RT info:eu-repo/semantics/preprint
T1 Bulk deposition of atmospheric inorganic nitrogen in mountainous heathland ecosystems in North-Western Spain
A1 Calvo Fernández, Javier
A1 Marcos Porras, Elena María
A1 Calvo Galván, María Leonor
A2 Ecologia
K1 Ecología. Medio ambiente
K1 Bulk nitrogen deposition
K1 Ammonium/nitrate ratio
K1 Nitrogen emission source
K1 Heathland ecosystem
K1 North-Western Spain
AB Nitrogen (N) deposition has been identified as one of the maintraits of terrestrial ecosystems, affecting their structure andfunctioning. Among terrestrial ecosystems, heathlands are characterisedby low nutrient status and highly affected by N deposition. However, fewstudies have been developed under natural field conditions to evaluatethe amount of N deposition in these ecosystems. Therefore, a fieldexperiment was carried out to investigate the inorganic N inputs inmountainous heathlands of North-Western Spain. Two study sites (La Majúaand San Isidro) were selected on the south side of the CantabrianMountains, as a representative monitoring N-sensitive ecosystems. Threereplicated bulk collectors and one rain gauge were installed at eachstudy site to collect monthly rainwater samples over three years. Wetbulk N deposition was different between the study areas (2.81 kg N ha-1year-1 in La Majúa and 4.56 kg N ha-1 year-1 in San Isidro), but showedthe same temporal pattern, with the highest N deposition rate observed inApril and the lowest in August-September. In general, annual wet bulkNO3--N deposition was higher than NH4+-N, reflecting the prevailing NOXemission sources. Depositions of NO3--N were mostly originated by NOXemissions from northern highly industrialized and populated areas ofNorth Spain. The lower NH4+/NO3- ratio in rainwater observed in the studyarea could be due to the decline of traditional land uses (livestockgrazing, heath burning and croplands) associated with NHY emissions.Despite the low rates of N deposition observed in this study, N-sensitiveheathlands in North-Western Spain could be threatened by N depositions.
PB Elsevier
YR 2018
FD 2018-10-30
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10612/8855
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10612/8855
NO Atmospheric Research, 2017, vol. 183
NO P. 237-244
DS BULERIA. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de León
RD 22-may-2024