Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/D522238/1
(BEGIN) Biodiversity of European Grasslands - the impact of Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition .
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor DJG Gowing, The Open University, Life, Health & Chemical Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor N Dise, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Atmospheric Chemistry and Effects
- Grant held at:
- The Open University, Life, Health & Chemical Sciences
- Science Area:
- Terrestrial
- Atmospheric
- Overall Classification:
- Terrestrial
- ENRIs:
- Pollution and Waste
- Biodiversity
- Science Topics:
- Pollution
- Biogeochemical Cycles
- Ecosystem Scale Processes
- Conservation Ecology
- Abstract:
- Eutrophication is perhaps the most important threat to European biodiversity. A major source of nutrients to semi-natural ecosystems is atmospheric nitrogen deposition and experiments have suggested that these nutrients may reduce species richness.However, until very recently there was no clear evidence that widespread biodiversity reduction caused by regional air pollution was actually occurring. Stevens et al. (Science, 303, 1876) changed this perception. Described as a 'milestone in global change research', the study (i) showed a dramatic decline in species richness of UK acid grasslands in relation to nitrogen (N) deposition, (ii) linked empirical with experimental research to estimate the timescale of the observed change, and (iii) provided a predictive equation to estimate species richness of similar sites based on N deposition.The current proposal brings together an interdisciplinary team of leading ecologists, biogeochemists and atmospheric chemists to develop and extend this approach. They aim to determine whether N-deposition is seriously impacting species richness on a wider scale across European grasslands and to elucidate the mechanism responsible.We plan to use a multinational and multidisciplinary approach to address the ecological processes that drive biodiversity change in the systems.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/D522238/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Directed Pre FEC
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Eurocores - Biodiversity
This grant award has a total value of £202,618
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - T&S | Total - Staff | Total - Other Costs | Total - Indirect Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| £31,361 | £98,096 | £28,037 | £45,124 |
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