Evidence for Atmospheric Deposition Impacts On the Enchytraeid Worm Population of Uk Upland Ombrotrophic Peats

The results of four experiments on acidification effects upon the Enchytraeid worm populations of ombrotrophic peats are reported. in the first, populations were measured in peats from Calluna vulgaris-dominated microcosms collected from along a gradient in N deposition in the UK and subjected for 18 months to simulated precipitation with a solute composition appropriate for their site of collection. There was a significant decline in Enchytraeid population along the N deposition gradient for Calluna-dominant microcosms, but when grasses took over from the Calluna, Enchytraeid numbers increased significantly. in the second experiment, two sets of peat moorland microcosms from a single site, supporting Calluna and Calluna-grass mixed vegetation, were subjected for 12 months to ambient and 2- and 6-times the ambient N deposition. Additional N was added in two forms, as ammonium sulphate and as nitric acid. the high N treatments significantly reduced the Enchytraeid populations for both vegetation types. in a third experiment, the pH preference for the Enchytraeids was assessed using interconnected tubes of peat covering the pH range 2.2-8.7. the preferred pH range after 8 months was 2.7-3.7. in the final experiment, it was found that recolonization with Enchytraeids after initial removal was more rapid under grass dominant vegetation than under Calluna dominant vegetation.     

The Effects of Acidity on Carbon Fluxes from Ombrotrophic Peat

Replicate intact peat/vegetation monoliths were collected along a pollution gradient in the UK and subjected over one year to 1200 mm of simulated rainfall of the same chemical composition as they received in the field. Drainage water was analysed periodically for DOC and pH, and the decomposition rates of Calluna vulgaris and Eriophorum angustifolium leaves were measured, as well as soil atmosphere CO₂ contents and peat matric potentials. the chemical characteristics of the peats as initially sampled from the field also were determined. the results suggest that acidic precipitation has induced chemical changes in ombrotrophic peats, lowering their pH and base status, when due account is taken of calcium deposition or any mineral content. Greater DOC fluxes were observed from the more acid peats, and litter decomposition rates from these peats were reduced.     

Effects of Simulated Sulphuric Acid Deposition On Calluna Vulgaris/Peat Microcosms and Associated Soil Solutions

Calluna vulgaris/peat microcosms have been used in an outdoor simulated acid rain experiment to test a series of hypotheses about sulphuric acid deposition effects upon the growth of Calluna on peat soil, namely: (1) Initially, enhanced acid input will enhance base cation and ammonium concentrations in soil solution. This may enhance uptake of these species, increasing foliar concentrations of base cations and nitrogen, and possibly foliar chlorophyll a and b concentrations. (2) If changes are induced in nutritional status, they may influence plant growth. (3) in the longer term, enhanced ammonium and base cation solubility occurring as a consequence of cation exchange reactions will lead, especially in winter months, to enhanced leaching losses. Hence any positive effects upon plant nutrition will not be sustainable. (4) the peat will acidify significantly over two years, in the shorter term primarily as a consequence of an enhanced mobile anion effect. (5) Acidification may reduce the rate of mineralisation of organic phosphorus and, in a phosphorus-deficient peat soil, this may lead to reduced foliar phosphate concentration and possibly induce phosphorus deficiency.

Most of these hypotheses were supported to some extent by the experimental results. the peat soil solution pH fell immediately in response to the acid treatments, and longer-term acidification continued progressively over the two years of the experiment. in the first year, the treatments significantly influenced the calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and nitrogen status of the leaves from Calluna new shoots, whereas in the second year calcium, potassium and phosphorus were influenced. However, in both years foliar phosphate concentration was enhanced, rather than reduced, in response to increased acid load. Foliar carbon and nitrogen concentrations fell with increasing acidity of     

A Comparison of the Short-Term Dynamics of Soil “Damage” Due to Enhanced Nitrogen Deposition As Ammonium Sulphate Or Nitric Acid

