Acid deposition :: Woolly Hair Moss

Latin name: 
Racomitrium lanuginosum

Impact Type: Deposition of pollutant

Key Concerns:

The marked decline of Racomitrium lanuginosum in the southern Pennines since the industrial Revolution (Tallis 1987) may be associated with acid deposition, deposition of sulphate and sulphuric acid in rain and cloud droplets, (Ferguson & Lee 1983a, Thompson & Baddeley 1991). There is also evidence of decline in Scotland where critical loads are exceeded (Fowler et al. 2001). Direct negative effects on mosses are possible with the leaching of base cations from cell membrane s.

Additional Comments:

There are substantial effects of nitrogen deposition on this moss, making it difficult to separate the effects of acidification from those of eutrophication (Baddeley et al 1994). R. lanuginosum abundance is also effected by climate change (Tallis 1995). 

Critical Load/level: 
Critical Load/ Level

No estimate available

References: 
Ferguson, N.P.; Lee, J.A. 1983 Past and present sulphur pollution in the southern Pennines. Atmospheric Environment Atmospheric Environment 17 1131-1137
Fowler, D.; Dragosits, U.; Pitcairn, C.E.R.; Sutton, M.A.; Hall, J.; Roy, D.B.; Weidemann, A. 2001 Deposition of acidifying and eutrophying air pollutants in Scotland: Mapping critical loads, critical levels and exceedances Centre for Ecology and Hydrology report to Scottish Natural Heritage
Tallis, J.H. 1987 Fire and flood at Holme Moss: erosion processes in an upland blanket mire Journal of Ecology 75 1099-1130
Thompson, D.B.A.; Baddeley, J.A.; Woodin, (Eds) S.J.; Farmer, (Eds) A.M. 1991 The effects of acid deposition on nature conservation in Great Britain NCC Focus on Nature Conservation Report 26 17-28
Pollutant: