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Driscoll C, Milford JB, Henze DK, Bell MD. Atmospheric reduced nitrogen: Sources, transformations, effects, and management. JOURNAL OF THE AIR & WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (1995) 2024; 74:362-415. [PMID: 38819428 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2024.2342765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Human activities have increased atmospheric emissions and deposition of oxidized and reduced forms of nitrogen, but emission control programs have largely focused on oxidized nitrogen. As a result, in many regions of the world emissions of oxidized nitrogen are decreasing while emissions of reduced nitrogen are increasing. Emissions of reduced nitrogen largely originate from livestock waste and fertilizer application, with contributions from transportation sources in urban areas. Observations suggest a discrepancy between trends in emissions and deposition of reduced nitrogen in the U.S., likely due to an underestimate in emissions. In the atmosphere, ammonia reacts with oxides of sulfur and nitrogen to form fine particulate matter that impairs health and visibility and affects climate forcings. Recent reductions in emissions of sulfur and nitrogen oxides have limited partitioning with ammonia, decreasing long-range transport. Continuing research is needed to improve understanding of how shifting emissions alter formation of secondary particulates and patterns of transport and deposition of reactive nitrogen. Satellite remote sensing has potential for monitoring atmospheric concentrations and emissions of ammonia, but there remains a need to maintain and strengthen ground-based measurements and continue development of chemical transport models. Elevated nitrogen deposition has decreased plant and soil microbial biodiversity and altered the biogeochemical function of terrestrial, freshwater, and coastal ecosystems. Further study is needed on differential effects of oxidized versus reduced nitrogen and pathways and timescales of ecosystem recovery from elevated nitrogen deposition. Decreases in deposition of reduced nitrogen could alleviate exceedances of critical loads for terrestrial and freshwater indicators in many U.S. areas. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency should consider using critical loads as a basis for setting standards to protect public welfare and ecosystems. The U.S. and other countries might look to European experience for approaches to control emissions of reduced nitrogen from agricultural and transportation sectors.Implications: In this Critical Review we synthesize research on effects, air emissions, environmental transformations, and management of reduced forms of nitrogen. Emissions of reduced nitrogen affect human health, the structure and function of ecosystems, and climatic forcings. While emissions of oxidized forms of nitrogen are regulated in the U.S., controls on reduced forms are largely absent. Decreases in emissions of sulfur and nitrogen oxides coupled with increases in ammonia are shifting the gas-particle partitioning of ammonia and decreasing long-range atmospheric transport of reduced nitrogen. Effort is needed to understand, monitor, and manage emissions of reduced nitrogen in a changing environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Driscoll
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Jana B Milford
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Daven K Henze
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Michael D Bell
- Ecologist, National Park Service - Air Resources Division, Boulder, CO, USA
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Root HT, Chan J, Ponzetti J, Pyke DA, McCune B. Long-term biocrust responses to wildfires in Washington, USA. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2023; 110:e16261. [PMID: 38031439 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.16261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
PREMISE Dryland ecosystems in the western United States are affected by invasive species, wildfires, livestock grazing, and climate change in ways that are difficult to distinguish. Biocrusts perform important ecological roles in these systems and are sensitive to all of these pressures. METHODS We revisited a Washington, USA, site sampled for biocrusts in 1999 to focus on effects of exotic annual grass invasion and wildfires in the absence of livestock grazing. We examined changes between 1999 and 2020 using a Bayesian directed acyclic graph (DAG) to interpret direct and indirect causal impacts of wildfire on perennial bunchgrasses, exotic annual grasses, and biocrusts. RESULTS Between 1999 and 2020, exotic annual grass cover increased in all plots and in unburned plots by 16% and 18%, respectively, bunchgrass cover decreased by 21% and 25%, and biocrust cover