We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Using Epiphytic Lichens to Monitor Nitrogen Deposition Near Natural Gas Drilling Operations in the Wind River Range, WY, USA.
- Authors
McMurray, Jill; Roberts, Dave; Fenn, Mark; Geiser, Linda; Jovan, Sarah
- Abstract
Rapid expansion of natural gas drilling in Sublette County, WY (1999-present), has raised concerns about the potential ecological effects of enhanced atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition to the Wind River Range (WRR) including the Class I Bridger Wilderness. We sampled annual throughfall (TF) N deposition and lichen thalli N concentrations under forest canopies in four different drainages of the WRR. Measurements of TF N deposition and N concentrations in lichen thalli were highest at plots closest to drilling operations (<30 km). N concentrations in lichens decreased exponentially with distance from drilling activity. Highest TF N deposition, 4.1 kg ha year, coincided with clear evidence of damage to lichen thalli. This deposition value is above estimated preindustrial deposition conditions (0.9 kg N ha year) and regional critical loads (a deposition value below which ecosystem harm is prevented) of N deposition for sensitive ecosystem components. N concentrations in Usnea lapponica were strongly correlated ( r = 0.96) with TF N deposition, demonstrating that elemental analysis of lichen material can be used to estimate TF N deposition. N concentrations below 1.35 % in U. lapponica and 1.12 % in Letharia vulpina were associated with estimated background conditions of 0.9 kg N ha year. Additional lichen sampling in the Bridger Wilderness is recommended to further quantify and monitor spatial patterns of N deposition and to define areas of elevated N deposition.
- Subjects
WIND River Range (Wyo.); WYOMING; EPIPHYTIC lichens; NITROGEN; NATURAL gas
- Publication
Water, Air & Soil Pollution, 2013, Vol 224, Issue 3, p1
- ISSN
0049-6979
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s11270-013-1487-3