Harvard Forest

Data Archive

HF164

Umbilicaria Mammulata and Nitrogen Deposition at Harvard Forest 2006

Related Publications

Data

• hf164-01: nitrogen (preview)

Overview

• Lead: Fern Perkins, Howard Neufeld
• Investigators:
• Contact: Information Manager
• Start date: 2006
• End date: 2006
• Status: complete
• Location: Simes Tract (Harvard Forest)
• Latitude: +42.469 degrees
• Longitude: -72.212 degrees
• Elevation: 245 meter
• Datum: WGS84
• Taxa: Umbilicaria mammulata (rock tripe lichen)
• Release date: 2023
• Language: English
• EML file: knb-lter-hfr.164.12
• DOI: digital object identifier
• EDI: data package
• DataONE: data package
• Related links:
• Study type: short-term measurement
• Research topic: physiological ecology, population dynamics and species interactions
• LTER core area: disturbance patterns, human-environment interactions
• Keywords: carbon, chlorophyll, lichens, nitrogen deposition
• Abstract:

  Atmospheric N has quadrupled due to anthropogenic inputs and is projected to double again by 2050. The lichen Umbilicaria mammulata relies primarily on atmospheric deposition for nutrients, including N. Much of this species’ geographic distribution coincides with the N deposition gradient in the eastern US. We were interested in the potential impacts of N deposition on this species under realistic field conditions. Lichens were collected at six sites, ranging from Maine (low deposition) to West Virginia (high deposition). Thalli were analyzed for %C, %N, C:N, specific thallus weight (a measure of thickness), chlorophyll content, and chlorophyll fluorescence. Using stepwise regression we identified the most predictive model(s) using N deposition, environmental variables, and climate to predict differences in lichen ecophysiology and biochemistry across the gradient. While N deposition was important in predicting some responses, the model that best predicted %N in lichen only included mean minimum temperature, mean annual precipitation, and substrate slope. In controlled experiments at Grandfather Mountain (Linville NC) lichens were fertilized in situ with N to mimic deposition projected for 2050. There were no significant differences between control and fertilized thalli for any response variables, but differences did exist among sites. The results of this study highlight the complexities associated with sampling along a gradient of one factor in a multivariate environment.

• Methods:

  Lichen thalli were collected from rock substrate using a putty knife. Thalli were collected in a manner so that their absence was not obvious (e.g. neighboring thalli were not collected). Chlorophyll was extracted in DMF.

• Organization: Harvard Forest. 324 North Main Street, Petersham, MA 01366, USA. Phone (978) 724-3302. Fax (978) 724-3595.

• Project: The Harvard Forest Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) program examines ecological dynamics in the New England region resulting from natural disturbances, environmental change, and human impacts. (ROR).

• Funding: National Science Foundation LTER grants: DEB-8811764, DEB-9411975, DEB-0080592, DEB-0620443, DEB-1237491, DEB-1832210.

• Use: This dataset is released to the public under Creative Commons CC0 1.0 (No Rights Reserved). Please keep the dataset creators informed of any plans to use the dataset. Consultation with the original investigators is strongly encouraged. Publications and data products that make use of the dataset should include proper acknowledgement.

• License: Creative Commons Zero v1.0 Universal (CC0-1.0)

• Citation: Perkins F, Neufeld H. 2023. Umbilicaria Mammulata and Nitrogen Deposition at Harvard Forest 2006. Harvard Forest Data Archive: HF164 (v.12). Environmental Data Initiative: https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/7f051b161a9e102c93a002430691a3fc.

Detailed Metadata

hf164-01: nitrogen

1. date: date
2. code: code
3. c: percent carbon in lichen (unit: dimensionless / missing value: NA)
4. n: percent nitrogen in lichen (unit: dimensionless / missing value: NA)
5. c.n: ratio of carbon to nitrogen in lichen (unit: dimensionless / missing value: NA)
6. fv.fm: variable divided by maximum chlorophyll fluorescence (unit: dimensionless / missing value: NA)
7. area: area of the plastiquinone pool (unit: squareMillimeters / missing value: NA)
8. stw: lichen thickness (unit: millimeter / missing value: NA)
9. chla.area: ug of chlorophyll a per mm^2 of lichen (unit: microgramPerMillimeterSquared / missing value: NA)
10. chla.weight: ug of chlorophyll a per mg of lichen (unit: microgramPerMilligram / missing value: NA)
11. chlb.area: ug of chlorophyll b per mm^2 of lichen (unit: microgramPerMillimeterSquared / missing value: NA)
12. chlb.weight: ug of chlorophyll b per mg of lichen (unit: microgramPerMilligram / missing value: NA)
13. chlab.area: ug of chlorophyll per mm^2 of lichen (unit: microgramPerMillimeterSquared / missing value: NA)
14. chlab.weight: ug of chlorophyll b per mg of lichen (unit: microgramPerMilligram / missing value: NA)
15. ph.chl: ratio of phaeophytin to chlorophyll in lichen (unit: dimensionless / missing value: NA)