title: Comparative use of lichens, mosses and tree bark to evaluate nitrogen deposition in Germany.
abstract: To compare three biomonitoring techniques for assessing nitrogen (N) pollution in Germany, 326 lichen, 153 moss and 187 bark samples were collected from 16 sites of the national N deposition monitoring network. The analysed ranges of N content of all investigated biomonitors (0.32%-4.69%) and the detected δ(15)N values (-15.2‰-1.5‰), made it possible to reveal species specific spatial patterns of N concentrations in biota to indicate atmospheric N deposition in Germany. The comparison with measured and modelled N deposition data shows that particularly lichens are able to reflect the local N deposition originating from agriculture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geobotany, University of Trier, Behringstr. 21, D-54296 Trier, Germany. Electronic address: stefanie.boltersdorf@gmx.de.
authors.forename: Stefanie H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Boltersdorf
authors.affiliation: Chair of Landscape Ecology, University of Vechta, PO Box 1553, D-49356 Vechta, Germany. Electronic address: rpesch@iuw.uni-vechta.de.
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pesch
authors.affiliation: Department of Geobotany, University of Trier, Behringstr. 21, D-54296 Trier, Germany. Electronic address: werner@uni-trier.de.
authors.forename: Willy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Werner
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D044002:Bryophyta / Q000737:chemistry*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005858:Germany; D008011:Lichens / Q000737:chemistry*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis*; D024301:Plant Bark / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D009584:Nitrogen
keywords: Bark; Lichens; Mosses; Nitrogen deposition; Stable isotopes (15)N