Evidence for Atmospheric Deposition Impacts On the Enchytraeid Worm Population of Uk Upland Ombrotrophic Peats

The results of four experiments on acidification effects upon the Enchytraeid worm populations of ombrotrophic peats are reported. in the first, populations were measured in peats from Calluna vulgaris-dominated microcosms collected from along a gradient in N deposition in the UK and subjected for 18 months to simulated precipitation with a solute composition appropriate for their site of collection. There was a significant decline in Enchytraeid population along the N deposition gradient for Calluna-dominant microcosms, but when grasses took over from the Calluna, Enchytraeid numbers increased significantly. in the second experiment, two sets of peat moorland microcosms from a single site, supporting Calluna and Calluna-grass mixed vegetation, were subjected for 12 months to ambient and 2- and 6-times the ambient N deposition. Additional N was added in two forms, as ammonium sulphate and as nitric acid. the high N treatments significantly reduced the Enchytraeid populations for both vegetation types. in a third experiment, the pH preference for the Enchytraeids was assessed using interconnected tubes of peat covering the pH range 2.2–8.7. the preferred pH range after 8 months was 2.7–3.7. in the final experiment, it was found that recolonization with Enchytraeids after initial removal was more rapid under grass dominant vegetation than under Calluna dominant vegetation.     

The Effects of Acidity on Carbon Fluxes from Ombrotrophic Peat

Replicate intact peat/vegetation monoliths were collected along a pollution gradient in the UK and subjected over one year to 1200 mm of simulated rainfall of the same chemical composition as they received in the field. Drainage water was analysed periodically for DOC and pH, and the decomposition rates of Calluna vulgaris and Eriophorum angustifolium leaves were measured, as well as soil atmosphere CO₂ contents and peat matric potentials. the chemical characteristics of the peats as initially sampled from the field also were determined. the results suggest that acidic precipitation has induced chemical changes in ombrotrophic peats, lowering their pH and base status, when due account is taken of calcium deposition or any mineral content. Greater DOC fluxes were observed from the more acid peats, and litter decomposition rates from these peats were reduced.     

Tolerance of calluna vulgaris and peatland plant communities to sulphuric acid deposition

Critical loads offer a unique way of evaluating impacts of acid deposition by quantifying environmental sensitivity. The critical loads of acidity for UK peat soils have been based upon an arbitrary reduction in pH of 0.2 units. This chemical shift needs to be better related to adverse effects on sensitive biological receptors. It is known that effective precipitation pH equates closely to soil solution pH, and the latter is directly linkable to biotic effects of pH change. On continuation of a long-term experiment assessing impacts of simulated acid rain on peat microcosms in a realistic outdoor environment, Calluna vulgaris continued to flourish at acid deposition loads well above the existing critical load. Calluna plants were harvested and analysed, and acid deposition treatments to the microcosms continued to allow natural vegetation to regenerate. A diverse mixture of moorland plants and bryophytes established at acidity treatments well above the existing critical load, and only a very high acid load resulted in no natural regeneration. A critical effective rain pH value of 3.6 is suggested as a basis for setting critical loads. At this pH, Calluna grows well, and a healthy diverse vegetation community re-establishes when harvested. It is suggested that the peat critical load should be set at the acid load that, at any specific site, would result in a mean effective precipitation pH of 3.6.     

Effects of Simulated Sulphuric Acid Deposition On Calluna Vulgaris/Peat Microcosms and Associated Soil Solutions

Calluna vulgaris/peat microcosms have been used in an outdoor simulated acid rain experiment to test a series of hypotheses about sulphuric acid deposition effects upon the growth of Calluna on peat soil, namely: (1) Initially, enhanced acid input will enhance base cation and ammonium concentrations in soil solution. This may enhance uptake of these species, increasing foliar concentrations of base cations and nitrogen, and possibly foliar chlorophyll a and b concentrations. (2) If changes are induced in nutritional status, they may influence plant growth. (3) in the longer term, enhanced ammonium and base cation solubility occurring as a consequence of cation exchange reactions will lead, especially in winter months, to enhanced leaching losses. Hence any positive effects upon plant nutrition will not be sustainable. (4) the peat will acidify significantly over two years, in the shorter term primarily as a consequence of an enhanced mobile anion effect. (5) Acidification may reduce the rate of mineralisation of organic phosphorus and, in a phosphorus-deficient peat soil, this may lead to reduced foliar phosphate concentration and possibly induce phosphorus deficiency.

