Synthesis of lichen response to gaseous nitrogen: Ammonia versus nitrogen dioxide

The dominant chemical form of nitrogen pollution in the atmosphere in the U.S. is shifting from oxidized nitrogen, primarily from combustion of fossil fuels, to reduced nitrogen from agricultural animal waste and fertilizer applications. Does it matter to lichens? In this synthesis, we characterize U.S. air concentrations of the most ubiquitous gaseous forms of reduced and oxidized nitrogen, NO2 and NH3, respectively, and their direct effects on lichens. In the U.S., the 3-year average (2017-2019) of the annual mean for each monitoring site ranges up to 56.4 mu g NO2 m(-3) (similar to 30 ppb) and 6 mu g NH3 m(-3) (similar to 9 ppb). The spatial coverage of current routine monitoring of NO(2 )and NH3 likely does not accurately represent exposures of NO2 to ecosystems in rural areas or capture spikes of NH3 concentrations proximal to intensive agriculture, which are documented to exceed 700 mu g NH3 m(-3) (similar to 1000 ppb) for short durations. Both NO2 and NH3 can act as nutrients to lichens, but as exposures rise, both can cause physiological stress and mortality that then change community composition and diversity. There is a growing body of evidence that lichen community composition is altered at current levels of exposure in the U.S. with estimated no effect or lowest effect concentrations from <1 to 3 mu g m(-3 )NO(2) and <1 mu g m(-3 )NH(3). Better spatial characterization of both NO2 and NH3 concentrations, especially near intensive agriculture, would help to characterize the extent of the impacts across the U.S. These findings are discussed in the context of U.S. air pollution policy.

Automated summary

The dominant form of nitrogen pollution in the atmosphere in the U.S. is shifting from oxidized nitrogen to reduced nitrogen. Lichens are sensitive to nitrogen pollution and exposure to nitrogen compounds can alter lichen community composition and diversity. Current monitoring methods may not accurately reflect nitrogen exposure in rural areas, particularly spikes in ammonia concentrations related to intensive agriculture.