An experiment has been conducted to contrast the effects of enhanced oxidised and reduced nitrogen deposition upon key chemical parameters in a Calluna moorland podzol. A 40 cm deep podzol profile, derived from granite, was reconstructed in one hundred 4.2 cm diameter cores. for 20 weeks, the cores were subjected twice weekly to simulated rainfall containing either twice ambient nitrogen deposition in Aberdeen, or further enhanced nitrogen (further 2- and 6-fold increases) as nitric acid or ammonium sulphate. to quantify the dynamics of soil change in each horizon, randomly selected cores were destructively analysed every two weeks and the soils analysed. Increased nitrogen inputs, regardless of form, substantially and immediately reduced surface soil pH_water via the mobile anion or salt effect. for the higher nitrogen treatments, the pH reduction was seen throughout the profile. Longer term soil acidification was also seen in the pH_{calcium chloride} results over the 20 weeks. at a given nitrogen deposition rate, the effects of ammonium sulphate and nitric acid on soil pH_{calcium chloride} were similar. the ammonium sulphate treatments were especially effective at reducing base saturation throughout much of the profile, the direct base cation leaching being associated with substantial ammonium accumulation. the results suggest that the direct base cation leaching caused by ammonium deposition needs to be considered when assessing atmospheric pollution “damage” to heathland soils.     

Tolerance of calluna vulgaris and peatland plant communities to sulphuric acid deposition

Critical loads offer a unique way of evaluating impacts of acid deposition by quantifying environmental sensitivity. The critical loads of acidity for UK peat soils have been based upon an arbitrary reduction in pH of 0.2 units. This chemical shift needs to be better related to adverse effects on sensitive biological receptors. It is known that effective precipitation pH equates closely to soil solution pH, and the latter is directly linkable to biotic effects of pH change. On continuation of a long-term experiment assessing impacts of simulated acid rain on peat microcosms in a realistic outdoor environment, Calluna vulgaris continued to flourish at acid deposition loads well above the existing critical load. Calluna plants were harvested and analysed, and acid deposition treatments to the microcosms continued to allow natural vegetation to regenerate. A diverse mixture of moorland plants and bryophytes established at acidity treatments well above the existing critical load, and only a very high acid load resulted in no natural regeneration. A critical effective rain pH value of 3.6 is suggested as a basis for setting critical loads. At this pH, Calluna grows well, and a healthy diverse vegetation community re-establishes when harvested. It is suggested that the peat critical load should be set at the acid load that, at any specific site, would result in a mean effective precipitation pH of 3.6.     

A Critical Appraisal of Field Evidence From A Regional Survey for Acid Deposition Effects On Scottish Moorland Podzols

Samples have been collected from major horizons of 34 podzol profiles distributed throughout Scotland, all developed from granite or granitic tills and under Calluna moorland. the pH in water and calcium chloride pastes, exchangeable cations and cation exchange capacity, and extractable aluminium of the soils collected have been measured, and the results studied in relation to reported atmospheric deposition of H⁺, non-marine sulphur and nitrate. for all horizons, significant positive correlations were found between soil pH and rainfall mean pH, as might be expected when the critical load of H⁺ deposition is exceeded. Acidifying pollutant deposition also apparently increased soil extractable aluminium concentrations in the B and C horizons. However, exchangeable base cation concentrations tended to increase, rather than decrease, with increasing precipitation acidity. This effect was attributed to increases in biogeochemical cycling of base cations, increases in leaching inputs of base cations from overlying A/E horizon soils, and increases in the inputs of base cations leached from upslope. the results suggest that the simple steady state mass approach to the quantification of critical loads, as often applied, may be an oversimplification.     

Effects of Simulated Sulphuric Acid Deposition On Calluna Vulgaris/Peat Microcosms and Associated Soil Solutions

Calluna vulgaris/peat microcosms have been used in an outdoor simulated acid rain experiment to test a series of hypotheses about sulphuric acid deposition effects upon the growth of Calluna on peat soil, namely: (1) Initially, enhanced acid input will enhance base cation and ammonium concentrations in soil solution. This may enhance uptake of these species, increasing foliar concentrations of base cations and nitrogen, and possibly foliar chlorophyll a and b concentrations. (2) If changes are induced in nutritional status, they may influence plant growth. (3) in the longer term, enhanced ammonium and base cation solubility occurring as a consequence of cation exchange reactions will lead, especially in winter months, to enhanced leaching losses. Hence any positive effects upon plant nutrition will not be sustainable. (4) the peat will acidify significantly over two years, in the shorter term primarily as a consequence of an enhanced mobile anion effect. (5) Acidification may reduce the rate of mineralisation of organic phosphorus and, in a phosphorus-deficient peat soil, this may lead to reduced foliar phosphate concentration and possibly induce phosphorus deficiency.

