不同质量浓度苦草对铜绿微囊藻生长及抗氧化酶系统的影响

采用苦草（Vallisneria spiralis Linn.）和铜绿微囊藻（Microcystis aeruginosa）共生培养的实验方法,通过追踪测定铜绿微囊藻的生物量、叶绿素a含量、丙二醛（MDA）含量、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）和过氧化物酶（POD）活性,研究了不同质量浓度苦草对铜绿微囊藻生长及抗氧化酶系统的影响。结果表明,质量浓度大于10 g/L时,苦草对铜绿微囊藻有明显的抑制作用,表现为苦草质量浓度为10、20和40 g/L时,第15天对铜绿微囊藻的抑制率分别为63.3%、94.7%和99.8%,培养过程中,铜绿微囊藻的叶绿素a含量逐渐减少,而SOD、POD活性及MDA含量呈现先增加后逐渐降低的趋势,表明苦草释放的化感物质在经过一定时间积累后能够明显抑制铜绿微囊藻SOD和POD的活性,引起细胞的氧化损伤,促进叶绿素的分解,从而导致藻类死亡,这是苦草抑制铜绿微囊藻生长的原因之一。     

不同质量浓度黄菖蒲和狭叶香蒲对铜绿微囊藻的化感作用简

分别采用黄菖蒲（Iris pseudacorus L.）、狭叶香蒲（Typha angustifolia L.）和铜绿微囊藻（Microcystis aeruginosa）共生培养的实验方法研究了不同质量浓度黄菖蒲、狭叶香蒲对铜绿微囊藻的化感作用。结果表明，黄菖蒲在质量浓度大于10 g/L时对初始密度为1.0×10⁷ ind/mL的铜绿微囊藻具有较好的抑制作用，表现为黄菖蒲质量浓度为10、20和40 g/L时，第15天对铜绿微囊藻的抑制率分别为30.1%、51.8%和84.0%；狭叶香蒲在质量浓度大于20 g/L时对铜绿微囊藻有明显的抑制作用，表现为狭叶香蒲质量浓度为20 g/L和40 g/L时，第15天对铜绿微囊藻的抑制率分别为34.2%和77.7%，实验过程中，铜绿微囊藻叶绿素a含量逐渐减少，而藻密度、SOD活性及MDA含量先增加后逐渐降低，表明经过一段时间持续地化感胁迫，黄菖蒲和狭叶香蒲可以诱导铜绿微囊藻产生氧化胁迫，导致细胞结构严重损伤和叶绿素大量分解，从而强烈抑制铜绿微囊藻的生长。     

不同质量浓度黄莒蒲和狭叶香蒲对铜绿微囊藻的化感作用

分别采用黄菖蒲（IrispseudacorusL．）、狭叶香蒲（TyphaangustifoliaL．）和铜绿微囊藻（Microcystisaeruginosa）共生培养的实验方法研究了不同质量浓度黄菖蒲、狭叶香蒲对铜绿微囊藻的化感作用。结果表明，黄菖蒲在质量浓度大于10g／L时对初始密度为1．0×10^7ind／mL的铜绿微囊藻具有较好的抑制作用，表现为黄菖蒲质量浓度为10、20和40g／L时，第15天对铜绿微囊藻的抑制率分别为30．1％、51．8％和84．0％；狭叶香蒲在质量浓度大于20g／L时对铜绿微囊藻有明显的抑制作用，表现为狭叶香蒲质量浓度为20g／L和40g／L时，第15天对铜绿微囊藻的抑制率分别为34．2％和77．7％，实验过程中，铜绿微囊藻叶绿素a含量逐渐减少，而藻密度、SOD活性及MDA含量先增加后逐渐降低，表明经过一段时间持续地化感胁迫，黄菖蒲和狭叶香蒲可以诱导铜绿微囊藻产生氧化胁迫，导致细胞结构严重损伤和叶绿素大量分解，从而强烈抑制铜绿微囊藻的生长。     