Most of these hypotheses were supported to some extent by the experimental results. the peat soil solution pH fell immediately in response to the acid treatments, and longer-term acidification continued progressively over the two years of the experiment. in the first year, the treatments significantly influenced the calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and nitrogen status of the leaves from Calluna new shoots, whereas in the second year calcium, potassium and phosphorus were influenced. However, in both years foliar phosphate concentration was enhanced, rather than reduced, in response to increased acid load. Foliar carbon and nitrogen concentrations fell with increasing acidity of     

A Comparison of the Short-Term Dynamics of Soil “Damage” Due to Enhanced Nitrogen Deposition As Ammonium Sulphate Or Nitric Acid

An experiment has been conducted to contrast the effects of enhanced oxidised and reduced nitrogen deposition upon key chemical parameters in a Calluna moorland podzol. A 40 cm deep podzol profile, derived from granite, was reconstructed in one hundred 4.2 cm diameter cores. for 20 weeks, the cores were subjected twice weekly to simulated rainfall containing either twice ambient nitrogen deposition in Aberdeen, or further enhanced nitrogen (further 2- and 6-fold increases) as nitric acid or ammonium sulphate. to quantify the dynamics of soil change in each horizon, randomly selected cores were destructively analysed every two weeks and the soils analysed. Increased nitrogen inputs, regardless of form, substantially and immediately reduced surface soil pH_water via the mobile anion or salt effect. for the higher nitrogen treatments, the pH reduction was seen throughout the profile. Longer term soil acidification was also seen in the pH_{calcium chloride} results over the 20 weeks. at a given nitrogen deposition rate, the effects of ammonium sulphate and nitric acid on soil pH_{calcium chloride} were similar. the ammonium sulphate treatments were especially effective at reducing base saturation throughout much of the profile, the direct base cation leaching being associated with substantial ammonium accumulation. the results suggest that the direct base cation leaching caused by ammonium deposition needs to be considered when assessing atmospheric pollution “damage” to heathland soils.     

A Critical Appraisal of Field Evidence From A Regional Survey for Acid Deposition Effects On Scottish Moorland Podzols

Samples have been collected from major horizons of 34 podzol profiles distributed throughout Scotland, all developed from granite or granitic tills and under Calluna moorland. the pH in water and calcium chloride pastes, exchangeable cations and cation exchange capacity, and extractable aluminium of the soils collected have been measured, and the results studied in relation to reported atmospheric deposition of H⁺, non-marine sulphur and nitrate. for all horizons, significant positive correlations were found between soil pH and rainfall mean pH, as might be expected when the critical load of H⁺ deposition is exceeded. Acidifying pollutant deposition also apparently increased soil extractable aluminium concentrations in the B and C horizons. However, exchangeable base cation concentrations tended to increase, rather than decrease, with increasing precipitation acidity. This effect was attributed to increases in biogeochemical cycling of base cations, increases in leaching inputs of base cations from overlying A/E horizon soils, and increases in the inputs of base cations leached from upslope. the results suggest that the simple steady state mass approach to the quantification of critical loads, as often applied, may be an oversimplification.     

