by Matteo Cavallito<\/p>\n
Scientists calla them \u201cecological thresholds\u201d, <\/strong>or the barriers not to be crossed. These are the critical limits of an ecosystem beyond which even small changes in conditions can have disproportionate effects on the biodiversity and the functioning of those environments<\/strong>. This concept is analysed in a recent study<\/a> published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution that examined the impact of nitrogen fertilizers<\/a> in grasslands<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The authors, in particular, measured for the first time, the amount of the element capable of causing plant species to lose their ability to coexist<\/strong>. A phenomenon that in turn causes a sharp decline in the variety of species – and the services they provide – making the ecosystems extremely vulnerable to climatic events.<\/p>\n