The effects of open‐air fumigation with sulphur dioxide on the decomposition of sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) leaf litters from polluted and unpolluted woodlands

Abstract

Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) leaf litters from 15 woodlands exposed to a broad range of ambient sulphur dioxide (SO2) concentrations were fumigated with environmentally realistic concentrations (ll‐20nmol mol−1) of SO2, for 166 d in an open‐air fumigation experiment. Fumigation of the sycamore litters significantly increased sulphate‐S and proton leaching, and decreased calcium, magnesium and potassium concentrations in leachates and leaf tissues. Leaf litters from relatively unpolluted woodlands showed a tendency to lose higher amounts of sulphate‐S, calcium, magnesium and nitrate‐N in leachates than litters from polluted sites when exposed to elevated levels of SO2 in treatment plots. Fumigation inhibited the decomposition rates (CO2 evolution) of the leaf litters. Marked changes in the composition of the saprotrophic fungal communities in SO2‐fumigated leaf litters were also recorded, but fungal communities and responses to SO2, were similar between woodlands. There was no evidence from our data to suggest that resistance to SO2, was developed in decomposer mycofloras in woodlands more frequently polluted by the gas.

Impact of air pollution on the occurrence of Rhytisma acerinium "tar-spot" on mapie leaves

“…The results in the present paper are in agreement with investigations of Bevan and Greenhalgh (1976), Vick and Bevan (1976), Greenhalgh and Bevan (1978), Leith and Fowler (1987) in respect of sensitivity of the fungus to SO 2 concentrations in the air. Similar relations were also found by Dowding andRichardson (1990), Dowding (1994) and Newsham et al (1995) confirming that the pollution, which takes place in anthropogenic areas (urban, rural, industry), significantly influences the R. acerinium occurrence.…”