Jennifer M. Mcphee
Increasing Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition: Implications For Tallgrass Prairie Restoration, Jennifer M. Mcphee
Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository
Continued intensification of agriculture and combustion of fossil fuels will increase rates of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition over the next century. N is typically a limiting resource for terrestrial plants, and many species are adapted to low-N conditions. Increased N availability can affect both plant biomass and species composition, often favouring N-demanding, adventive species. These effects can be adverse in the context of ecological restoration, where the end product often relies on establishing a particular community composition. I used a field experiment in Norfolk County, Ontario, to examine how N addition affects species composition and plant productivity of a tallgrass …