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 |
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No estimate available |