Nitrogen addition increases fecundity in the desert shrub Sarcobatus vermiculatus

• Published in: Oecologia Vol. 143; no. 3; pp. 349 - 356
• Main Authors: Drenovsky, R.E, Richards, J.H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01.04.2005; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Analysis of Variance; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Calcium - metabolism; California; Community composition; Desert Climate; Desert soils; Deserts; Dunes; ecological succession; Ecophysiology; Fecundity; Fertility - physiology; Fertilizers; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Leaves; Magnesium - metabolism; Magnoliopsida - drug effects; Magnoliopsida - growth & development; Magnoliopsida - physiology; Micronutrients; Nitrogen; Nitrogen - metabolism; Nitrogen - pharmacology; nitrogen content; nitrogen fertilizers; Nutrients; Phosphorus - metabolism; Plant communities; plant growth; Plant Leaves - metabolism; Plant nutrition; Plants; Sandy soils; Sarcobatus vermiculatus; Seed production; seed productivity; Seedlings; Seeds; Seeds - drug effects; Seeds - growth & development; Shrubs; Soil nutrients; xerophytes; Demography; Production quality; Leaf nutrient concentration; Fertilization; Seed production; Shrub; Fertilization experiment; Nitrogen; Medium enrichment; Reproduction; Black greasewood; Nutrient; Seed production and quality; Desert; Fecundity; Fitness

Nutrients, in addition to water, limit desert primary productivity, but nutrient limitations to fecundity and seed quality in desert ecosystems have received little attention. Reduced seed production and quality may affect recruitment, population, and community processes. At the Mono Basin, CA, USA...