Ecological homogenization of soil properties in the American residential macrosystem

Christopher D. Ryan; Peter M. Groffman; J. Morgan Grove; Sharon J. Hall; James B. Heffernan; Sarah E. Hobbie; Dexter H. Locke; Jennifer L. Morse; Christopher Neill; Kristen C. Nelson; Jarlath O'Neil-Dunne; Rinku Roy Chowdhury; Meredith K. Steele; Tara L.E. Trammell

doi:10.1002/ecs2.4208

Ecological homogenization of soil properties in the American residential macrosystem

Christopher D. Ryan, Peter M. Groffman, J. Morgan Grove, Sharon J. Hall, James B. Heffernan, Sarah E. Hobbie, Dexter H. Locke, Jennifer L. Morse, Christopher Neill, Kristen C. Nelson, Jarlath O'Neil-Dunne, Rinku Roy Chowdhury, Meredith K. Steele, Tara L.E. Trammell

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

The conversion of native ecosystems to residential ecosystems dominated by lawns has been a prevailing land-use change in the United States over the past 70 years. Similar development patterns and management of residential ecosystems cause many characteristics of residential ecosystems to be more similar to each other across broad continental gradients than that of former native ecosystems. For instance, similar lawn management by irrigation and fertilizer applications has the potential to influence soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools and processes. We evaluated the mean and variability of total soil C and N stocks, potential net N mineralization and nitrification, soil nitrite (NO₂⁻)/nitrate (NO₃⁻) and ammonium (NH₄⁺) pools, microbial biomass C and N content, microbial respiration, bulk density, soil pH, and moisture content in residential lawns and native ecosystems in six metropolitan areas across a broad climatic gradient in the United States: Baltimore, MD (BAL); Boston, MA (BOS); Los Angeles, CA (LAX); Miami, FL (MIA); Minneapolis–St. Paul, MN (MSP); and Phoenix, AZ (PHX). We observed evidence of higher N cycling in lawn soils, including significant increases in soil NO₂⁻/NO₃⁻, microbial N pools, and potential net nitrification, and significant decreases in NH₄⁺ pools. Self-reported yard fertilizer application in the previous year was linked with increased NO₂⁻/ NO₃⁻ content and decreases in total soil N and C content. Self-reported irrigation in the previous year was associated with decreases in potential net mineralization and potential net nitrification and with increases in bulk density and pH. Residential topsoil had higher total soil C than native topsoil, and microbial biomass C was markedly higher in residential topsoil in the two driest cities (LAX and PHX). Coefficients of variation for most biogeochemical metrics were higher in native soils than in residential soils across all cities, suggesting that residential development homogenizes soil properties and processes at the continental scale.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	e4208
Journal	Ecosphere
Volume	13
Issue number	9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4208
State	Published - Sep 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We would like to acknowledge the MacroSystems Biology Program, in the Emerging Frontiers Division of the Biological Sciences Directorate at National Science Foundation (NSF) for support. The “Ecological Homogenization of Urban America” project was supported by a series of collaborative grants from this program (EF-1065548, 1065737, 1065740, 1065741, 1065772, 1065785, 1065831, and 121238320). The work arose from research funded by grants from the NSF Long Term Ecological Research Program supporting work in Baltimore (DEB-0423476), Phoenix (BCS-1026865, DEB-0423704, and DEB-9714833), Plum Island (Boston) (OCE-1058747 and 1238212), Cedar Creek (Minneapolis–St. Paul) (DEB-0620652), and Florida Coastal Everglades (Miami) (DBI-0620409). The findings and conclusions in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official US Department of Agriculture or US Government determination or policy.