Effects of Simulated Sulphuric Acid Deposition On Calluna Vulgaris/Peat Microcosms and Associated Soil Solutions

Calluna vulgaris/peat microcosms have been used in an outdoor simulated acid rain experiment to test a series of hypotheses about sulphuric acid deposition effects upon the growth of Calluna on peat soil, namely: (1) Initially, enhanced acid input will enhance base cation and ammonium concentrations in soil solution. This may enhance uptake of these species, increasing foliar concentrations of base cations and nitrogen, and possibly foliar chlorophyll a and b concentrations. (2) If changes are induced in nutritional status, they may influence plant growth. (3) in the longer term, enhanced ammonium and base cation solubility occurring as a consequence of cation exchange reactions will lead, especially in winter months, to enhanced leaching losses. Hence any positive effects upon plant nutrition will not be sustainable. (4) the peat will acidify significantly over two years, in the shorter term primarily as a consequence of an enhanced mobile anion effect. (5) Acidification may reduce the rate of mineralisation of organic phosphorus and, in a phosphorus-deficient peat soil, this may lead to reduced foliar phosphate concentration and possibly induce phosphorus deficiency.

Most of these hypotheses were supported to some extent by the experimental results. the peat soil solution pH fell immediately in response to the acid treatments, and longer-term acidification continued progressively over the two years of the experiment. in the first year, the treatments significantly influenced the calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and nitrogen status of the leaves from Calluna new shoots, whereas in the second year calcium, potassium and phosphorus were influenced. However, in both years foliar phosphate concentration was enhanced, rather than reduced, in response to increased acid load. Foliar carbon and nitrogen concentrations fell with increasing acidity of     

模拟氮沉降对森林土壤化学性质的影响

大气氮沉降的增加对森林土壤的影响是近来生态学研究的重要课题。以鼎湖山季风常绿阔叶林（以下简称为“阔叶林”）、马尾松（Pinus massoniana）林、针阔叶混交林（以下简称为“混交林”）和增城木荷（Schima superba）人工幼林等4种林型土壤为研究对象,采用野外原位模拟大气氮沉降的方法,设置3种模拟氮沉降量,即N0（对照,N：0 g·m-2·a-1）、N5（N：5 g·m-2·a-1）、N10（N：10 g·m-2·a-1）,在模拟氮沉降时间分别为42个月（阔叶林）、31个月（马尾松林）、50个月（混交林）、20个月（人工幼林）后,采集0~20 cm土层的林地土壤,分析土壤的化学性质,探讨不同氮沉降量对不同林型土壤化学性质的影响。结果表明,（1）模拟氮沉降对鼎湖山阔叶林、马尾松林、混交林土壤pH值的影响基本一致,均使pH值下降。其中,当氮沉降量达到N10时,阔叶林土壤pH值降为3.97,与对照相比下降了0.11 pH单位,差异达显著性水平（p〈0.05）。而人工幼林土壤pH值未随着氮沉降量的不同而有明显的变化。（2）模拟氮沉降在近2年至4年的时间内,对阔叶林、混交林、人工幼林的土壤有机质、全氮、全磷、全钾、水解性氮、速效磷、速效钾含量的影响均不明显,马尾松林土壤有机质、全氮、全磷、速效磷、速效钾含量也没有明显变化,但模拟氮沉降导致了马尾松林土壤水解性氮含量明显下降,从95.12 mg·kg-1降至84.39 mg·kg-1,差异达显著性水平（p〈0.05）。（3）模拟氮沉降对鼎湖山阔叶林、马尾松林、混交林等3种林型土壤盐基饱和度、盐基离子Ca2＋、Mg2＋、K＋含量的影响未达显著水平,而对这3种林型土壤交换性Na＋含量的影响则较明显且影响趋势基本一致,即氮沉降的增加导致了土壤交换性Na＋含量明显下降。在N10处理下,与对照相比,这3种林型的土壤交换性Na＋含量分别下降了40.0%、68.4%、50.0%,差异达显著性水平（p〈0.05）。氮沉降对人工幼林土壤盐基离子含量无明显的影响。由此可得出结论：在近2年至4年的时间内,氮沉降的增加能引起鼎湖山3种林型土壤尤其是阔叶林土壤加速酸化,引起交换性Na＋明显淋失,以及马尾松林土壤水解性氮含量明显下降;但氮沉降的增加对木荷人工幼林土壤化学性质暂无明显的影响。后者可能与该林型模拟氮沉降时间较短、林龄较轻而处于快速生长期等因素有关。     