decreased by 8.9% and 9.8%. Our DAG suggested that decreases in bunchgrass increased exotic annual grass, which reduced biocrust cover. Wildfires did not directly influence changes in bunchgrass, exotic annual grass, or biocrust cover. Areas dominated by exotic annual grass had less abundant and diverse biocrusts than areas with less exotic annual grass. CONCLUSIONS Biocrust community changes were more strongly related to increasing exotic annual grasses than to wildfires. Changes may relate to other soil disturbances or broad-scale changes in climate or air quality. The minimal influence of wildfire on exotic annual grass and biocrusts suggests that apparent negative impacts of wildfire at other sites may be due to exacerbation by livestock grazing or other surface disturbance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather T Root
- Department of Botany and Plant Ecology, Weber State University, Ogden, Utah, 84401, USA
| | - Julian Chan
- Department of Mathematics, Weber State University, Ogden, Utah, 84401, USA
| | | | - David A Pyke
- U.S. Geological Survey, Forest & Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, Oregon, 97330, USA
| | - Bruce McCune
- Department of Botany & Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, 2082 Cordley Hall, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331, USA
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Delves J, Lewis JEJ, Ali N, Asad SA, Chatterjee S, Crittenden PD, Jones M, Kiran A, Prasad Pandey B, Reay D, Sharma S, Tshering D, Weerakoon G, van Dijk N, Sutton MA, Wolseley PA, Ellis CJ. Lichens as spatially transferable bioindicators for monitoring nitrogen pollution. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 328:121575. [PMID: 37028790 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Excess nitrogen is a pollutant and global problem that harms ecosystems and can severely affect human health. Pollutant nitrogen is becoming more widespread and intensifying in the tropics. There is thus a requirement to develop nitrogen biomonitoring for spatial mapping and trend analysis of tropical biodiversity and ecosystems. In temperate and boreal zones, multiple bioindicators for nitrogen pollution have been developed, with lichen epiphytes among the most sensitive and widely applied. However, the state of our current knowledge on bioindicators is geographically biased, with extensive research effort focused on bioindicators in the temperate and boreal zones. The development of lichen bioindicators in the tropics is further weakened by incomplete taxonomic and ecological knowledge. In this study we performed a literature review and meta-analysis, attempting to identify characteristics of lichens that offer transferability of bioindication into tropical regions. This transferability must overcome the different species pools between source information - drawing on extensive research effort in the temperate and boreal zone - and tropical ecosystems. Focussing on ammonia concentration as the nitrogen pollutant, we identify a set of morphological traits and taxonomic relationships that cause lichen epiphytes to be more sensitive, or more resistant to this excess nitrogen. We perform an independent test of our bioindicator scheme and offer recommendations for its application and future research in the tropics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay Delves
- Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 20A Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, EH3 5LR, UK
| | - Jason E J Lewis
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Niaz Ali
- Department of Botany, Hazara University, Mansehra, 21300, Pakistan
| | - Saeed A Asad
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University, Park Road Islamabad, 45550, Pakistan
| | - Sudipto Chatterjee
- TERI School of Advanced Studies, Plot No. 10 Institutional Area, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, 110 070, India
| | - Peter D Crittenden
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Matthew Jones
- Centre of Ecology and Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, EH26 0QB, UK
| | - Aysha Kiran
- Department of Botany, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | | | - David Reay
- School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, High School Yards, Infirmary Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1LZ, UK
| | - Subodh Sharma
- Kathmandu University, Nepal GPO Box 6250, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Dendup Tshering
- Sherubtse College, Royal University of Bhutan, PO Box, 11001, Lower Motithang, Thimphu, Bhutan
| | | | - Netty van Dijk
- Centre of Ecology and Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, EH26 0QB, UK
| | - Mark A Sutton
- Centre of Ecology and Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, EH26 0QB, UK
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Gunawardana D, Wanigatunge RP, Wewalwela JJ, Vithanage M, Wijeyaratne C. Sulfur is in the Air: Cyanolichen Marriages and Pollution. Acta Biotheor 2023; 71:14. [PMID: 37148405 DOI: 10.1007/s10441-023-09465-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Cyanolichens are symbiotic organisms involving cyanobacteria and fungi (bipartite) or with the addition of an algal partner (tripartite). Cyanolichens are known for their heightened susceptibility to environmental pollution. We focus here on the impacts on cyanolichens due to rising air pollution; we are especially interested in the role of sulfur dioxide on cyanolichen biology. Cyanolichens due to air pollution including sulfur dioxide exposure, show symptomatic changes including degradation of chlorophyll, lipid membrane peroxidation, decrease in ATP production, changes in respiration rate, and alteration of endogenous auxins and ethylene production, although symptoms are known to vary with species and genotype. Sulfur dioxide has been shown to be damaging to photosynthesis but is relatively benign on nitrogen fixation which proposes as a hypothesis that the algal partner may be more in harm's way than the cyanobiont. In fact, the Nostoc cyanobiont of sulfur dioxide-susceptible Lobaria pulmonaria carries a magnified set of sulfur (alkane sulfonate) metabolism genes capable of alkane sulfonate transport and assimilation, which were only unraveled by genome sequencing, a technology unavailable in the 1950-2000 epoch, where most physiology- based studies were performed. There is worldwide a growing corpus of evidence that sulfur has an important role to play in biological symbioses including rhizobia-legumes, mycorrhizae-roots and cyanobacteria-host plants. Furthermore, the fungal and algal partners of L. pulmonaria appear not to have the sulfonate transporter genes again providing the roles of ambient-sulfur (alkanesulfonate metabolism etc.) mediated functions primarily to the cyanobacterial partner. In conclusion, we have addressed here the role of the atmospheric pollutant sulfur dioxide to tripartite cyanolichen viability and suggest that the weaker link is likely to be the photosynthetic algal (chlorophyte) partner and not the nitrogen-fixing cyanobiont.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dilantha Gunawardana
- Research Council, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, 10250, Sri Lanka.
| | - Rasika P Wanigatunge
- Department of Plant and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
| | - Jayani J Wewalwela
- Department of Agricultural Technology, Faculty of Technology, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | - Meththika Vithanage
- Ecosphere Resilience Research Center, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, 10250, Sri Lanka
| | - Chandrani Wijeyaratne
- Department of Botany, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, 10250, Sri Lanka
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Ecological Risks from Atmospheric Deposition of Nitrogen and Sulphur in Jack Pine forests of Northwestern Canada. NITROGEN 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/nitrogen4010008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic elevated nitrogen (N) deposition can have adverse effects on terrestrial ecosystems. For large areas of northern Canada distant from emissions sources, long-range atmospheric transport of N may impact plant species diversity, even at low deposition levels. The objective of this study was to establish plant species community thresholds for N deposition under multiple environmental gradients using gradient forest analysis. Plant species abundance data for 297 Jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.)-dominant forest plots across Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada, were evaluated against 43 bioclimatic and deposition variables. Bioclimatic variables were overwhelmingly the most important drivers of community thresholds. Nonetheless, dry N oxide (DNO) and dry N dioxide deposition inferred a total deposited N (TDN) community threshold of 1.4–2.1 kg N ha−1 yr−1. This range was predominantly associated with changes in several lichen species, including Cladina mitis, Vulpicida pinastri, Evernia mesomorpha and Lecanora circumborealis, some of which are known bioindicators of N deposition. A secondary DNO threshold appeared to be driving changes in several vascular species and was equivalent to 2.45–3.15 kg N ha−1 yr−1 on the TDN gradient. These results suggest that in low deposition ‘background’ regions a biodiversity-based empirical critical load of 1.4–3.15 kg N ha−1 yr−1 will protect lichen communities and other N-sensitive species in Jack pine forests across Northwestern Canada. Nitrogen deposition above the critical load may lead to adverse effects on plant species biodiversity within these forests.
