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The allometry of plant height explains species loss under nitrogen addition
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  • Yao Xiao,
  • Xiang Liu,
  • Li Zhang,
  • Zhiping Song,
  • Shurong Zhou
Yao Xiao
Fudan University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Xiang Liu
Fudan University Institute of Biodiversity Science
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Li Zhang
Fudan University
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Zhiping Song
Fudan University
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Shurong Zhou
Fudan University
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Abstract

Light asymmetry, with a higher light acquisition per unit biomass for larger plants, has been proposed as a major mechanism of species loss after nitrogen addition. However, solid evidence for this has been scarce. We measured the allometric size-height relationships of 25 plant species along a nitrogen addition gradient manipulated annually for eight years in a speciose alpine meadow and found that the rare species advantage of light acquisition (i.e., low height scaling exponent) in natural conditions disappeared after nitrogen addition. Those species failing to lower their height scaling exponents decreased in relative abundance after nitrogen addition, thereby decreasing the community weighted mean and dispersion of the height scaling exponent and ultimately the species richness. Our results provided some unique evidence for light asymmetry induced species loss after nitrogen addition and a new insight from the perspective of allometric growth to explain biodiversity maintenance in the face of global changes.
04 Jul 2020Submitted to Ecology Letters
07 Jul 2020Submission Checks Completed
07 Jul 2020Assigned to Editor
10 Jul 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
05 Aug 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
13 Aug 2020Editorial Decision: Revise Major
29 Oct 20201st Revision Received
29 Oct 2020Submission Checks Completed
29 Oct 2020Assigned to Editor
02 Nov 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
18 Nov 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
21 Nov 2020Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
29 Nov 20202nd Revision Received
01 Dec 2020Submission Checks Completed
01 Dec 2020Assigned to Editor
03 Dec 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
05 Dec 2020Editorial Decision: Accept
10 Jan 2021Published in Ecology Letters. 10.1111/ele.13673