施氮与凋落物去除影响下中亚热带阔叶林土壤氮素矿化潜势和硝化潜势研究

氮沉降影响土壤氮循环,而凋落物是土壤有机氮的主要来源,因此,为了探讨氮沉降和凋落物是否去除作用下,亚热带森林土壤潜在的氮素矿化与硝化作用,选择已进行8年模拟氮沉降试验的亚热带罗浮栲(Castanopsis fabri)常绿阔叶林土壤为研究对象,野外样地氮添加设置3个水平:对照(CK,0 kg·hm?2·a?1)、低氮(...     

模拟氮沉降对土壤酸化和土壤盐基离子含量的影响

在温室内对1年生盆栽杉木幼苗进行模拟试验,以研究氮沉降对土壤酸化和土壤盐基离子含量的影响.以NH4NO3为外加氮源,设置5种处理,分别为N0(对照,0 g m-2 a-1,以N计,下同)、N1(6 g m-2 a-1)、N2(12 g m-2 a-1)、N3(24 g m-2 a-1)和N4(48 g m-2 a-1),每处理重复6次.经过18个月的处理后,对盆栽土壤进行取样分析.结果显示,随着氮沉降量的增加,土壤pH值逐渐下降,而土壤交换性酸度和交换性Al3+则不断增加.经N1、N2、N3和N4处理后,土壤交换性盐基总量分别下降6.29%、8.94%、10.07%和10.38%,土壤阳离子交换量分别下降5.07%、7.27%、8.53%和8.83%.随氮沉降量的增加,土壤NH4+-N、NO3--N含量逐渐增加.低氮处理(N1、N2)使土壤交换性K+、Ca2+、Mg2+含量增加,而高氮处理(N3、N4)则呈相反趋势.氮沉降由于增加了土壤活性氮的含量,加速了土壤酸化,从而导致了盐基离子的淋失.图3表3参41     

A Comparison of the Short-Term Dynamics of Soil “Damage” Due to Enhanced Nitrogen Deposition As Ammonium Sulphate Or Nitric Acid

An experiment has been conducted to contrast the effects of enhanced oxidised and reduced nitrogen deposition upon key chemical parameters in a Calluna moorland podzol. A 40 cm deep podzol profile, derived from granite, was reconstructed in one hundred 4.2 cm diameter cores. for 20 weeks, the cores were subjected twice weekly to simulated rainfall containing either twice ambient nitrogen deposition in Aberdeen, or further enhanced nitrogen (further 2- and 6-fold increases) as nitric acid or ammonium sulphate. to quantify the dynamics of soil change in each horizon, randomly selected cores were destructively analysed every two weeks and the soils analysed. Increased nitrogen inputs, regardless of form, substantially and immediately reduced surface soil pH_water via the mobile anion or salt effect. for the higher nitrogen treatments, the pH reduction was seen throughout the profile. Longer term soil acidification was also seen in the pH_{calcium chloride} results over the 20 weeks. at a given nitrogen deposition rate, the effects of ammonium sulphate and nitric acid on soil pH_{calcium chloride} were similar. the ammonium sulphate treatments were especially effective at reducing base saturation throughout much of the profile, the direct base cation leaching being associated with substantial ammonium accumulation. the results suggest that the direct base cation leaching caused by ammonium deposition needs to be considered when assessing atmospheric pollution “damage” to heathland soils.     