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Pavlovic NR, Chang SY, Huang J, Craig K, Clark C, Horn K, Driscoll CT. Empirical nitrogen and sulfur critical loads of U.S. tree species and their uncertainties with machine learning. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 857:159252. [PMID: 36216054 PMCID: PMC10241478 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Critical loads (CLs) of atmospheric deposition for nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) are used to support decision making related to air regulation and land management. Frequently, CLs are calculated using empirical methods, and the certainty of the results depends on accurate representation of underlying ecological processes. Machine learning (ML) models perform well in empirical modeling of processes with non-linear characteristics and significant variable interactions. We used bootstrap ensemble ML methods to develop CL estimates and assess uncertainties of CLs for the growth and survival of 108 tree species in the conterminous United States. We trained ML models to predict tree growth and survival and characterize the relationship between deposition and tree species response. Using four statistical methods, we quantified the uncertainty of CLs in 95 % confidence intervals (CI). At the lower bound of the CL uncertainty estimate, 80 % or more of tree species have been impacted by nitrogen deposition exceeding a CL for tree survival over >50 % of the species range, while at the upper bound the percentage is much lower (<20 % of tree species impacted across >60 % of the species range). Our analysis shows that bootstrap ensemble ML can be effectively used to quantify critical loads and their uncertainties. The range of the uncertainty we calculated is sufficiently large to warrant consideration in management and regulatory decision making with respect to atmospheric deposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan R Pavlovic
- Sonoma Technology, 1450 N. McDowell Blvd., Suite 200, Petaluma, CA 94954, United States.
| | - Shih Ying Chang
- Sonoma Technology, 1450 N. McDowell Blvd., Suite 200, Petaluma, CA 94954, United States
| | - Jiaoyan Huang
- Sonoma Technology, 1450 N. McDowell Blvd., Suite 200, Petaluma, CA 94954, United States
| | - Kenneth Craig
- Sonoma Technology, 1450 N. McDowell Blvd., Suite 200, Petaluma, CA 94954, United States
| | - Christopher Clark
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Mail Code: 8101R, Washington, DC 20460, United States
| | - Kevin Horn
- Data and Environmental Scientist, Freedom Consulting Group, 7061 Columbia Gateway Drive, Columbia, MD 21046, United States
| | - Charles T Driscoll
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Syracuse University, 151 Link Hall, Syracuse, NY 13244, United States
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Embracing Uncertainty and Probabilistic Outcomes for Ecological Critical Loads. Ecosystems 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-022-00774-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Neitlich PN, Berryman S, Geiser LH, Mines A, Shiel AE. Impacts on tundra vegetation from heavy metal-enriched fugitive dust on National Park Service lands along the Red Dog Mine haul road, Alaska. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0269801. [PMID: 35696414 PMCID: PMC9191729 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The DeLong Mountain Transportation System (DMTS) haul road links the Red Dog Mine—one of the world’s largest zinc mines—with a shipping port on the Chukchi Sea in northwest Alaska, USA. The road traverses 32 km of National Park Service (NPS) lands managed by Cape Krusenstern National Monument (CAKR). Fugitive dusts from ore concentrate transport and mining operations have dispersed zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and metal sulfides onto NPS lands since the mine began operating in 1989. This study assessed the effects of metal-enriched road dusts on the diversity and community structure of lichens, bryophytes, and vascular plants in dwarf-shrub tundra within CAKR. In a Bayesian posterior predictions model, lichen species richness (LSR) was highly correlated to distance from the haul road and was distributed on the landscape consistently with the spatial patterns of Zn, Pb and Cd patterns published earlier in this journal. The mean modeled LSR of the 3000–4000 m distance class was 41.3, and LSR decreased progressively down to 9.4 species in the 0–50 m class. An ordination of 93 lichen species by 91 plots revealed strong community patterns based on distance from the haul road. The major community gradient was highly correlated (r = 0.99) with LSR and negatively correlated with Cd, Pb and Zn (-0.79 < r < -0.74). Ordinations of bryophyte classes showed less response than lichens to distance from the road and heavy metals values, and vascular plant ordination showed less still. Measures of bryophyte health such as the midrib blackening and frond width of Hylocomium splendens were positively correlated with distance from the haul road and negatively correlated with this same suite of elements. A total area of approximately 55 km2 showed moderate to strong impacts on lichens from fugitive dusts. This is equivalent to an area of almost 1 km on both sides of the haul road running 32 km through CAKR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter N. Neitlich
