Abstract
In The Netherlands the decline of some phanerogamic species cannot be readily explained from obvious factors such as lowering of the groundwater table, eutrophication or land reclamation. For a number of species the hypothesis was tested that the decline is partly due to air pollution. A two-factor model was made in which decline is accounted for by (a) habitat destruction assessed from topographic maps and (b) air pollution measured as the SO2 95-percentile over the winter period 1978/1979. Effects of both factors were assumed to follow a sigmoid dose-effect curve. For a number of species decline proved to be significantly correlated with air pollution. These are notably species from the syntaxon Violion caninae. A comparison was made with results obtained for epiphytic lichens. It appears that for some phanerogamic species sensitivity is about the same as for moderately sensitive lichens.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alvey, N., Galwey, N. & Lane, P., 1982. An introduction to GEN-STAT. Academic Press, London, 152 pp.
Bremer, P., 1983. Een biologisch meetnet voor de luchtverontreiniging met behulp van epifytische korstmossen II: nadere analyse van de gegevens. Report RIN Leersum, 44 pp.
De Smidt, J. Th., 1977. Heathland vegetation in The Netherlands. Phytocoenologia 4: 258–316.
De Wit, A., 1976. Epiphytic lichens and air pollution in The Netherlands. Biblioth. Lichenol. 5. Cramer, Vaduz, 228 pp.
Dobson, A. J., 1983. Introduction to statistical modelling. Chapman & Hall, London, 125 pp.
Efron, B., 1978. Regression and ANOVA with zero-one data: measures of residual variation. J. Am. Stat. Assoc. 73: 113.
Heukels, H. & van der Meijden, R., 1983. Flora van Nederland. Wolters-Noordhoff, Groningen, 583 pp.
Mennema, J., Quené-Boterenbrood, A. J. & Plate, C. L., 1980. Atlas van de Nederlandse Flora. Kosmos, Amsterdam, 226 pp.
Nationaal Meetnet voor Luchtverontreiniging, 1979. Verslag oktober 1978/1979. Report NML-RIV, Bilthoven, 88 pp.
Van Breemen, N., Burrough, P. A., Velthorst, E. J., van Dobben, H. F, de Wit, T., Ridder, T. B. & Reijnders, H. F. R., 1982. Soil acidification from atmospheric ammonium sulphate in forest canopy throughfall. Nature 299: 548–550.
Van Dobben, H. F., 1983. Changes in the epiphytic lichen flora and vegetation in the surroundings of 's-Hertogenbosch (The Netherlands) since 1900. Nova Hedwigia 37: 691–719.
Van Dobben, H. F., 1984. Correlatie tussen de achteruitgang van wilde planten en luchtverontreiniging in Nederland. In: E. H. Adema & J. van Ham (eds.). Zure regen; oorzaken, effecten, beleid, pp. 128–133. Pudoc, Wageningen.
Westhoff, V., 1977. Botanical aspects of nature conservation in densily populated countries. In: A. Miyawaki & R. Tüxen (eds.) Vegetation science and environmental protection. Proc. Int. Symp. Tokyo 1974, pp. 369–374, Tokyo.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Nomenclature follows Heukels & van der Meijden (1983).
Thanks are due to the Rijksherbarium, for providing some of their unpublished data; and to Ada Groeneveld, for technical assistance.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
van Dam, D., van Dobben, H.F., ter Braak, C.F.J. et al. Air pollution as a possible cause for the decline of some phanerogamic species in The Netherlands. Vegetatio 65, 47–52 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00032126
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00032126