Metla Project 3516

Boreal forest mosses as indicators of nitrogen deposition

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Duration: 2009-2013   Keywords: Hylocomium splendens, Pleurozium schreberi, bioindicator, biomass, climate, critical load, heavy metal deposition, nitrogen concentration, nitrogen deposition
Research project group: Distinct projects 1 - Structure and function of forest ecosystems

Objectives

The suitability of widely distributed, boreal forest mosses as bioindicators of nitrogen deposition in Finland is to be investigated in the project by determining how the growing environment, composition of nitrogen deposition and factors related to the mosses themselves, affect the nitrogen concentration in mosses. In addition, the role of forests mosses and the cyanobacteria present on the surfaces of mosses in nitrogen cycling in forest ecosystems will also be studied. The research will contribute to the use of mosses as bioindicators of nitrogen deposition, and support the national surveys, carried out at 5-year intervals, on the regional and temporal variation in nitrogen and heavy metal deposition in Finland as a part of the pan-European ICP Vegetation programme. The next survey is to be carried out in 2010. The results can be utilized in determining critical loads for nitrogen, and will provide new information about the biological response of plants to nitrogen deposition under natural conditions. Low levels of nitrogen deposition are known, over the long term, to change the abundance relationships between the understorey vegetation, to increase the susceptibility to fungal pathogens and to affect the structure of the microbial communities in forest soils. Moss species especially are sensitive to increases in nitrogen deposition. The results of the project can also be utilised in studies on the effects of nitrogen deposition levels on the development of eutrophication in boreal, nutrient-poor forest ecosystems

Project leader: Piispanen, Juha
The Finnish Forest Research Institute, Oulu Unit, PO Box 413 (Rakentajantie 3), FI-90014 Oulun yliopisto, FINLAND
Phone: +358 29 532 3720
E-mail: juha.piispanen@metla.fi

Other researchers: Kubin, Eero, OU (2013), Lindroos, Antti-Jussi, VA (2009-10,2013), Merilä, Päivi, OU (2013), Mäkipää, Raisa, VA (2010,2012-13), Poikolainen, Jarmo, OU (2009-13), Salemaa, Maija, VA (2009-13), Smolander, Aino, VA (2010,2012-13)


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Updated 02.02.2013
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