- National Park Service, Alaska Regional Office, Anchorage, Alaska, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Shanti Berryman
- National Park Service, Alaska Regional Office, Anchorage, Alaska, United States of America
| | - Linda H. Geiser
- United States Department of Agriculture-United States/Forest Service, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
| | - Anaka Mines
- National Park Service, Alaska Regional Office, Anchorage, Alaska, United States of America
| | - Alyssa E. Shiel
- College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
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Weyandt N, Aghdam SA, Brown AMV. Discovery of Early-Branching Wolbachia Reveals Functional Enrichment on Horizontally Transferred Genes. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:867392. [PMID: 35547116 PMCID: PMC9084900 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.867392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Wolbachia is a widespread endosymbiont of insects and filarial nematodes that profoundly influences host biology. Wolbachia has also been reported in rhizosphere hosts, where its diversity and function remain poorly characterized. The discovery that plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) host Wolbachia strains with unknown roles is of interest evolutionarily, ecologically, and for agriculture as a potential target for developing new biological controls. The goal of this study was to screen communities for PPN endosymbionts and analyze genes and genomic patterns that might indicate their role. Genome assemblies revealed 1 out of 16 sampled sites had nematode communities hosting a Wolbachia strain, designated wTex, that has highly diverged as one of the early supergroup L strains. Genome features, gene repertoires, and absence of known genes for cytoplasmic incompatibility, riboflavin, biotin, and other biosynthetic functions placed wTex between mutualist C + D strains and reproductive parasite A + B strains. Functional terms enriched in group L included protoporphyrinogen IX, thiamine, lysine, fatty acid, and cellular amino acid biosynthesis, while dN/dS analysis suggested the strongest purifying selection on arginine and lysine metabolism, and vitamin B6, heme, and zinc ion binding, suggesting these as candidate roles in PPN Wolbachia. Higher dN/dS pathways between group L, wPni from aphids, wFol from springtails, and wCfeT from cat fleas suggested distinct functional changes characterizing these early Wolbachia host transitions. PPN Wolbachia had several putative horizontally transferred genes, including a lysine biosynthesis operon like that of the mitochondrial symbiont Midichloria, a spirochete-like thiamine synthesis operon shared only with wCfeT, an ATP/ADP carrier important in Rickettsia, and a eukaryote-like gene that may mediate plant systemic acquired resistance through the lysine-to-pipecolic acid system. The Discovery of group L-like variants from global rhizosphere databases suggests diverse PPN Wolbachia strains remain to be discovered. These findings support the hypothesis of plant-specialization as key to shaping early Wolbachia evolution and present new functional hypotheses, demonstrating promise for future genomics-based rhizosphere screens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Weyandt
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Shiva A Aghdam
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Amanda M V Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, United States
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Esseen P, Ekström M, Grafström A, Jonsson BG, Palmqvist K, Westerlund B, Ståhl G. Multiple drivers of large-scale lichen decline in boreal forest canopies. