Bioindicators of enhanced nitrogen deposition

Increased deposition of atmospheric N largely from intensive agriculture is affecting biodiversity and the composition of natural and semi-natural vegetation in Europe. The value of species based bioindicators such as the Ellenberg N index and measurements of total tissue N and free amino acids in k...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental pollution (1987) 2003-12, Vol.126 (3), p.353-361
Main Authors: Pitcairn, C.E.R, Fowler, D, Leith, I.D, Sheppard, L.J, Sutton, M.A, Kennedy, V, Okello, E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Air Pollutants - analysis
Amino acids
Amino Acids - analysis
Ammonia - analysis
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Animals, Domestic
Applied ecology
Bioindicators
Biological and medical sciences
Ecosystem
Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution
Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on plants and fungi
Ellenberg N Index
Environmental Monitoring - methods
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
N deposition
Nitrogen - analysis
Plant Leaves - chemistry
Poultry
Time Factors
Tissue N
Trees
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Summary:Increased deposition of atmospheric N largely from intensive agriculture is affecting biodiversity and the composition of natural and semi-natural vegetation in Europe. The value of species based bioindicators such as the Ellenberg N index and measurements of total tissue N and free amino acids in key plant species, is described with reference to a mixed woodland downwind of a livestock farm in the Scottish Borders, operated for over 20 years with a measured spatial gradient of ammonia concentration (29–1.5 μg m −3). All the indicators examined showed a relationship with N deposition and provided some indication of vegetation change. Total tissue N and arginine concentrations were most closely linked with ammonia concentrations and N deposition, with r 2 values of >0.97 and >0.78 respectively. Tissue N and amino acid concentrations in mosses are good indicators of enhanced N deposition.
ISSN:0269-7491
1873-6424
DOI:10.1016/S0269-7491(03)00248-3