Funding Information:
We would like to acknowledge the MacroSystems Biology Program, in the Emerging Frontiers Division of the Biological Sciences Directorate at National Science Foundation (NSF) for support. The “Ecological Homogenization of Urban America” project was supported by a series of collaborative grants from this program (EF‐1065548, 1065737, 1065740, 1065741, 1065772, 1065785, 1065831, and 121238320). The work arose from research funded by grants from the NSF Long Term Ecological Research Program supporting work in Baltimore (DEB‐0423476), Phoenix (BCS‐1026865, DEB‐0423704, and DEB‐9714833), Plum Island (Boston) (OCE‐1058747 and 1238212), Cedar Creek (Minneapolis–St. Paul) (DEB‐0620652), and Florida Coastal Everglades (Miami) (DBI‐0620409). The findings and conclusions in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official US Department of Agriculture or US Government determination or policy.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Authors. Ecosphere published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Ecological Society of America.

Keywords

biogeochemistry
carbon
ecological homogenization
fertilization
irrigation
land-use change
native soils
nitrate
nitrogen
residential landscapes
soil chemistry

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10.1002/ecs2.4208

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Ryan, C. D., Groffman, P. M., Grove, J. M., Hall, S. J., Heffernan, J. B., Hobbie, S. E., Locke, D. H., Morse, J. L., Neill, C., Nelson, K. C., O'Neil-Dunne, J., Roy Chowdhury, R., Steele, M. K., & Trammell, T. L. E. (2022). Ecological homogenization of soil properties in the American residential macrosystem. Ecosphere, 13(9), Article e4208. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4208

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title = "Ecological homogenization of soil properties in the American residential macrosystem",

abstract = "The conversion of native ecosystems to residential ecosystems dominated by lawns has been a prevailing land-use change in the United States over the past 70 years. Similar development patterns and management of residential ecosystems cause many characteristics of residential ecosystems to be more similar to each other across broad continental gradients than that of former native ecosystems. For instance, similar lawn management by irrigation and fertilizer applications has the potential to influence soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools and processes. We evaluated the mean and variability of total soil C and N stocks, potential net N mineralization and nitrification, soil nitrite (NO2−)/nitrate (NO3−) and ammonium (NH4+) pools, microbial biomass C and N content, microbial respiration, bulk density, soil pH, and moisture content in residential lawns and native ecosystems in six metropolitan areas across a broad climatic gradient in the United States: Baltimore, MD (BAL); Boston, MA (BOS); Los Angeles, CA (LAX); Miami, FL (MIA); Minneapolis–St. Paul, MN (MSP); and Phoenix, AZ (PHX). We observed evidence of higher N cycling in lawn soils, including significant increases in soil NO2−/NO3−, microbial N pools, and potential net nitrification, and significant decreases in NH4+ pools. Self-reported yard fertilizer application in the previous year was linked with increased NO2−/ NO3− content and decreases in total soil N and C content. Self-reported irrigation in the previous year was associated with decreases in potential net mineralization and potential net nitrification and with increases in bulk density and pH. Residential topsoil had higher total soil C than native topsoil, and microbial biomass C was markedly higher in residential topsoil in the two driest cities (LAX and PHX). Coefficients of variation for most biogeochemical metrics were higher in native soils than in residential soils across all cities, suggesting that residential development homogenizes soil properties and processes at the continental scale.",

keywords = "biogeochemistry, carbon, ecological homogenization, fertilization, irrigation, land-use change, native soils, nitrate, nitrogen, residential landscapes, soil chemistry",

author = "Ryan, {Christopher D.} and Groffman, {Peter M.} and Grove, {J. Morgan} and Hall, {Sharon J.} and Heffernan, {James B.} and Hobbie, {Sarah E.} and Locke, {Dexter H.} and Morse, {Jennifer L.} and Christopher Neill and Nelson, {Kristen C.} and Jarlath O'Neil-Dunne and {Roy Chowdhury}, Rinku and Steele, {Meredith K.} and Trammell, {Tara L.E.}",