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:3293-3309. [PMID: 35156274 PMCID: PMC9310866 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Thin, hair-like lichens (Alectoria, Bryoria, Usnea) form conspicuous epiphyte communities across the boreal biome. These poikilohydric organisms provide important ecosystem functions and are useful indicators of global change. We analyse how environmental drivers influence changes in occurrence and length of these lichens on Norway spruce (Picea abies) over 10 years in managed forests in Sweden using data from >6000 trees. Alectoria and Usnea showed strong declines in southern-central regions, whereas Bryoria declined in northern regions. Overall, relative loss rates across the country ranged from 1.7% per year in Alectoria to 0.5% in Bryoria. These losses contrasted with increased length of Bryoria and Usnea in some regions. Occurrence trajectories (extinction, colonization, presence, absence) on remeasured trees correlated best with temperature, rain, nitrogen deposition, and stand age in multinomial logistic regression models. Our analysis strongly suggests that industrial forestry, in combination with nitrogen, is the main driver of lichen declines. Logging of forests with long continuity of tree cover, short rotation cycles, substrate limitation and low light in dense forests are harmful for lichens. Nitrogen deposition has decreased but is apparently still sufficiently high to prevent recovery. Warming correlated with occurrence trajectories of Alectoria and Bryoria, likely by altering hydration regimes and increasing respiration during autumn/winter. The large-scale lichen decline on an important host has cascading effects on biodiversity and function of boreal forest canopies. Forest management must apply a broad spectrum of methods, including uneven-aged continuous cover forestry and retention of large patches, to secure the ecosystem functions of these important canopy components under future climates. Our findings highlight interactions among drivers of lichen decline (forestry, nitrogen, climate), functional traits (dispersal, lichen colour, sensitivity to nitrogen, water storage), and population processes (extinction/colonization).
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Affiliation(s)
- Per‐Anders Esseen
- Department of Ecology and Environmental ScienceUmeå UniversityUmeåSweden
| | - Magnus Ekström
- Department of Statistics, USBEUmeå UniversityUmeåSweden
- Department of Forest Resource ManagementSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUmeåSweden
| | - Anton Grafström
- Department of Forest Resource ManagementSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUmeåSweden
| | - Bengt Gunnar Jonsson
- Department of Natural SciencesMid Sweden UniversitySundsvallSweden
- Department of Fish, Wildlife and Environmental SciencesSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUmeåSweden
| | - Kristin Palmqvist
- Department of Ecology and Environmental ScienceUmeå UniversityUmeåSweden
| | - Bertil Westerlund
- Department of Forest Resource ManagementSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUmeåSweden
| | - Göran Ståhl
- Department of Forest Resource ManagementSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUmeåSweden
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11
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Geiser LH, Root H, Smith RJ, Jovan SE, St Clair L, Dillman KL. Lichen-based critical loads for deposition of nitrogen and sulfur in US forests. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 291:118187. [PMID: 34563846 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Critical loads are thresholds of atmospheric deposition below which harmful ecological effects do not occur. Because lichens are sensitive to atmospheric deposition, lichen-based critical loads can foreshadow changes of other forest processes. Here, we derive critical loads of nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) deposition for continental US and coastal Alaskan forests, based on nationally consistent lichen community surveys at 8855 sites. Across the eastern and western US ranges of 459 lichen species, each species' realized optimum was the N or S atmospheric deposition value at which it most frequently occurred. The mean of optima for all species at a site, weighted by their abundances, was defined as a community "airscore" indicative of species' collective responses to atmospheric deposition. To determine critical loads for adverse community compositional shifts, we then modeled changes in airscores as a function of deposition, climate and forest habitat predictors in nonparametric multiplicative regression. Critical loads, indicative of initial shifts from pollution-sensitive toward pollution-tolerant species, occurred at 1.5 kg N ha-1 y-1 and 2.7 kg S ha-1 y-1. Importantly, these critical loads remain constant under any climate regime nationwide, suggesting both simplicity and nationwide applicability. Our models predict that preventing excess N deposition of just 0.2-2.0 kg ha-1 y-1 in the next century could offset the detrimental effects of predicted climate warming on lichen communities. Because excess deposition and climate warming both harm the most ecologically influential species, keeping conditions below critical loads would sustain both forest ecosystem functioning and climate resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda H Geiser
- USDA Forest Service, Biological and Physical Resources, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Robert J Smith
- USDA Forest Service, Biological and Physical Resources, Washington, DC, USA.
