Abstract
Many bryophytes rely to a large extent on atmospheric deposition for their nutrient uptake. However, increasing levels of atmospheric ammonium (NH +4 ) and nitrate (NO -3 ) attract concern as to the possible harmful effects on bryophytes from these two nutrient sources. Changes in nitrate reductase (NR) activities, cation (Ca, K and Mg), total nitrogen (N) and organic acid concentrations were investigated for the mosses,Racomitrium lanuginosum, Rytidiadelphus loreus andPhilonotis fontana, in response to a single field misting with 3 mol−3 NH +4 and NO -3 . Increases of 20% were recorded for tissue N content, 48 hr after misting with N containing solutions. When labelled15NH +4 or15NO -3 were applied toR. Lanuginosum at 1, 3 and 6 mol m−3 concentrations, partitioning of incorporated15N between different tissue regions occured, with the highest N uptake in the upper stem and leaves. High concentrations of applied N resulted in reduced efficiency of N uptake. NH +4 applications caused declines in NR activities, organic acids and cations, whereas, NO -3 treatments caused the reverse response. Changes in cation contents, organic acids and NR activity reflect short-term regulation of N metabolism in the presence of defined N sources, as well as potential mechanisms of regulating cell pH homoeostasis. The consistency of physiological responses, especially NR activities, over short-term pollution episodes, provides evidence for their use as indicators of both NH +4 and NO -3 pollution.
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Soares, A., Pearson, J. Short-term physiological responses of mosses to atmospheric ammonium and nitrate. Water Air Soil Pollut 93, 225–242 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02404758
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02404758