Effect of simulated acid rain on nitrogenase activity in the lichen genus peltigera under field and laboratory conditions
- Resource Type
- Original Paper
- Authors
- Gunther, Andrew J.
- Source
- Water, Air, and Soil Pollution: An International Journal of Environmental Pollution. April 1988 38(3-4):379-385
- Subject
- Language
- English
- ISSN
- 0049-6979
1573-2932
Lichens of the genus Peltigera were exposed to simulated acid rain in the laboratory and at a field site in Southwestern Alaska. Exposure to simulated rainfall of pH 4.4 had no effect upon acetylene reduction in P. rufescens after experiments of 28 and 60 days duration, although in the former experiment there was some evidence of a transient effect after 14 days. Simulated acid rain of pH 3.4 or 4.4 also had no effect upon nitrogenase activity in P. aphthosa during a 21-day field study, indicating that nitrogenase activity in Peltigera is not sensitive to precipitation in this range of acidity.