| | - Sarah E Jovan
- USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Larry St Clair
- M.L. Bean Life Science Museum and Department of Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Karen L Dillman
- USDA Forest Service, Biological and Physical Resources, Washington, DC, USA
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Ellis CJ, Asplund J, Benesperi R, Branquinho C, Di Nuzzo L, Hurtado P, Martínez I, Matos P, Nascimbene J, Pinho P, Prieto M, Rocha B, Rodríguez-Arribas C, Thüs H, Giordani P. Functional Traits in Lichen Ecology: A Review of Challenge and Opportunity. Microorganisms 2021; 9:766. [PMID: 33917569 PMCID: PMC8067525 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9040766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Community ecology has experienced a major transition, from a focus on patterns in taxonomic composition, to revealing the processes underlying community assembly through the analysis of species functional traits. The power of the functional trait approach is its generality, predictive capacity such as with respect to environmental change, and, through linkage of response and effect traits, the synthesis of community assembly with ecosystem function and services. Lichens are a potentially rich source of information about how traits govern community structure and function, thereby creating opportunity to better integrate lichens into 'mainstream' ecological studies, while lichen ecology and conservation can also benefit from using the trait approach as an investigative tool. This paper brings together a range of author perspectives to review the use of traits in lichenology, particularly with respect to European ecosystems from the Mediterranean to the Arctic-Alpine. It emphasizes the types of traits that lichenologists have used in their studies, both response and effect, the bundling of traits towards the evolution of life-history strategies, and the critical importance of scale (both spatial and temporal) in functional trait ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Johan Asplund
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 5003 NO-1432 Ås, Norway;
| | - Renato Benesperi
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Firenze, Via la Pira, 450121 Florence, Italy; (R.B.); (L.D.N.)
| | - Cristina Branquinho
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, C2, Piso 5, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (C.B.); (P.P.); (B.R.)
| | - Luca Di Nuzzo
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Firenze, Via la Pira, 450121 Florence, Italy; (R.B.); (L.D.N.)
| | - Pilar Hurtado
- Área de Biodiversidad y Conservación, Departamento de Biología, Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica, ESCET, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28933 Móstoles, Spain; (P.H.); (I.M.); marí (M.P.); (C.R.-A.)
- Departamento de Biología (Botánica), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, c/Darwin, 2, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Martínez
- Área de Biodiversidad y Conservación, Departamento de Biología, Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica, ESCET, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28933 Móstoles, Spain; (P.H.); (I.M.); marí (M.P.); (C.R.-A.)
| | - Paula Matos
- MARE—Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Juri Nascimbene
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, I-40126 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Pedro Pinho
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, C2, Piso 5, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (C.B.); (P.P.); (B.R.)
| | - María Prieto
- Área de Biodiversidad y Conservación, Departamento de Biología, Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica, ESCET, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28933 Móstoles, Spain; (P.H.); (I.M.); marí (M.P.); (C.R.-A.)
| | - Bernardo Rocha
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, C2, Piso 5, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (C.B.); (P.P.); (B.R.)
| | - Clara Rodríguez-Arribas
- Área de Biodiversidad y Conservación, Departamento de Biología, Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica, ESCET, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28933 Móstoles, Spain; (P.H.); (I.M.); marí (M.P.); (C.R.-A.)