共培养条件下黄菖蒲和狭叶香蒲对铜绿微囊藻光合系统的影响

采用共培养的实验方法,通过测定铜绿微囊藻(Microcystis aeruginosa)叶绿素a含量及叶绿素荧光参数,研究了黄菖蒲(Iris pseudacorus L.)和狭叶香蒲(Typha angustifolia L.)对铜绿微囊藻光合系统的影响。结果表明,共培养条件下,黄菖蒲和狭叶香蒲对铜绿微囊藻的光合系统具有明显的化感作用,表现为,处理组中铜绿微囊藻的叶绿素a含量从第4天开始显著(Paried t-test,p0.05)低于对照组;培养过程中,YⅡ(光系统Ⅱ有效量子产量)和Fv/Fm(光系统Ⅱ最大量子产量)值也呈现逐渐下降的趋势,说明黄菖蒲和狭叶香蒲对铜绿微囊藻产生了化感抑制,光合效率和光能转化效率下降;而Ik(半饱和光强)和α(光限制斜率)值呈现先增加后逐渐降低的趋势,从第4天开始显著(Paried t-test,p0.05)低于对照组,表明黄菖蒲和狭叶香蒲的化感作用在短时间内可以激发铜绿微囊藻对光强的耐受能力并能提高藻的光能利用效率,但是随着化感时间的延长,铜绿微囊藻对强光的耐受能力及光能利用效率下降。     

美人蕉有机酸组分对铜绿微囊藻的化感作用

对美人蕉叶片水浸提液进行液液萃取得到美人蕉有机酸组分,研究了美人蕉有机酸组分对铜绿微囊藻化感抑制作用,实验结果表明,美人蕉有机酸组分对铜绿微囊藻生长具有低促高抑作用,13.3 g/L和20.0 g/L处理组6 d后抑制率分别达到98.57%和99.37%,铜绿微囊藻在高浓度美人蕉有机酸组分下,叶绿素含量逐渐降低,总超氧化物歧化酶(TSOD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性出现先增大后减小,说明美人蕉有机酸组分可能通过对铜绿微囊藻抗氧化酶系统逐渐损伤,最终藻类死亡。通过气相色谱-质谱(GC-MS)分析,鉴定出美人蕉有机酸组分共含有32种有机酸成分,其中饱和脂肪酸18种、不饱和脂肪酸7种、芳香酸5种以及酚酸2种。     

AgBiO3对铜绿微囊藻生长的致毒效应

研究了AgBiO3对铜绿微囊藻生长的致毒效应.结果表明,培养液中Ag 的胁迫使铜绿微囊藻的生长繁殖受到明显抑制;由于铜绿微囊藻自身的防御机制,在受到胁迫时其细胞密度随着Ag 浓度的升高呈不对称"V"形变化;在一定铜绿微囊藻密度范围内,Ag 96h半数有效浓度(96h-EC50(y))和投加AgBiO3时初始藻细胞密度(x)之间存在线性关系:y=0.049 7x-0.051 1;在投加Ag 24h后,培养液上清液中Ag 浓度低于<生活饮用水卫生标准>(GB5749-2006)限值.因此,可以利用AgBiO3对铜绿微囊藻生长的致毒效应,将投加银系杀藻剂作为铜绿微囊藻水华控制措施之一.     

作物秸秆对铜绿微囊藻的抑制作用

通过室内模拟实验研究了大麦、水稻和小麦3种作物秸秆对铜绿微囊藻(Microcystis aeruginosa)的抑制作用，并计算了不同秸秆的抑制率和抑制中浓度（EC₅₀）。研究结果表明，大麦秸秆、水稻秸秆和小麦秸秆对铜绿微囊藻的生长有显著的抑制作用，而且随着培养时间和秸秆投加量的增加，抑制作用提高。处理96 h后大麦和水稻秸秆处理下的铜绿微囊藻几乎全部死亡，表明本研究所用不同作物秸秆对铜绿微囊藻的生长有显著的抑制效果。研究结果还表明，大麦、水稻和小麦秸秆对铜绿微囊藻的72 h-EC₅₀由大到小依次是大麦>水稻>小麦，分别为248、334和1 943 mg/L，表明不同植物的秸秆对藻类的影响作用不同。分析3种秸秆抑制铜绿微囊藻生长的原因可能是3种植物秸秆在好氧的条件下可以分解产生多种具有抑藻作用化学物质，如有机酸、含甲基的酚类物质、醇类和酮类物质等，这些物质通过化感作用抑制铜绿微囊藻的生长，尤以大麦秸秆作用最为明显。     

