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Bioindicator and biomonitoring methods for assessing the effects of atmospheric nitrogen on statutory nature conservation sites 2004

Abstract

Atmospheric nitrogen deposition represents a threat to naturally nutrient-poor plant communities, leading to a potential loss of conservation value for many statutory nature conservation sites. Until now, the regulatory assessment of these impacts has been focused on the critical loads approach, where estimated atmospheric deposition loads are compared with ‘critical loads’ to estimate the occurrence and extent of ‘critical load exceedance’.

Critical loads represent the deposition below which environmental effects do not occur, according to present knowledge. Hence, where exceedance occurs on nature conservation sites, ecological changes are expected.

Resource type Publication

Topic category Environment

Reference date 2004·08·01

Citation
Sutton, M.A., Pitcairn, C.E.R. & Whitfield, C.P. (Eds). 2004. Bioindicator and biomonitoring methods for assessing the effects of atmospheric nitrogen on statutory nature conservation sites, JNCC Report No. 356, JNCC, Peterborough, ISSN 0963-8091.

Lineage
This report describes work commissioned by JNCC, English Nature and the Countryside Council for Wales to review and further develop bioindicator and biomonitoring methods for the assessment of atmospheric nitrogen deposition, air concentrations and ecological impacts.

Responsible organisation
Communications, JNCC publisher

Limitations on public access No limitations

Use constraints Available under the Open Government Licence 3.0

Metadata date 2020·01·29

Metadata point of contact
Communications, JNCC

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