| | - Holger Thüs
- Botany Department, State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart, Rosenstein 1, 70191 Stuttgart, Germany;
| | - Paolo Giordani
- DIFAR, University of Genova, Viale Cembrano, 4, I-16148 Genova, Italy;
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13
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Xie D, Zhao B, Wang S, Duan L. Benefit of China's reduction in nitrogen oxides emission to natural ecosystems in East Asia with respect to critical load exceedance. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 136:105468. [PMID: 31935562 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2019] [Revised: 10/27/2019] [Accepted: 01/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The emission of nitrogen oxides (NOx) in China decreased by 15% from 2010 to 2015 (without a significant decrease in NH3 emission), resulting in the decline of nitrogen (N) deposition in East Asia. Empirical N critical load exceedance was used to assess the benefit of the NOx emission reduction in China to natural ecosystems in East Asia. Empirical N critical loads for major forest and grassland types in East Asia were assigned based on field manipulation experiments for N effects. The critical load map based on the minimum of the critical load range of each vegetation type showed that empirical critical loads were generally lower in the Tibetan Plateau and some parts of northeastern China (≤5 kgN·ha-1·a-1), and higher in northern and southern China (≥20 kgN·ha-1·a-1). Empirical critical loads were also low in some parts of central and northern Japan (≤5 kgN·ha-1·a-1) and the south Korean Peninsula (5-10 kgN·ha-1·a-1). As a benefit of NOx emission reduction in China, N deposition in East Asia decreased significantly from 2010 to 2015. The total area and total amount of critical load exceedance in East Asia declined 4.6% and 14.3% respectively, suggesting great benefits to natural ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danni Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China
| | - Bin Zhao
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, USA
| | - Shuxiao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China; Collaborative Innovation Centre for Regional Environmental Quality, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, PR China
| | - Lei Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China; Collaborative Innovation Centre for Regional Environmental Quality, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, PR China.
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14
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Walker JT, Bell MD, Schwede D, Cole A, Beachley G, Lear G, Wu Z. Aspects of uncertainty in total reactive nitrogen deposition estimates for North American critical load applications. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 690:1005-1018. [PMID: 31302534 PMCID: PMC7724635 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Revised: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 06/21/2019] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Determination of the amount of reactive nitrogen (Nr) deposition in excess of the ecosystem critical load (CL) requires an estimate of total deposition. Because the CL exceedance is used to inform policy decisions, uncertainty in both the CL and the exceedance itself must be understood. In this paper we review the state of the science with respect to the sources of uncertainty in total Nr deposition budgets used for CL assessments in North America and put forth recommendations for research and monitoring to improve deposition measurements and models. In the absence of methods to rigorously quantify uncertainty in total Nr deposition, a simple weighted deposition uncertainty metric (WDUM) is introduced as a tool for scientists and decision makers to use in assessing CL exceedances. Maps of the WDUM applied to National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) Total Deposition (TDep) estimates show greater uncertainty in areas of the U.S. where dry deposition makes a larger contribution to the deposition budget, particularly ammonia (NH3) in agricultural areas and oxidized nitrogen (NOx) in urban areas. Organic N deposition is an important source of uncertainty over much of the U.S. Our analysis illustrates how the WDUM can be used to assess spatial patterns of deposition uncertainty and inform actions to improve deposition budgets for CL assessments at the local scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- John T Walker
- U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development, Durham, NC, United States of America.
| | - Michael D Bell
- National Park Service, Air Resources Division, Lakewood, CO, United States of America
| | - Donna Schwede
- U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Amanda Cole
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Air Quality Research Division, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Greg Beachley
- U.S. EPA, Office of Air Programs, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Gary Lear
- U.S. EPA, Office of Air Programs, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Zhiyong Wu
- U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development, Durham, NC, United States of America
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15
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Abstract
Lichens are symbiotic organisms susceptible to environmental alteration due to their morphological and physiological features. For this reason, researchers and decision-makers are extensively using lichen biomonitoring for assessing the effects of various anthropogenic disturbances. The Special Issue was launched to fulfil some knowledge gaps in this field, such as the development of procedures to interpret and compare results. The SI includes three reviews that explore the application of lichen biomonitoring for detecting the effects of climate change. Three articles and one review paper examined the use at a decision level of biomonitoring of air pollution employing lichens, including the application in environmental forensic. Finally, six research articles are illustrative examples of lichen biomonitoring in poorly known habitats, providing data from the physiological to the community level of observation, and pose the basis for extending comparable approaches on a global scale.
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