铜绿微囊藻胁迫对宽叶香蒲叶片光呼吸特性的影响

采用共生培养的实验方法,通过追踪测定宽叶香蒲(Typha latifolia)叶片中叶绿素含量、净光合速率、光呼吸速率及乙醇酸氧化酶(GO)、谷氨酰胺合成酶(GS)及过氧化氢酶(CAT)的活性,研究不同初始密度铜绿微囊藻(Microcystis aeruginosa)对宽叶香蒲叶片光呼吸特性的影响。结果表明,铜绿微囊藻初始密度为1.0×104ind/m L时,宽叶香蒲叶片叶绿素含量、净光合速率、光呼吸速率及GO、GS及CAT的活性增加,说明低密度铜绿微囊藻对宽叶香蒲叶片的光合作用及光呼吸具有促进作用;铜绿微囊藻初始密度为1.0×107ind/m L时,宽叶香蒲叶片净光合速率、光呼吸速率及GO、GS及CAT的活性呈现先增加后降低的趋势,表明经过一段时间培养后,高密度铜绿微囊藻对宽叶香蒲叶片的光合作用和光呼吸呈现出抑制作用。但是在净光合速率急剧降低的时候,光呼吸速率在短时间内仍然维持在一个较高水平,说明宽叶香蒲可能通过维持或增强光呼吸在一定程度上抵抗逆境胁迫。     

广玉兰、龙爪槐和黄杨化感物质对铜绿微囊藻生长的抑制

针对水华的主要物种——铜绿微囊藻,初步测定了60种植物的浸提液对其细胞增殖的抑制率。结果表明,8种植物的浸提液对铜绿微囊藻生长的抑制率达到90%以上。其中,广玉兰、龙爪槐和黄杨叶片浸提液对铜绿微囊藻生长的抑制率分别达到97.4%、95.6%和91.2%。通过计算得到培养7d后广玉兰、龙爪槐和黄杨的50%抑制效应质量浓度(EC50)分别为0.52、1.04、5.87g/L,而90%抑制效应质量浓度(EC90)分别为3.79、6.45、9.09g/L。首次发现此3种植物浸提液中富含能抑制铜绿微囊藻细胞增殖的化学物质,可以作为抑藻化感物质的一个重要来源。根据EC50和EC90对培养时间的拟合方程判断,广玉兰和龙爪槐浸提液对铜绿微囊藻的抑制效果较黄杨浸提液更为长效,且由于其抑制效果优于农作物秸秆,具有进一步研究的价值。     

水罗兰对不同密度铜绿微囊藻抑制作用的研究

通过水罗兰与铜绿微囊藻共培养12 d,研究了水罗兰对低密度、高密度的铜绿微囊藻的抑制作用.结果表明,铜绿微囊藻初始光密度(OD680)分别为0.026、0.257时,水罗兰可显著抑制铜绿微囊藻的生长,使其OD680降低.水质检测结果显示,培养过程中共培养液营养盐浓度一直处于较高水平,铜绿微囊藻OD680降低及生长停滞并非因营养不足所引起.通过实验证实了水罗兰可作为铜绿微囊藻水华控制的生态修复物种.     

Radionuclides and trace elements in fish collected upstream and downstream of Los Alamos national laboratory and the doses to humans from the consumption of muscle and bone

