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THE ASSESSMENT OF NITROGEN FIXATION AND THROUGHPUT BY LICHENS IV. NITROGEN LOSSES FROM PELTIGERA MEMBRANACEA (Ach.) Nyl. IN AUTUMN, WINTER AND SPRING
Author(s) -
MILLBANK J. W.,
OLSEN J. D.
Publication year - 1986
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.1469-8137.1986.tb00665.x
Subject(s) - lichen , thallus , epiphyte , moss , nitrogen , nitrogen fixation , nitrogenase , botany , dew , biology , dry weight , environmental chemistry , chemistry , physics , organic chemistry , condensation , thermodynamics
SUMMARY Undisturbed associations of Peltigera membranacea and associated mosses were held under simulated autumn, winter and spring conditions in a specially constructed, controlled‐environment chamber providing an atmosphere enriched with labelled nitrogen. Simulated rainfall via a programmable sprinkler system was incorporated, and the liquid run‐off was collected during 4 week experimental periods. Dry weight, total nitrogen and 15 N labelling of the moss, lichen and run‐off liquid were determined, and nitrogenase activity of the lichen thalli was estimated by acetylene reduction at the end of the tests. It was estimated that the mosses derived direct nutritional benefit from nitrogen compounds leached from the lichen thalli, but due to simultaneous nitrogen‐fixing activity by epiphytes strictly quantitative estimates of the beneficial effects of the lichen were unobtainable.