title: Lichens as a useful mapping tool?--an approach to assess atmospheric N loads in Germany by total N content and stable isotope signature.
abstract: To assess whether nitrogen (N) content and δ(15)N ratios in nitrophytic lichen species (Xanthoria parietina (L.) Th. Fr. (1860) and Physcia spp. (Schreb.) Michaux (1803)) reflect the quantity and quality of atmospheric N loads, 348 lichen samples from 174 sampling grid cells were investigated in the western part of Germany. The analysed lichen N content ranged between 0.98 and 4.28 % and δ(15)N ratios between -15.2 and -1.3 ‰. Based on the N concentrations and the δ(15)N ratios of lichens, different landscape categories and coupled N deposition rates could be inferred for different regions of Germany. By analysing environmental variables like altitude, ammonia emission density, livestock unit and different defined deposition types, a direct relationship was found between lichen chemistry and N compounds produced from agricultural activity. The results support the development of a monitoring method which could be used nationally or even internationally to support current N deposition measurements, by providing reliable information on the quantity and quality of N deposition in high N environments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geobotany, University of Trier, Behringstraße 21, 54296, Trier, Germany, Stefanie.Boltersdorf@gmx.de.
authors.forename: Stefanie H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Boltersdorf
authors.forename: Willy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Werner
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000641:Ammonia / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005858:Germany; D008011:Lichens / Q000737:chemistry*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis*; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes; D000641:Ammonia; D009584:Nitrogen
references.citation: Isotopes Environ Health Stud. 2004 Mar;40(1):57-67
references.pmid: 15085984
references.citation: Environ Monit Assess. 1993 May;26(1):27-47
references.pmid: 24225896
references.citation: Trends Plant Sci. 2001 Mar;6(3):121-6
references.pmid: 11239611
references.citation: Environ Pollut. 2008 Oct;155(3):528-36
references.pmid: 18395312
references.citation: Environ Pollut. 2010 May;158(5):1127-33
references.pmid: 20096494
references.citation: Environ Monit Assess. 2011 Nov;182(1-4):375-83
references.pmid: 21336488
references.citation: Environ Pollut. 2007 Mar;146(2):299-310
references.pmid: 16777294
references.citation: Environ Pollut. 2007 Mar;146(2):311-6
references.pmid: 16777293
references.citation: Environ Pollut. 2007 Mar;146(2):375-9
references.pmid: 16714078
references.citation: Oecologia. 2005 Aug;144(4):628-35
references.pmid: 15891815
references.citation: Environ Pollut. 2010 Jul;158(7):2412-21
references.pmid: 20447744
references.citation: Environ Sci Technol. 2008 Dec 1;42(23):8661-7
references.pmid: 19192778
references.citation: Environ Monit Assess. 2006 Aug;119(1-3):391-404
references.pmid: 16741818
references.citation: Environ Pollut. 2003;124(2):179-221
references.pmid: 12713921
references.citation: Environ Pollut. 2009 Mar;157(3):792-800
references.pmid: 19095336
references.citation: Planta. 2005 Mar;220(5):794-803
references.pmid: 15503128
references.citation: New Phytol. 2010 Dec;188(4):1075-84
references.pmid: 20731782
references.citation: Environ Pollut. 2011 Nov;159(11):3254-68
references.pmid: 21570167
references.citation: Environ Pollut. 2001;114(3):471-92
references.pmid: 11584645
references.citation: Trends Ecol Evol. 2001 Mar 1;16(3):153-162
references.pmid: 11179580
references.citation: Oecologia. 1997 Feb;109(4):600-607
references.pmid: 28307345
references.citation: New Phytol. 2011 Aug;191(3):795-805
references.pmid: 21534972
references.citation: Environ Pollut. 2011 Feb;159(2):449-57
references.pmid: 21071125
references.citation: Talanta. 2003 Nov 12;61(4):519-28
references.pmid: 18969214
references.citation: Environ Pollut. 2003;123(2):281-90
references.pmid: 12628207
references.citation: Planta. 2004 Jul;219(3):459-67
references.pmid: 15060826
references.citation: Isotopes Environ Health Stud. 2013 Jun;49(2):197-218
references.pmid: 23461645
references.citation: Sci Total Environ. 2004 May 25;324(1-3):183-99
references.pmid: 15081705