01888nas a2200205   4500008004100000245009600041210006900137300001300206490000700219520118600226100001601412700001801428700002401446700001901470700001401489700001901503700001701522700001601539856012701555       2007                        eng d00aEnvironmental and plant community determinants ofspecies loss following nitrogen enrichment0 aEnvironmental and plant community determinants ofspecies loss fo  a596 -6070 v103 aGlobal energy use and food production have increased nitrogen inputs to ecosystems worldwide, impacting plant community diversity, composition, and function. Previous studies show considerable variation across terrestrial herbaceous ecosystems in the magnitude of species loss following nitrogen (N) enrichment. What controls this variation remains unknown. We present results from 23 N-addition experiments across North America, representing a range of climatic, soil and plant community properties, to determine conditions that lead to greater diversity decline. Species loss in these communities ranged from 0 to 65% of control richness. Using hierarchical structural equation modelling, we found greater species loss in communities with a lower soil cation exchange capacity, colder regional temperature, and larger production increase following N addition, independent of initial species richness, plant productivity, and the relative abundance of most plant functional groups. Our results indicate sensitivity to N addition is co-determined by environmental conditions and production responsiveness, which overwhelm the effects of initial community structure and composition.1 aClark, C.M.1 aCleland, E.E.1 aCollins, Scott., L.1 aFargione, J.E.1 aGough, L.1 aPennings, S.C.1 aSuding, K.N.1 aGrace, J.B.  uhttp://knz.lternet.edu/content/environmental-and-plant-community-determinants-ofspecies-loss-following-nitrogen-enrichment