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine radionuclide and trace element concentrations in bottom‐feeding fish (catfish, carp, and suckers) collected from the confluences of some of the major canyons that cross Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) lands with the Rio Grande (RG) and the potential radiological doses from the ingestion of these fish. Samples of muscle and bone (and viscera in some cases) were analyzed for ³H, ⁹⁰Sr, ¹³⁷Cs, ^totU, ²³⁸Pu, ^239,240Pu, and ²⁴¹Am and Ag, As, Ba, Be, Cr, Cd, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, and Tl. Most radionuclides, with the exception of ⁹⁰Sr, in the muscle plus bone portions of fish collected from LANL canyons/RG were not significantly (p<0.05) higher from fish collected upstream (San Ildefonso/background) of LANL. Strontium‐90 in fish muscle plus bone tissue significantly (p<0.05) increases in concentration starting from Los Alamos Canyon, the most upstream confluence (fish contained 3.4E‐02 pCi g^‐1 [126E‐02 Bq kg^‐1]), to Frijoles Canyon, the most downstream confluence (fish contained 14E‐02 pCi g^‐1 [518E‐02 Bq kg^‐1]). The differences in ⁹⁰Sr concentrations in fish collected downstream and upstream (background) of LANL, however, were very small. Based on the average concentrations (±2SD) of radionuclides in fish tissue from the four LANL confluences, the committed effective dose equivalent from the ingestion of 46 lb (21 kg) (maximum ingestion rate per person per year) of fish muscle plus bone, after the subtraction of background, was 0.1 ± 0.1 mrem y^‐1 (1.0 ± 1.0 μSv y^‐1), and was far below the International Commission on Radiological Protection (all pathway) permissible dose limit of 100 mrem y^‐1 (1000 μSv y^‐1). Of the trace elements that were found above the limits of detection (Ba, Cu, and Hg) in fish muscle collected from the confluences of canyons that cross LANL and the RG, none were in significantly higher (p<0.05) concentrations than in muscle of fish collected from background locations.     

Radionuclides in deer and elk from Los Alamos national laboratory and the doses to humans from the ingestion of muscle and bone

Abstract

This paper summarizes radionuclide concentrations (³H, ⁹⁰Sr, ¹³⁷Cs, ²³⁸Pu, ^239,240Pu, ²⁴¹Am, and ^totU) in muscle and bone tissue of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus) collected from Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, New Mexico, lands from 1991 through 1998. Also, the committed effective dose equivalent (CEDE) and the risk of excess cancer fatalities (RECF) to people who ingest muscle and bone from deer and elk collected from LANL lands were estimated. Most radionuclide concentrations in muscle and bone from individual deer (n = 11) and elk (n = 22) collected from LANL lands were either at less than detectable quantities (where the analytical result was smaller than two counting uncertainties) and/or within upper (95%) level background (BG) concentrations. As a group, most radionuclides in muscle and bone of deer and elk from LANL lands were not significantly higher (p<0.10) than in similar tissues from deer (n = 3) and elk (n = 7) collected from BG locations. Also, elk that had been radio collared and tracked for two years and spent an average time of 50% on LANL lands were not significantly different in most radionuclides from road kill elk that have been collected as part of the environmental surveillance program. Overall, the upper (95%) level net CEDEs (the CEDE plus two sigma for each radioisotope minus background) at the most conservative ingestion rate (50 lbs of muscle and 13 lbs of bone) were as follows: deer muscle = 0.22 mrem y^‐1 (2.2 μSv y^‐1), deer bone = 3.8 mrem y^‐1 (38 μSv y^‐1), elk muscle = 0.12 mrem y^‐1 (1.2 μSv y^‐1), and elk bone = 1.7 mrem y^‐1 (17 μSv y^‐1). All CEDEs were far below the International Commission on Radiological Protection guideline of 100 mrem y^‐1 (1000 μSv y^‐1), and the highest muscle plus bone net CEDE corresponded to a RECF of 2E‐06, which is far below the Environmental Protection Agency upper level guideline of 1E‐04.     

Patterns of volatile metabolites and nonvolatile trichothecenes produced by isolates of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stachybotrys,Fusarium, Trichoderma,Trichothecium</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Memnoniella</Emphasis>

We reported previously that trichodiene, a volatile trichothecene derivative, was produced by a Stachybotrys isolate, also known to produce highly cytotoxic, non-volatile, macrocyclic trichothecenes (satrotoxins). We investigated the relationship between the production of trichodiene and various non-volatile trichothecenes for several molds. Volatile metabolites were concentrated by adsorption on Tenax TA and analyzed by GC/MS, while non-volatile metabolites were separated by HPLC, derivatized and analyzed by GC/MS. Stachybotrys chartarum isolates producing macrocyclic trichothecenes secreted significantly larger amounts of trichodiene and other sesquiterpenes than isolates which only produced simple trichothecenes. The amounts of secreted trichodiene were relatively small in all cases. With the exception of Memnoniella, which excreted small amounts of sesquiterpenes, the other isolates produced varying amounts of sesquiterpenes, including trichodiene, as well as simple tricothecenes, no detectable trichodiene, but large amounts of griseofulvin derivatives. In Stachybotrys there is apparently a correlation between trichodiene and macrocyclic trichothecene production. In the remaining isolates, there was no simple relationship between trichodiene and non-volatile trichothecene synthesis. Trichodiene is produced in larger amounts by Stachybotrys isolates, which also produce satratoxins, but it will be difficult to utilize this metabolite to detect toxic isolates in buildings due to the relatively small amounts excreted.     

