Biomonitoring of traffic-related nitrogen pollution using Letharia vulpina (L.) Hue in the Sierra Nevada, California

Bermejo-Orduna, R.; McBride, Joe R.; Shiraishi, Kunio; Elustondo, David; Lasheras, E.; Santamaría, Jesús Miguel

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.04.119

Cited by 44 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…To test the hypotheses, occurrence of selected indicator species on conifer trunks was scored and lichens were collected for analysis of carbon (C) and N contents. Lichens were also analysed for the isotopic composition of N to assess the role of oxidized versus reduced N emissions (Bermejo-Orduna et al, 2014;Pearson et al, 2000). Bark chemical characteristics (Schultz et al, 1997(Schultz et al, , 1999, and available air quality data were used as anthropogenic environmental drivers in the statistical analyses.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deriving nitrogen critical levels and loads based on the responses of acidophytic lichen communities on boreal urban Pinus sylvestris trunks

Manninen

2018

Science of The Total Environment

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The deposition of reactive nitrogen (N) compounds currently predominates over sulphur (S) deposition in most of the cities in Europe and North America. Acidophytic lichens growing on tree trunks are known to be sensitive to both N and S deposition. Given that tree species and climatic factors affect the composition of epiphytic lichen communities and modify lichen responses to air pollution, this study focused on the impact of urban air pollution on acidophytes growing on boreal conifer trunks. The study was performed in the Helsinki metropolitan area, southern Finland, where annual mean nitrogen dioxide (NO) concentrations range from 4-5μgm to >50μgm. In addition, background forest sites in southern and northern Finland were included. The results demonstrated elevated N contents (≥0.7%) in Hypogymnia physodes and Platismatia glauca at all the sites where the species occurred. In the Helsinki metropolitan area, a higher frequency of green algae+Scoliociosporum chlorococcum and reduced numerical frequencies of other indicator lichen species (e.g. Pseudevernia furfuracea, Bryoria spp., Usnea spp.) were associated with elevated atmospheric concentrations of NO and particulate matter containing N, as well as elevated concentrations of inorganic N in bark. The N isotope values (δN) of lichens supported the uptake of oxidized N mainly originating from road traffic. Sulphur dioxide (SO) also negatively affected the most sensitive species, despite the current low levels (1-4μgmyr). Critical levels of 5μgNOmyr and 0.5μgNHmyr, and a critical load of 2-3kgNhayr are proposed for protecting the diversity of boreal acidophytes. This study calls for measurements of the throughfall of various N fractions in urban forest ecosystems along precipitation and temperature gradients to verify the proposed critical levels and loads.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deriving nitrogen critical levels and loads based on the responses of acidophytic lichen communities on boreal urban Pinus sylvestris trunks

Manninen

2018

Science of The Total Environment

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“…On the basis of these responses, lichens are increasingly being used in biomonitoring studies to detect patterns and effects of nitrogen pollution in different ecosystems in relation to both long-distance transport of pollutants and local management [59,67]. Recent research has provided valuable tools that improve the lichen biomonitoring approach by (a) determining critical loads of reactive nitrogen for different ecosystems [18,60,61,68], (b) selecting indicator species for the assessment of nitrogen deposition and source identification [69] and (c) selecting lichen functional groups that are highly responsive to nitrogen loads, such as macrolichens (i.e., foliose and fruticose/hair-lichen thallus growth forms [61]). Interestingly, in the larch grasslands of the Alps [64], 85% of the species associated with low nitrogen input are macrolichens and 25% are hair-lichens species belonging to Bryoria and Usnea.…”

Section: Lichen-nitrogen Pollution Relationships With Emphasis On Haimentioning

confidence: 99%

Could Hair-Lichens of High-Elevation Forests Help Detect the Impact of Global Change in the Alps?

et al. 2019

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Climate change and the anthropic emission of pollutants are likely to have an accelerated impact in high-elevation mountain areas. This phenomenon could have negative consequences on alpine habitats and for species of conservation in relative proximity to dense human populations. This premise implies that the crucial task is in the early detection of warning signals of ecological changes. In alpine landscapes, high-elevation forests provide a unique environment for taking full advantage of epiphytic lichens as sensitive indicators of climate change and air pollution. This literature review is intended to provide a starting point for developing practical biomonitoring tools that elucidate the potential of hair-lichens, associated with high-elevation forests, as ecological indicators of global change in the European Alps. We found support for the practical use of hair-lichens to detect the impact of climate change and nitrogen pollution in high-elevation forest habitats. The use of these organisms as ecological indicators presents an opportunity to expand monitoring activities and develop predictive tools that support decisions on how to mitigate the effects of global change in the Alps.

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“…NO 2 is a precursor of harmful secondary air pollutants such as ozone and particulate matter and it plays an important role in the phenomenon of acid rain [1,2]. Plants are influenced by the atmospheric pollutants that they absorb and suffer varying degrees of damage [3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Photosynthetic Capacity, Stomatal Behavior and Chloroplast Ultrastructure in Leaves of the Endangered Plant Carpinus putoensis W.C.Cheng during Gaseous NO2 Exposure and after Recovery

Sheng

Zhu

2018

Forests

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Foliar uptake of gaseous NO2 mainly occurs through the stomata and disrupts normal plant growth, but no detailed reports about the physiological responses of plants exposed to NO2 are available. In this study, to study leaf physicochemical responses, stomatal characteristics and chloroplast structure, we observed the leaves of Carpinus putoensis W.C.Cheng after exposure to NO2 (6 μL/L) for five time periods (0, 1, 6, 24, and 72 h) and after 30 days of recovery following NO2 exposure. Our results showed that short-duration exposure to a high concentration of NO2 had significant negative impacts (p < 0.05) on the chlorophyll content, photosynthesis and chloroplast-related physicochemical processes of C. putoensis leaves; with the exception of one hour of NO2 exposure, which was helpful for plant physiological responses. Moreover, NO2 exposure significantly increased the thickness of the palisade/spongy tissue and caused swelling of the thylakoids within the chloroplasts; this thylakoid swelling could be reversed by removing the pollutant from the air flow. Restoration of unpolluted air alleviated the toxic effects of NO2, as indicated by an increased chlorophyll content, net photosynthesis, and PSII maximum quantum yield. These results could support the development of a treatment for roadside trees that are exposed to NO2 as a major road pollutant.

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Biomonitoring of traffic-related nitrogen pollution using Letharia vulpina (L.) Hue in the Sierra Nevada, California

Cited by 44 publications

References 42 publications

Deriving nitrogen critical levels and loads based on the responses of acidophytic lichen communities on boreal urban Pinus sylvestris trunks

Deriving nitrogen critical levels and loads based on the responses of acidophytic lichen communities on boreal urban Pinus sylvestris trunks

Could Hair-Lichens of High-Elevation Forests Help Detect the Impact of Global Change in the Alps?

Photosynthetic Capacity, Stomatal Behavior and Chloroplast Ultrastructure in Leaves of the Endangered Plant Carpinus putoensis W.C.Cheng during Gaseous NO2 Exposure and after Recovery

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