泥炭生物脱臭技术研究

本文介绍生物脱臭的应用及其原理；并以自采的泥炭为载体，以硫化氢氧为试验气体，进行原始泥炭以及经过各种处理后泥炭臭性能的对比试验，由试验证明泥 一种比较理想的脱臭生物载体。     

Nitrogen critical loads for alpine vegetation and terrestrial ecosystem response: are we there yet?

Increases in the deposition of anthropogenic nitrogen (N) have been linked to several terrestrial ecological changes, including soil biogeochemistry, plant stress susceptibility, and community diversity. Recognizing the need to identify sensitive indicators of biotic response to N deposition, we empirically estimated the N critical load for changes in alpine plant community composition and compared this with the estimated critical load for soil indicators of ecological change. We also measured the degree to which alpine vegetation may serve as a sink for anthropogenic N and how much plant sequestration is related to changes in species composition. We addressed these research goals by adding 20, 40, or 60 kg N x ha(-1) x yr(-1), along with an ambient control (6 kg N x ha(-1) x yr(-1) total deposition), to a species-rich alpine dry meadow for an eight-year period. Change in plant species composition associated with the treatments occurred within three years of the initiation of the experiment and were significant at all levels of N addition. Using individual species abundance changes and ordination scores, we estimated the N critical loads (total deposition) for (1) change in individual species to be 4 kg N x ha(-1) yr(-1) and (2) for overall community change to be 10 kg N x ha(-1) x yr(-1). In contrast, increases in NO3- leaching, soil solution inorganic NO3-, and net N nitrification occurred at levels above 20 kg N x ha(-1) x yr(-1). Increases in total aboveground biomass were modest and transient, occurring in only one of the three years measured. Vegetative uptake of N increased significantly, primarily as a result of increasing tissue N concentrations and biomass increases in subdominant species. Aboveground vegetative uptake of N accounted for <40% of the N added. The results of this experiment indicate that changes in vegetation composition will precede detectable changes in more traditionally used soil indicators of ecosystem responses to N deposition and that changes in species composition are probably ongoing in alpine dry meadows of the Front Range of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Feedbacks to soil N cycling associated with changes in litter quality and species composition may result in only short-term increases in vegetation N pools.     

Community diversity and distribution of ammonia-oxidizing archaea in marsh wetlands in the black soil zone in North-east China

AOA amoA genes in the soils of the two wetlands affiliated with three lineages. The main drivers of AOA community were pH and total organic carbon and ammonium. The soil characteristics rather than the vegetation control the AOA community. Since its first detection, ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) have been proven to be ubiquitous in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. In this study, two freshwater marsh wetlands- the Honghe wetland and Qixinghe wetland – in the black soil zone in North-east China were chosen to investigate the AOA community diversity and distribution in wetland soils with different vegetation and depth. In the Honghe wetland, two sampling locations were chosen as the dominant plant transited from Deyeuxia to Carex. In the Qixinghe wetland, one sample location that was dominated by Deyeuxia was chosen. Samples of each location were collected from three different depths, and Illumina MiSeq platform was used to generate the AOA amoA gene archive. The results showed that the AOA amoA genes in the soils of the two wetlands were affiliated with three lineages: Nitrososphaera, Nitrosotalea, and Nitrosopumilus clusters. The different dominant status of these AOA lineages indicated their differences in adapting to acidic habitat, oxygenic/hypoxic alternation, organic matter, and other environmental factors, suggesting high diversity among AOA in marsh soils. The main driver of the AOA community was pH, along with organic carbon and ammonium nitrogen, which also played an important role combined with many other environmental factors. Thus, soil physiochemical characteristics, rather than vegetation, were the main cause of AOA community diversity in the wetlands in the black soil zone in China.     