Most of these hypotheses were supported to some extent by the experimental results. the peat soil solution pH fell immediately in response to the acid treatments, and longer-term acidification continued progressively over the two years of the experiment. in the first year, the treatments significantly influenced the calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and nitrogen status of the leaves from Calluna new shoots, whereas in the second year calcium, potassium and phosphorus were influenced. However, in both years foliar phosphate concentration was enhanced, rather than reduced, in response to increased acid load. Foliar carbon and nitrogen concentrations fell with increasing acidity of     

Effects of physical disturbance on nematode communities in sand and mud: a microcosm experiment

A microcosm experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of continuous and spasmodic physical disturbance of differing frequency on the structure of nematode communities of intertidal sand and mud. There was a marked, characteristic change in abundance and diversity for both sediment types. In the sand microcosms, the majority of univariate measures of community structure, including species diversity, were lowest in the sediments subjected to a high frequency of disturbance. For the mud microcosms, most univariate measures reached their highest values in the treatments with an intermediate frequency of disturbance and were lower in treatments subjected to both higher and lower frequencies. Multivariate ordinations for both nematode assemblages showed a clear separation of undisturbed controls and disturbed treatments, but only for the muddy sediment was there a graded change in community composition with increasing frequency of disturbance. These results confirmed our a priori expectation that nematode assemblages from mobile sandy sediments would be more resilient to physical disturbance than those from sheltered muds, and these observations are considered in the context of Connell's intermediate disturbance hypothesis. Received: 7 May 1997 / Accepted: 10 October 1997     

A Comparison of the Short-Term Dynamics of Soil “Damage” Due to Enhanced Nitrogen Deposition As Ammonium Sulphate Or Nitric Acid

An experiment has been conducted to contrast the effects of enhanced oxidised and reduced nitrogen deposition upon key chemical parameters in a Calluna moorland podzol. A 40 cm deep podzol profile, derived from granite, was reconstructed in one hundred 4.2 cm diameter cores. for 20 weeks, the cores were subjected twice weekly to simulated rainfall containing either twice ambient nitrogen deposition in Aberdeen, or further enhanced nitrogen (further 2- and 6-fold increases) as nitric acid or ammonium sulphate. to quantify the dynamics of soil change in each horizon, randomly selected cores were destructively analysed every two weeks and the soils analysed. Increased nitrogen inputs, regardless of form, substantially and immediately reduced surface soil pH_water via the mobile anion or salt effect. for the higher nitrogen treatments, the pH reduction was seen throughout the profile. Longer term soil acidification was also seen in the pH_{calcium chloride} results over the 20 weeks. at a given nitrogen deposition rate, the effects of ammonium sulphate and nitric acid on soil pH_{calcium chloride} were similar. the ammonium sulphate treatments were especially effective at reducing base saturation throughout much of the profile, the direct base cation leaching being associated with substantial ammonium accumulation. the results suggest that the direct base cation leaching caused by ammonium deposition needs to be considered when assessing atmospheric pollution “damage” to heathland soils.     

The effects of castration, sex ratio and population density on social segregation and habitat use in Soay sheep

We analysed 16 years of census data gathered on the island of Hirta (archipelago of St. Kilda) to investigate the effects of castration, population density, sex ratio, season and group type on habitat use and social segregation of Soay sheep. From 1978 to 1980, 72 male lambs were castrated. We used this experiment to study how a change in reproductive status could affect sociality and habitat choice of these males. Males, females and castrates were all segregated outside the rutting season in autumn. Castrates were the least segregated from females in spring and summer but were most segregated from them during the pre-rut. The more equal the sex ratios, the higher was the degree of social segregation. The three sex classes used similar habitat types, namely, Holcus agrostis, Agrostis festuca and Calluna habitats. Holcus agrostis and Agrostis festuca were top- and second-ranked in female and castrate habitat use, while Holcus agrostis and Calluna were the two top habitat types used by rams. It is unclear why males included Calluna heath habitats, but it cannot be excluded that they might have shifted their use depending on forage availability. A lack in differences in habitat use between castrates and females suggests that body size differences alone cannot be the driving factor for habitat segregation in male and female Soay sheep and that there are reasons other than body size that could motivate reproductive males to use additional habitat types, such as Calluna heath. Although habitat use shifted from one habitat type to the next between low- and high-population-density years and between seasons, there was no clear link between population density and how different groups (male, female or castrate) used these areas. We discuss effects of reproductive status, population density and sex ratio on social segregation and habitat use and suggest that these factors need to be taken into account when investigating causes of sexual segregation in ungulates.     

