The application of transects to assess the effects of ammonia on woodland groundflora

Abstract

Increased emissions of ammonia from intensive farming have been identified as the major cause of many of the changes in species composition in plant communities in Europe (Bobbink et al. 1993; Sutton et al. 1993). Transect studies at intensive livestock farms in the UK, have provided important information on the impact of NH3 and deposited N on woodland groundflora (Pitcairn et al. 1998, 2002, 2003, 2005). Several parameters have been measured to understand the basis of species composition change in woodland vegetation and to identify possible biomonitors of vegetation change (Pitcairn et al. 2003; Sutton et al. 2004; Leith et al. 2005). The value of 3 biomonitors of N impacts, are described in this paper, for 2 different woodland sites impacted by poultry farm ammonia emissions, Earlston, a Scots pine open plantation in southern Scotland, and Piddles Wood, a mixed deciduous woodland in south west England. © 2009 Springer Netherlands.