模拟氮沉降对入侵植物薇甘菊光合特性的影响

该文将探讨氮沉降对外来植物薇甘菊（Mikania micrantha）光合特性的影响。在广州东北郊薇甘菊生长的木荷（Schima superba）人工幼林地进行模拟氮沉降处理,以NH4NO3作为氮源,设置3个氮沉降水平,分别为N0（N：0 g·m-2·a-1）、N5（N：5 g·m-2·a-1）以及N10（N：10 g·m-2·a-1）。在模拟氮沉降的26个月后,采用LI-6400便携式光合仪对不同氮沉降处理下薇甘菊（Mikania micrantha）光合特性进行了测定,分析了不同氮沉降处理之间薇甘菊光合生理指标的差异。结果表明：在试验时间内,不同氮沉降处理之间的薇甘菊净光合速率（Pn）、气孔导度（Gs）、蒸腾速率（Tr）和水分利用效率（WUE）日均值的差异不显著（p〉0.05）,但这些光合生理指标的大小均表现为N10？N5？N0,氮沉降一定程度提高了薇甘菊的光合作用,可能加速薇甘菊的生物入侵。光合有效辐射（PAR）是影响薇甘菊净光合速率（Pn）的主导因子,其次为叶片温度（Tl）和大气温度（Ta）,它们均与Pn呈极显著正相关（p〈0.01）,而与空气相对湿度（RH）呈不显著的负相关（p？0.05）。氮处理对薇甘菊最大净光合速率（P′max）、表观量子效率（a）、暗呼吸速率（Rd）、光饱和点（LSP）和光补偿点（LCP）的影响不明显（p？0.05）。P′max、a、LSP和LCP分别介于21.21~22.07、0.058~0.059、1546.0~1653.3和8.0~9.3μmol·m-2·s-1之间,在氮沉降下薇甘菊表现出高光合潜力及强阳性植物的特征。该文可为研究氮沉降下薇甘菊入侵林地的机制提供有价值的参考。     

模拟氮沉降对兴安落叶松林凋落物分解的影响

试验施加NH4NO3、KNO3和NH4Cl3种氮肥,设置对照（N0,0 kg·hm-2·a-1）、低氮（N1,10 kg·hm-2·a-1）、中氮（N2,20kg·hm-2·a-1）、高氮（N3,40 kg·hm-2·a-1）4个施氮水平,通过交互试验,研究模拟N沉降对大兴安岭兴安落叶松（Larix gmelinii）林凋落物分解的影响。结果表明,在兴安落叶松林凋落物分解过程中,叶分解最快,其次是枝,分解最慢的为果,在分解16个月后,枝、叶、果的质量残留率分别为76.68%、47.98%和80.43%,3者异极其显著（p〈0.01）。凋落物叶分解95%所需时间为6.71 a,而枝和果所需时间分别为18.07和18.10 a。在模拟大气氮沉降下凋落物分解过程中,施加KNO3,N2处理下的枝、叶、果的质量残留率极显著低于N3处理（p〈0.01）,显著低于N0和N1处理。施加NH4Cl下,N1处理显著低于N0处理（p〈0.05）。在施加NH4NO3下,N1水平处理下的枝、叶、果的分解速率显著增加（p〈0.05）,但是随着施氮量的增加,分解速率就会减慢,N3处理下,有着明显的抑制作用（p〈0.05）,说明氮沉降对于凋落物分解有着促进作用,但是随着时间和氮沉降量的增加,促进作用延缓甚至是抑制作用。     

Microbial communities biostimulated by ethanol during uranium (VI) bioremediation in contaminated sediment as shown by stable isotope probing