模拟氮沉降对森林土壤化学性质的影响

大气氮沉降的增加对森林土壤的影响是近来生态学研究的重要课题。以鼎湖山季风常绿阔叶林（以下简称为“阔叶林”）、马尾松（Pinus massoniana）林、针阔叶混交林（以下简称为“混交林”）和增城木荷（Schima superba）人工幼林等4种林型土壤为研究对象,采用野外原位模拟大气氮沉降的方法,设置3种模拟氮沉降量,即N0（对照,N：0 g·m-2·a-1）、N5（N：5 g·m-2·a-1）、N10（N：10 g·m-2·a-1）,在模拟氮沉降时间分别为42个月（阔叶林）、31个月（马尾松林）、50个月（混交林）、20个月（人工幼林）后,采集0~20 cm土层的林地土壤,分析土壤的化学性质,探讨不同氮沉降量对不同林型土壤化学性质的影响。结果表明,（1）模拟氮沉降对鼎湖山阔叶林、马尾松林、混交林土壤pH值的影响基本一致,均使pH值下降。其中,当氮沉降量达到N10时,阔叶林土壤pH值降为3.97,与对照相比下降了0.11 pH单位,差异达显著性水平（p〈0.05）。而人工幼林土壤pH值未随着氮沉降量的不同而有明显的变化。（2）模拟氮沉降在近2年至4年的时间内,对阔叶林、混交林、人工幼林的土壤有机质、全氮、全磷、全钾、水解性氮、速效磷、速效钾含量的影响均不明显,马尾松林土壤有机质、全氮、全磷、速效磷、速效钾含量也没有明显变化,但模拟氮沉降导致了马尾松林土壤水解性氮含量明显下降,从95.12 mg·kg-1降至84.39 mg·kg-1,差异达显著性水平（p〈0.05）。（3）模拟氮沉降对鼎湖山阔叶林、马尾松林、混交林等3种林型土壤盐基饱和度、盐基离子Ca2＋、Mg2＋、K＋含量的影响未达显著水平,而对这3种林型土壤交换性Na＋含量的影响则较明显且影响趋势基本一致,即氮沉降的增加导致了土壤交换性Na＋含量明显下降。在N10处理下,与对照相比,这3种林型的土壤交换性Na＋含量分别下降了40.0%、68.4%、50.0%,差异达显著性水平（p〈0.05）。氮沉降对人工幼林土壤盐基离子含量无明显的影响。由此可得出结论：在近2年至4年的时间内,氮沉降的增加能引起鼎湖山3种林型土壤尤其是阔叶林土壤加速酸化,引起交换性Na＋明显淋失,以及马尾松林土壤水解性氮含量明显下降;但氮沉降的增加对木荷人工幼林土壤化学性质暂无明显的影响。后者可能与该林型模拟氮沉降时间较短、林龄较轻而处于快速生长期等因素有关。     

Impact of laboratory-imposed physical disturbance on the abundance of four isolates of marine gymnamoebae

Four species of gymnamoebae isolated from a sandy shore were subjected to physical disturbance within sand microcosms containing either 250 or 125 μm sand. Firstly, the effect of two different strengths of physical disturbance on amoebae populations within sand was investigated. Secondly, whether the size of sand grains occupied by amoebae populations changed their response to disturbance events was assessed. Highest abundances of amoebae were recorded in control flasks containing 125 μm sand. Increasing the strength of disturbance decreased the abundance of all four species. Abundances of the two smallest isolates (Platyamoeba sp. and a limax amoeba) were least affected by increasing disturbance. The greatest decrease in abundance was observed in populations of two larger (>15 μm) Mayorella sp. and Vannella sp. The greatest impact of physical disturbance was seen on populations within 250 μm sand. This study shows that physical disturbance may be an important community structuring force within natural marine gymnamoebae communities.     

Nitrogen critical loads for alpine vegetation and terrestrial ecosystem response: are we there yet?