note = "Funding Information: We would like to acknowledge the MacroSystems Biology Program, in the Emerging Frontiers Division of the Biological Sciences Directorate at National Science Foundation (NSF) for support. The “Ecological Homogenization of Urban America” project was supported by a series of collaborative grants from this program (EF-1065548, 1065737, 1065740, 1065741, 1065772, 1065785, 1065831, and 121238320). The work arose from research funded by grants from the NSF Long Term Ecological Research Program supporting work in Baltimore (DEB-0423476), Phoenix (BCS-1026865, DEB-0423704, and DEB-9714833), Plum Island (Boston) (OCE-1058747 and 1238212), Cedar Creek (Minneapolis–St. Paul) (DEB-0620652), and Florida Coastal Everglades (Miami) (DBI-0620409). The findings and conclusions in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official US Department of Agriculture or US Government determination or policy. Funding Information: We would like to acknowledge the MacroSystems Biology Program, in the Emerging Frontiers Division of the Biological Sciences Directorate at National Science Foundation (NSF) for support. The “Ecological Homogenization of Urban America” project was supported by a series of collaborative grants from this program (EF‐1065548, 1065737, 1065740, 1065741, 1065772, 1065785, 1065831, and 121238320). The work arose from research funded by grants from the NSF Long Term Ecological Research Program supporting work in Baltimore (DEB‐0423476), Phoenix (BCS‐1026865, DEB‐0423704, and DEB‐9714833), Plum Island (Boston) (OCE‐1058747 and 1238212), Cedar Creek (Minneapolis–St. Paul) (DEB‐0620652), and Florida Coastal Everglades (Miami) (DBI‐0620409). The findings and conclusions in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official US Department of Agriculture or US Government determination or policy. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 The Authors. Ecosphere published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Ecological Society of America.",

year = "2022",

month = sep,

doi = "10.1002/ecs2.4208",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "13",

journal = "Ecosphere",

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publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Ecological homogenization of soil properties in the American residential macrosystem

AU - Ryan, Christopher D.

AU - Groffman, Peter M.

AU - Grove, J. Morgan

AU - Hall, Sharon J.

AU - Heffernan, James B.

AU - Hobbie, Sarah E.

AU - Locke, Dexter H.

AU - Morse, Jennifer L.

AU - Neill, Christopher

AU - Nelson, Kristen C.

AU - O'Neil-Dunne, Jarlath

AU - Roy Chowdhury, Rinku

AU - Steele, Meredith K.

AU - Trammell, Tara L.E.

N1 - Funding Information: We would like to acknowledge the MacroSystems Biology Program, in the Emerging Frontiers Division of the Biological Sciences Directorate at National Science Foundation (NSF) for support. The “Ecological Homogenization of Urban America” project was supported by a series of collaborative grants from this program (EF-1065548, 1065737, 1065740, 1065741, 1065772, 1065785, 1065831, and 121238320). The work arose from research funded by grants from the NSF Long Term Ecological Research Program supporting work in Baltimore (DEB-0423476), Phoenix (BCS-1026865, DEB-0423704, and DEB-9714833), Plum Island (Boston) (OCE-1058747 and 1238212), Cedar Creek (Minneapolis–St. Paul) (DEB-0620652), and Florida Coastal Everglades (Miami) (DBI-0620409). The findings and conclusions in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official US Department of Agriculture or US Government determination or policy. Funding Information: We would like to acknowledge the MacroSystems Biology Program, in the Emerging Frontiers Division of the Biological Sciences Directorate at National Science Foundation (NSF) for support. The “Ecological Homogenization of Urban America” project was supported by a series of collaborative grants from this program (EF‐1065548, 1065737, 1065740, 1065741, 1065772, 1065785, 1065831, and 121238320). The work arose from research funded by grants from the NSF Long Term Ecological Research Program supporting work in Baltimore (DEB‐0423476), Phoenix (BCS‐1026865, DEB‐0423704, and DEB‐9714833), Plum Island (Boston) (OCE‐1058747 and 1238212), Cedar Creek (Minneapolis–St. Paul) (DEB‐0620652), and Florida Coastal Everglades (Miami) (DBI‐0620409). The findings and conclusions in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official US Department of Agriculture or US Government determination or policy. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Authors. Ecosphere published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Ecological Society of America.