Leaching of seven pesticides currently used in cotton crop in Mato Grosso State—Brazil

This study aimed to evaluate the leaching of pesticides and the applicability of the Attenuation Factor (AF) Model to predict their leaching. The leaching of carbofuran, carbendazim, diuron, metolachlor, α and β endosulfan and chlorpyrifos was studied in an Oxisol using a field experiment lysimeter located in Dom Aquino – Mato Grosso. The samples of percolated water were collected by rain event and analyzed. Chemical and physical soil attributes were determined before pesticide application to the plots. The results showed that carbofuran was the pesticide that presented a higher leaching rate in the studied soil, so was the one representing the highest contamination potential. From the total carbofuran applied in the soil surface, around 6 % leached below 50 cm. The other pesticides showed lower mobility in the studied soil. The calculated values to AF were 7.06E-12 (carbendazim), 5.08E-03 (carbofuran), 3.12E-17 (diuron), 6.66E-345 (α-endosulfan), 1.47E-162 (β-endosulfan), 1.50E-06 (metolachlor), 3.51E-155 (chlorpyrifos). AF Model was useful to classify the pesticides' potential for contamination; however, that model underestimated pesticide leaching.     

Endosulfan in China 2—emissions and residues

Background, aim, and scope  Endosulfan is one of the organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and also a candidate to be included in a group of new persistent organic pollutants (UNEP 2007). The first national endosulfan usage inventories in China with 1/4° longitude by 1/6° latitude resolution has been reported in an accompanying paper. In the second part of the paper, we compiled the gridded historical emissions and soil residues of endosulfan in China from the usage inventories. Based on the residue/emission data, gridded concentrations of endosulfan in Chinese soil and air have been calculated. These inventories will provide valuable data for the further study of endosulfan. Methods  Emission and residue of endosulfan were calculated from endosulfan usage by using a simplified gridded pesticide emission and residue model—SGPERM, which is an integrated modeling system combining mathematical model, database management system, and geographic information system. By using the emission and residue inventories, annual air and soil concentrations of endosulfan in each cell were determined. Results and discussion  Historical gridded emission and residue inventories of α- and β-endosulfan in agricultural soil in China with 1/4° longitude by 1/6° latitude resolution have been created. Total emissions were around 10,800 t, with α-endosulfan at 7,400 t and β-endosulfan at 3,400 t from 1994 to 2004. The highest residues were 140 t for α-endosulfan and 390 t for β-endosulfan, and the lowest residues were 0.7 t for α-endosulfan and 170 t for β-endosulfan in 2004 in Chinese agricultural soil where endosulfan was applied. Based on the emission and residue inventories, concentrations of α- and β-endosulfan in Chinese air and agricultural surface soil were also calculated for each grid cell. We have estimated annual averaged air concentrations and the annual minimum and maximum soil concentrations across China. The real concentrations will be different from season to season. Although our model does not consider the transport of the insecticide in the atmosphere, which could be very important in some areas during some special time, the estimated concentrations of endosulfan in Chinese air and soil derived from the endosulfan emission and residue inventories are in general consistent with the published monitoring data. Conclusions  To our knowledge, this work is the first inventory of this kind for endosulfan published on a national scale. Concentrations of the chemical in Chinese air and agricultural surface soil were calculated for each grid cell. Results show that the estimated concentrations of endosulfan in Chinese air and soil agree reasonably well with the monitoring data in general. Recommendations and perspectives  The gridded endosulfan emission/residue inventories and also the air and soil concentration inventories created in this study will be updated upon availability of new information, including usage and monitoring data. The establishment of these inventories for the OCP is important for both scientific communities and policy makers.     