Increases in the deposition of anthropogenic nitrogen (N) have been linked to several terrestrial ecological changes, including soil biogeochemistry, plant stress susceptibility, and community diversity. Recognizing the need to identify sensitive indicators of biotic response to N deposition, we empirically estimated the N critical load for changes in alpine plant community composition and compared this with the estimated critical load for soil indicators of ecological change. We also measured the degree to which alpine vegetation may serve as a sink for anthropogenic N and how much plant sequestration is related to changes in species composition. We addressed these research goals by adding 20, 40, or 60 kg N x ha(-1) x yr(-1), along with an ambient control (6 kg N x ha(-1) x yr(-1) total deposition), to a species-rich alpine dry meadow for an eight-year period. Change in plant species composition associated with the treatments occurred within three years of the initiation of the experiment and were significant at all levels of N addition. Using individual species abundance changes and ordination scores, we estimated the N critical loads (total deposition) for (1) change in individual species to be 4 kg N x ha(-1) yr(-1) and (2) for overall community change to be 10 kg N x ha(-1) x yr(-1). In contrast, increases in NO3- leaching, soil solution inorganic NO3-, and net N nitrification occurred at levels above 20 kg N x ha(-1) x yr(-1). Increases in total aboveground biomass were modest and transient, occurring in only one of the three years measured. Vegetative uptake of N increased significantly, primarily as a result of increasing tissue N concentrations and biomass increases in subdominant species. Aboveground vegetative uptake of N accounted for <40% of the N added. The results of this experiment indicate that changes in vegetation composition will precede detectable changes in more traditionally used soil indicators of ecosystem responses to N deposition and that changes in species composition are probably ongoing in alpine dry meadows of the Front Range of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Feedbacks to soil N cycling associated with changes in litter quality and species composition may result in only short-term increases in vegetation N pools.     

Ecological effects of reactivation of artificially stabilized blowouts in coastal dunes

In an inner dune area in the Dutch coastal dunes several artificially stabilized blowouts were reactivated. The purpose was to investigate whether these reactivated blowouts could remain active despite the increased atmospheric deposition of nutrients, how much area would be affected by sand from the blowouts, whether the vegetation would respond to the deposition of sand, and whether the reactivation of blowouts could be a measure against the effects of acidification and eutrophication. This paper presents the results of the first years of minitoring the changes in the blowout morphology and the response of the vegetation. In the monitoring period (1991–1994) the blowouts remained active and grew slowly in size and depth. The area which receives more than 1 cm of calcareous sand from the blowout in three years was up to six times the area of the blowouts. Moss vegetation responded to the accumulation of sand:Campylopus introflexus was sparse within the deposition area whereasTortula ruralis was found near the contour of 1 cm deposition in 3 yr. No indications were found that shrubs or marram grass were adversely affected by the deposition of sand. The experiment forms part of a programme to test measures aimed at mitigating the effects of air pollution on natural landscapes. From the viewpoint of the programme the experiment is a success.     

模拟氮沉降对土壤酸化和土壤盐基离子含量的影响

在温室内对1年生盆栽杉木幼苗进行模拟试验,以研究氮沉降对土壤酸化和土壤盐基离子含量的影响.以NH4NO3为外加氮源,设置5种处理,分别为N0(对照,0 g m-2 a-1,以N计,下同)、N1(6 g m-2 a-1)、N2(12 g m-2 a-1)、N3(24 g m-2 a-1)和N4(48 g m-2 a-1),每处理重复6次.经过18个月的处理后,对盆栽土壤进行取样分析.结果显示,随着氮沉降量的增加,土壤pH值逐渐下降,而土壤交换性酸度和交换性Al3+则不断增加.经N1、N2、N3和N4处理后,土壤交换性盐基总量分别下降6.29%、8.94%、10.07%和10.38%,土壤阳离子交换量分别下降5.07%、7.27%、8.53%和8.83%.随氮沉降量的增加,土壤NH4+-N、NO3--N含量逐渐增加.低氮处理(N1、N2)使土壤交换性K+、Ca2+、Mg2+含量增加,而高氮处理(N3、N4)则呈相反趋势.氮沉降由于增加了土壤活性氮的含量,加速了土壤酸化,从而导致了盐基离子的淋失.图3表3参41     

Simulation of the cyclical process of heathlands: induction of mosaic structures, evolution to irreversible states

A simulation (random process with a discrete control of time) of cyclical regeneration of the monospecific heathlands established on the volcanic Chaîne des Puys (Massif Central, France) after the general and sudden surrender of grazing in the middle of this century, is proposed. On the high sloping zones on the south and south-west, spontaneous regressive dynamics of the heathlands appears, causing intense erosion. In other cases, some mosaic structure (Calluna vulgaris-Brachypodium pinnatum) cover the volcanoes. This highly simplified model takes into account the following processes: (i) the senescence process and vegetative reproduction of Calluna, (ii) the reproduction and intraspecific competition of Pinus sylvestris, (iii) erosion. The main results demonstrate that such a system exhibits an oscillatory behaviour. This phenomenon is strongly dependent on the initial parameters of the Calluna populations and may or may not reach an interior equilibrium: a stationary phase. An activity state function, taking into account the average transformation rapidity and modifications with constant surfaces, allows following the whole activity of the system. The origin of the mosaics could lie in this behaviour and could be more clearly topologic than strictly ecological. The oscillatory behaviour induces a multiple-steps settlement by pines. The suspension of grazing in several times would favour the health colonization by multimodal age-population of Calluna and then lessen the oscillations as well as erosion and regularizes pine colonization. The optimal density of the initial pool of pines seems to be equivalent to 1 tree per 700 m².     