PY - 2022/9

Y1 - 2022/9

N2 - The conversion of native ecosystems to residential ecosystems dominated by lawns has been a prevailing land-use change in the United States over the past 70 years. Similar development patterns and management of residential ecosystems cause many characteristics of residential ecosystems to be more similar to each other across broad continental gradients than that of former native ecosystems. For instance, similar lawn management by irrigation and fertilizer applications has the potential to influence soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools and processes. We evaluated the mean and variability of total soil C and N stocks, potential net N mineralization and nitrification, soil nitrite (NO2−)/nitrate (NO3−) and ammonium (NH4+) pools, microbial biomass C and N content, microbial respiration, bulk density, soil pH, and moisture content in residential lawns and native ecosystems in six metropolitan areas across a broad climatic gradient in the United States: Baltimore, MD (BAL); Boston, MA (BOS); Los Angeles, CA (LAX); Miami, FL (MIA); Minneapolis–St. Paul, MN (MSP); and Phoenix, AZ (PHX). We observed evidence of higher N cycling in lawn soils, including significant increases in soil NO2−/NO3−, microbial N pools, and potential net nitrification, and significant decreases in NH4+ pools. Self-reported yard fertilizer application in the previous year was linked with increased NO2−/ NO3− content and decreases in total soil N and C content. Self-reported irrigation in the previous year was associated with decreases in potential net mineralization and potential net nitrification and with increases in bulk density and pH. Residential topsoil had higher total soil C than native topsoil, and microbial biomass C was markedly higher in residential topsoil in the two driest cities (LAX and PHX). Coefficients of variation for most biogeochemical metrics were higher in native soils than in residential soils across all cities, suggesting that residential development homogenizes soil properties and processes at the continental scale.

AB - The conversion of native ecosystems to residential ecosystems dominated by lawns has been a prevailing land-use change in the United States over the past 70 years. Similar development patterns and management of residential ecosystems cause many characteristics of residential ecosystems to be more similar to each other across broad continental gradients than that of former native ecosystems. For instance, similar lawn management by irrigation and fertilizer applications has the potential to influence soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools and processes. We evaluated the mean and variability of total soil C and N stocks, potential net N mineralization and nitrification, soil nitrite (NO2−)/nitrate (NO3−) and ammonium (NH4+) pools, microbial biomass C and N content, microbial respiration, bulk density, soil pH, and moisture content in residential lawns and native ecosystems in six metropolitan areas across a broad climatic gradient in the United States: Baltimore, MD (BAL); Boston, MA (BOS); Los Angeles, CA (LAX); Miami, FL (MIA); Minneapolis–St. Paul, MN (MSP); and Phoenix, AZ (PHX). We observed evidence of higher N cycling in lawn soils, including significant increases in soil NO2−/NO3−, microbial N pools, and potential net nitrification, and significant decreases in NH4+ pools. Self-reported yard fertilizer application in the previous year was linked with increased NO2−/ NO3− content and decreases in total soil N and C content. Self-reported irrigation in the previous year was associated with decreases in potential net mineralization and potential net nitrification and with increases in bulk density and pH. Residential topsoil had higher total soil C than native topsoil, and microbial biomass C was markedly higher in residential topsoil in the two driest cities (LAX and PHX). Coefficients of variation for most biogeochemical metrics were higher in native soils than in residential soils across all cities, suggesting that residential development homogenizes soil properties and processes at the continental scale.

KW - biogeochemistry

KW - carbon

KW - ecological homogenization

KW - fertilization

KW - irrigation

KW - land-use change

KW - native soils

KW - nitrate

KW - nitrogen

KW - residential landscapes

KW - soil chemistry

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JF - Ecosphere

IS - 9

M1 - e4208

ER -

Ecological homogenization of soil properties in the American residential macrosystem

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