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THE ASSESSMENT OF NITROGEN FIXATION AND THROUGHPUT BY LICHENS
Author(s) -
MILLBANK J. W.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.1982.tb03380.x
Subject(s) - thallus , lichen , moss , nitrogen , biology , botany , labelling , zoology , horticulture , chemistry , biochemistry , organic chemistry
SUMMARY Thalli of Peltigera membranacea, Peltigera polydactyla and Lobaria pulmonaria were labelled with 15 N and subjected to simulated episodes of heavy rainfall after periods of drying in a lighted air‐conditioned incubator. Inorganic and total nitrogen was estimated in the eluates. The drying‐wetting cycle was repeated three times. From the level of 15 N labelling of the eluates, it was evident that recently fixed nitrogen was released, the inorganic fraction (NH 4 + ) being up to three times more heavily labelled than the organic. The amounts of nitrogen lost in successive episodes generally diminished in logarithmic fashion, the level of labelling remaining approximately constant, implying little or no replenishment of mobile material from insoluble reserves. Up to three times the total nitrogen fixed per day could be lost in one rainfall episode. A preliminary trial showed that nitrogen losses from thalli under less rigorous regimes could be of nutritional benefit to the underlying moss substratum.