Feeding ecology ofLeitoscoloplos fragilis

The present study examines the effects of density ofLeitoscoloplos fragilis and of fine sediment on benthic microalgal abundance and production in laboratory microcosms, and the effects of fine sediment on diffusive transport of ammonia. Microcosms having different densities ofLeitoscoloplos fragilis (Verrill, 1873) were determined in sediment collected from one of two field stations (each containing a different amount of fine particles <125 m) from Cape Henlopen, Delaware, USA, in August 1986. The worms were acclimated in a recirculating seawater system for two months prior to experiments. Chlorophylla concentrations were highest in sediments with less fine particles (<125 m). Benthic diatom production, total microbenthic metabolic activity, and concentrations of pore-water ammonia were higher in sediment microcosms containing high densities of worms.L. fragilis grew more in microcosms containing less fine particles and higher worm densities. The upward flux of ammonia across the sediment-water interface was higher in sediments with less fine particles. A greater abundance of fine particles in these sediments impedes the upward flux of ammonia to surface and nearsurface diatoms. The coupling between population density and diatom production, which can be altered by fine-particle abundance could control the distribution and stability of populations ofL. fragilis.     

生物扰动作用对河口沉积物中荧蒽去除的影响

通过室内微宇宙实验系统研究了天津厚蟹(Helice tientsinensis)和双齿围沙蚕(Perinereis aibuhitensis)生物扰动作用下河口沉积物中荧蒽的去除情况。实验结果显示,天津厚蟹扰动组中荧蒽的去除率显著高于沙蚕扰动组(P=0.05)和对照组(P=0.003),其中对表层(0~2 cm)和中层(3~5 cm)的促进效果最为显著;虽然各实验组表层沉积物中荧蒽的去除率均超过50%,但扰动组的去除更快,在36 d时就达最高去除率68%;双齿围沙蚕扰动组底层沉积物中荧蒽的去除率高于厚蟹扰动组和对照组,但差异不显著。研究表明表层沉积物中的荧蒽易去除,厚蟹生物扰动对荧蒽去除有显著促进作用;在距离表层5cm以下的沉积物中荧蒽的持久性增强,但生物扰动作用可促进其去除。     

泥炭生物脱臭技术研究

本文介绍生物脱臭的应用及其原理；并以自采的泥炭为载体，以硫化氢氧为试验气体，进行原始泥炭以及经过各种处理后泥炭臭性能的对比试验，由试验证明泥 一种比较理想的脱臭生物载体。     

Negative effects of nitrogen deposition on Swiss butterflies

Nitrogen (N) deposition from agriculture and combustion of fossil fuels is a major threat to plant diversity, but its effects on organisms at higher trophic levels are unclear. We investigated how N deposition may affect species richness and abundance (number of individuals per species) in butterflies. We reviewed the peer-reviewed literature on variables used to explain spatial variation in butterfly species richness and found that vegetation variables appeared to be as important as climate and habitat variables in explaining butterfly species richness. It thus seemed likely that increased N deposition could indirectly affect butterfly communities via its influence on plant communities. To test this prediction, we analyzed data from the Swiss biodiversity monitoring program for vascular plants and butterflies in 383 study sites of 1 km² that are evenly distributed throughout Switzerland. The area has a modeled N deposition gradient of 2–44 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. We used traditional linear models and structural equation models to infer the drivers of the spatial variation in butterfly species richness across Switzerland. High N deposition was consistently linked to low butterfly diversity, suggesting a net loss of butterfly diversity through increased N deposition. We hypothesize that at low elevations, N deposition may contribute to a reduction in butterfly species richness via microclimatic cooling due to increased plant biomass. At higher elevations, negative effects of N deposition on butterfly species richness may also be mediated by reduced plant species richness. In most butterfly species, abundance was negatively related to N deposition, but the strongest negative effects were found for species of conservation concern. We conclude that in addition to factors such as intensified agriculture, habitat fragmentation, and climate change, N deposition is likely to play a key role in negatively affecting butterfly diversity and abundance.