Impact of spiked concentrations of Cd,Pb, As and Zn in growth medium on elemental uptake of Nasturtium officinale (Watercress)

This study is aimed at investigating the impact of water quality on the uptake and distribution of three non-essential and toxic elements, namely, As, Cd and Pb in the watercress plant to assess for metal toxicity. The plant was hydroponically cultivated under greenhouse conditions, with the growth medium being spiked with varying concentrations of As, Cd and Pb. Plants that were harvested weekly for elemental analysis showed physiological and morphological symptoms of toxicity on exposure to high concentrations of Cd and Pb. Plants exposed to high concentrations of As did not survive and the threshold for As uptake in watercress was established at 5 ppm. Translocation factors were low in all cases as the toxic elements accumulated more in the roots of the plant than the edible leaves. The impact of Zn on the uptake of toxic elements was also evaluated and Zn was found to have an antagonistic effect on uptake of both Cd and Pb with no notable effect on uptake of As. The findings indicate that phytotoxicity or death of the watercress plant would prevent it from being a route of human exposure to high concentrations of As, Cd and Pb in the environment.     

Butyltin compounds in sediment and fish from the Polish Coast of the Baltic Sea

Concentrations of mono- (MBT), di- (DBT), and tri-(TBT) butyltin compounds were measured in eggs, liver, and muscle of nine species of fish from four regions of the Baltic Sea - the Firth of Vistula, the Gulf of Gdańsk, Puck Bay, and the mouth of the Vistula River. The overall concentration ranges among all the fish sampled from the four sites were: < 7 to 79 ng/g for MBT, 6 to 1100 ng/g for DBT, 7 to 3600 ng/g for TBT, and 16 to 4800 ng/g for total BTs, on a wet wt basis. The highest concentration of total BTs was found in herring liver from the Firth of Vistula (4800 ng/g, wet wt) and in roach muscle from Puck Bay (3300 ng/g, wet wt), while the least concentration was found in burbot eggs and liver from the Vistula River (39 and 32 ng/g, wet wt, respectively). TBT was the major form of BTs present in most samples analyzed. Sediment samples collected from shipyards in the Gulf of Gdańsk contained butyltin concentrations ranging from 1.2 to 46 μg/g (dry wt) for MBT, 2.0 to 42 μg/g for DBT, and 2.6 to 40 μg/g for TBT. As with the fish, the majority of the BTs in sediment were present as TBT, which suggested recent exposure of the aquatic environment of the region to TBT.     

Malathion-induced sublethal toxicity on the hematology of cricket frog (Fejervarya limnocharis)

The effect of malathion [diethyl(dimethoxythiophosphorylthio)succinate] at sublethal concentration (0.006 ppm) on hematological parameters of the cricket frog (Fejervarya limnocharis) was studied for 24 hrs to 240 hrs of exposure and remarkable hematological alterations were observed. The study on hematological parameters revealed a highly significant decrease (P < 0.01) in the total erythrocytes count in malathion-exposed animals from 24 hours to 96 hrs of exposure as compared to control. Significant decreases (P < 0.01) of hemoglobin and packed cell volume were also observed from 48 hrs to 240 hrs. A significant increase (P < 0.01) in leucocytes count was noted throughout the exposure period. Elevated numbers of lymphocytes and eosinophils as found in the present study revealed lymphocytosis as well as eosinophilia, suggesting that this was a result of direct stimulation of the immunological defense due to the presence of a toxic substance or may be associated with tissue damage. The cytomorphological and cytopathological study of erythrocytes and leucocytes in malathion-exposed frogs at 0.006 ppm concentration revealed various cytotoxic effects at different exposure times. It was noted that the size and the shape of the erythrocytes were subjected to variation in different blood disorders.     

Relation between forest vegetation, atmospheric deposition and site conditions at regional and European scales

Several monitoring programs have been set up to assess effects of atmospheric deposition on forest ecosystems. The aim of the present study was to evaluate effects on the understorey vegetation, based on the first round of a regional (the Netherlands) and a European forest monitoring program. A multivariate statistical analysis showed surprisingly similar results for both data sets; the vegetation appeared to be largely determined by the ‘traditional’ factors soil, climate, and tree species, but there was a small but statistically significant effect of atmospheric deposition. The effects of deposition include a slight shift towards nitrophytic species at high N deposition in the European network, and towards acidophytic species at high S-deposition in the Dutch network. The relatively small effect of atmospheric deposition is understandable in view of the very large natural variation in environmental conditions. Time series of both vegetation and environment are needed to assess deposition effects in detail.