Stable isotope probing (SIP) was used to identify microbes stimulated by ethanol addition in microcosms containing two sediments collected from the bioremediation test zone at the US Department of Energy Oak Ridge site, TN, USA. One sample was highly bioreduced with ethanol while another was less reduced. Microcosms with the respective sediments were amended with ¹³C labeled ethanol and incubated for 7 days for SIP. Ethanol was rapidly converted to acetate within 24 h accompanied with the reduction of nitrate and sulfate. The accumulation of acetate persisted beyond the 7 d period. Aqueous U did not decline in the microcosm with the reduced sediment due to desorption of U but continuously declined in the less reduced sample. Microbial growth and concomitant ¹³C-DNA production was detected when ethanol was exhausted and abundant acetate had accumulated in both microcosms. This coincided with U(VI) reduction in the less reduced sample. ¹³C originating from ethanol was ultimately utilized for growth, either directly or indirectly, by the dominant microbial community members within 7 days of incubation. The microbial community was comprised predominantly of known denitrifiers, sulfate-reducing bacteria and iron (III) reducing bacteria including Desulfovibrio, Sphingomonas, Ferribacterium, Rhodanobacter, Geothrix, Thiobacillus and others, including the known U(VI)-reducing bacteria Acidovorax, Anaeromyxobacter, Desulfovibrio, Geobacter and Desulfosporosinus. The findings suggest that ethanol biostimulates the U(VI)-reducing microbial community by first serving as an electron donor for nitrate, sulfate, iron (III) and U(VI) reduction, and acetate which then functions as electron donor for U(VI) reduction and carbon source for microbial growth.     

硫氮沉降下西北荒漠煤矿区周边土壤性质的变化特点

近年来中国大部分区域大气硫、氮沉降速率趋于平稳甚至下降,但西北地区煤炭行业的快速发展使得硫、氮沉降速率加快.燃煤电厂作为酸前体物的主要排放源之一,在其周围开展硫、氮沉降效应研究,可为合理评价煤矿区大气污染物控制措施的实施效果提供数据支撑.该文以宁东能源化工基地3个燃煤电厂为采样点,研究了电厂周围土壤化学和生物学性质的变...     

Negative effects of nitrogen deposition on Swiss butterflies

Nitrogen (N) deposition from agriculture and combustion of fossil fuels is a major threat to plant diversity, but its effects on organisms at higher trophic levels are unclear. We investigated how N deposition may affect species richness and abundance (number of individuals per species) in butterflies. We reviewed the peer-reviewed literature on variables used to explain spatial variation in butterfly species richness and found that vegetation variables appeared to be as important as climate and habitat variables in explaining butterfly species richness. It thus seemed likely that increased N deposition could indirectly affect butterfly communities via its influence on plant communities. To test this prediction, we analyzed data from the Swiss biodiversity monitoring program for vascular plants and butterflies in 383 study sites of 1 km² that are evenly distributed throughout Switzerland. The area has a modeled N deposition gradient of 2–44 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. We used traditional linear models and structural equation models to infer the drivers of the spatial variation in butterfly species richness across Switzerland. High N deposition was consistently linked to low butterfly diversity, suggesting a net loss of butterfly diversity through increased N deposition. We hypothesize that at low elevations, N deposition may contribute to a reduction in butterfly species richness via microclimatic cooling due to increased plant biomass. At higher elevations, negative effects of N deposition on butterfly species richness may also be mediated by reduced plant species richness. In most butterfly species, abundance was negatively related to N deposition, but the strongest negative effects were found for species of conservation concern. We conclude that in addition to factors such as intensified agriculture, habitat fragmentation, and climate change, N deposition is likely to play a key role in negatively affecting butterfly diversity and abundance.     

Changes of Soil Enzyme Activities By Simulated Acid and Nitrogen Deposition

Effects of acid and nitrogen depositions on soil microbial activities were studied in a laboratory-based experiment. Five treatments were added to forest soil for five weeks, and soil enzyme activities were determined along with chemical properties. There was little change in pH and nitrogen availability. Dehydrogenase, phosphatase and arylsulphatase activities were decreased by all the acidic treatments compared to the control, while urease activity was increased by the pH 4 treatment. at the same pH treatment, different nitric acid contents induced different urease activities. the results suggest that acid deposition would inhibit microbial activities and that more study is needed to elucidate the impact on nitrogen cycling in forests.