Lichen response to ammonia deposition defines the footprint of a penguin rookery

Ammonia volatilized from penguin rookeries is a major nitrogen source in Antarctic coastal terrestrial ecosystems. However, the spatial extent of ammonia dispersion from rookeries and its impacts have not been quantified previously. We measured ammonia concentration in air and lichen ecophysiological response variables proximate to an Adèlie penguin rookery at Cape Hallett, northern Victoria Land. Ammonia emitted from the rookery was 15N-enriched (δ15N value +6.9) and concentrations in air ranged from 36–75 µg m−3 at the rookery centre to 0.05 µg m−3 at a distance of 15.3 km. δ15N values and rates of phosphomonoesterase (PME) activity in the lichens Usnea sphacelata and Umbilicaria decussata were strongly negatively related to distance from the rookery and PME activity was positively related to thallus N:P mass ratio. In contrast, the lichen Xanthomendoza borealis, which is largely restricted to within an area 0.5 km from the rookery perimeter, had high N, P and 15N concentrations but low PME activity suggesting that nutrient scavenging capacity is suppressed in highly eutrophicated sites. An ammonia dispersion model indicates that ammonia concentrations sufficient to significantly elevate PME activity and δ15N values (≥0.1 µg NH3 m−3) occurred over c. 40–300 km2 surrounding the rookery suggesting that penguin rookeries potentially can generate large spatial impact zones. In a general linear model NH3 concentration and lichen species identity were found to account for 72 % of variation in the putative proportion of lichen thallus N originating from penguin derived NH3. The results provide evidence of large scale impact of N transfer from a marine to an N-limited terrestrial ecosystem

Photosynthesis in a sub-Antartic shore-zone lichen

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Impact of trampling on the vegetation of sub-Antarctic Marion Island

NatuurwetenskappeBotaniePlease help us populate SUNScholar with the post print version of this article. It can be e-mailed to: [email protected]

Design of the National Flora Monitoring Scheme - Environmental and Nature Quality

Het Landelijk Meetnet Flora - Milieu & Natuurkwaliteit maakt onderdeel uit van het Netwerk Ecologische Monitoring (NEM). Het rapport stelt een ontwerp voor van het LMF - M&N gericht op uitvoering door provincies. In NEM-verband zijn twee meetdoelstellingen aan dit meetnet opgelegd. (1) Het signaleren van landelijke veranderingen in de ecologische kwaliteit van multifunctionele gebieden. (2) Het signaleren van landelijke veranderingen in milieu-aspecten, met name vermesting, verzuring en verdroging, en de gevolgen daarvan voor flora (en fauna). Bovendien moet het LMF - M&N de informatie verzamelen betreffende de algemene plantensoorten van de natuurgraadmeters van het Natuur- en Milieuplanbureau. Aan het meetnet ligt een stratificatiebasis ten grondslag. De dimensionering is statistisch onderbouwd. De methode gaat uit van permanente kwadraten.The National Flora Monitoring Scheme for Environmental- and Nature Quality (LMF - M&N) is part of the Network Ecological Monitoring (NEM). This report documents a design proposal for the LMF - M&N, meant for implementation by provinces. The monitoring scheme has two goals: (1) to indicate national changes in the ecological quality of multifunctional areas and (2) to indicate national changes in the environment, specifically acidification, eutrophication and desiccation, and the consequences of these changes for flora and fauna. The LMF - M&N is also meant for collection of information on the common plant species of the nature indicators of the Nature Policy Assessment Office and the Environmental Policy Assessment Office. The monitoring scheme has a stratification base and the dimensions are statistically underpinned. The method is founded on permanent squares.Milieuplanburea

Design of the National Flora Monitoring Scheme - Environmental and Nature Quality

The National Flora Monitoring Scheme for Environmental- and Nature Quality (LMF - M&N) is part of the Network Ecological Monitoring (NEM). This report documents a design proposal for the LMF - M&N, meant for implementation by provinces. The monitoring scheme has two goals: (1) to indicate national changes in the ecological quality of multifunctional areas and (2) to indicate national changes in the environment, specifically acidification, eutrophication and desiccation, and the consequences of these changes for flora and fauna. The LMF - M&N is also meant for collection of information on the common plant species of the nature indicators of the Nature Policy Assessment Office and the Environmental Policy Assessment Office. The monitoring scheme has a stratification base and the dimensions are statistically underpinned. The method is founded on permanent squares.Het Landelijk Meetnet Flora - Milieu & Natuurkwaliteit maakt onderdeel uit van het Netwerk Ecologische Monitoring (NEM). Het rapport stelt een ontwerp voor van het LMF - M&N gericht op uitvoering door provincies. In NEM-verband zijn twee meetdoelstellingen aan dit meetnet opgelegd. (1) Het signaleren van landelijke veranderingen in de ecologische kwaliteit van multifunctionele gebieden. (2) Het signaleren van landelijke veranderingen in milieu-aspecten, met name vermesting, verzuring en verdroging, en de gevolgen daarvan voor flora (en fauna). Bovendien moet het LMF - M&N de informatie verzamelen betreffende de algemene plantensoorten van de natuurgraadmeters van het Natuur- en Milieuplanbureau. Aan het meetnet ligt een stratificatiebasis ten grondslag. De dimensionering is statistisch onderbouwd. De methode gaat uit van permanente kwadraten