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ProQuest Information and Learning 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0600 ® The response of lichens to changes in isotopic composition and concentration of atmospheric sulphur: a reciprocal transplant experiment by Melanie Lyne Cousineau A thesis submitted to the School of Graduate Studies in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Environmental Science Environmental Science Programme Memorial University ofNewfoundland St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador December 2003 Library and Bibliotheque et 1+1 Archives Canada Archives Canada Published Heritage Direction du 0-494-09919-4 Branch Patrimoine de !'edition 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Canada Canada Your file Votre reference ISBN: Our file Notre reference ISBN: NOTICE: AVIS: The author has granted a non­ L'auteur a accorde une licence non. exclusive exclusive license allowing Library permettant a Ia Bibliotheque et Archives and Archives Canada to reproduce, Canada de reproduire, publier, archiver, publish, archive, preserve, conserve, sauvegarder, conserver, transmettre au public communicate to the public by par telecommunication ou par I' Internet, preter, telecommunication. or on the Internet, distribuer et vendre des theses partout dans loan, distribute and sell theses le monde, a des fins commerciales ou autres, worldwide, for commercial or non­ sur support microforme, papier, electronique commercial purposes, in microform, et/ou autres formats. paper, electronic and/or any other formats. The author retains copyright L'auteur conserve Ia propriete du droit d'auteur ownership and moral rights in et des droits· meraux qui protege cette these. this thesis. Neither the thesis Ni Ia these ni des extraits substantiels de nor substantial extracts from it celle-ci ne doivent etre imprimes ou autrement may be printed or otherwise reproduits sans son autorisation. reproduced without the author's permission. In compliance with the Canadian Conformement a Ia loi canadienne Privacy Act some supporting sur Ia protection de Ia vie privee, forms may have been removed quelques formulaires secondaires from this thesis. ont ete enleves de cette these. While these forms may be included Bien que ces formulaires in the document page count, aient inclus dans Ia pagination, their removal does not represent il n'y aura aucun contenu manquant. any loss of content from the thesis. 1+1 Canada Abstract Industrial and technological developments of the past 100 years have resulted in significant perturbations to the global sulphur cycle. The use ofbiomonitors, such as lichens, for quantifying environmental changes has grown in importance over the last decades and offers promising developments for the understanding of global elemental cycles. The present study was designed to investigate the response of lichens to changes in atmospheric sulphur conditions, as measured by changes in sulphur isotopic composition and concentration in lichen thalli. A reciprocal transplant of lichen thalli was performed between a "polluted" and "unpolluted" site, with respect to sulphur sources and concentration. Samples were collected monthly for a period of 18 months. Multiple regression with periodic functions was used to model the observations. All lichens showed a gradual change in isotopic composition and concentration toward the values at the transplant site, but did not reach local conditions. No long-term trend was discernible for sulphur concentration measurements in lichens transplanted to the polluted site, probably due to a significant increase in sulphur concentrations at that site over the course of the experiment. Seasonal trends were identified at both sites, and at the polluted site appeared to be closely related to anthropogenic sulphur emission patterns. Some sources of seasonal variation at the unpolluted site were unidentifiable, but influences from anthropogenic sources were identified, and influences from biogenic sources suggested. The mechanics of relocation did not affect lichen responses. It is likely that distinguishing between the organic and inorganic fractions of sulphur would have helped in interpreting results. 11 Acknowledgments I would first like to thank my supervisor, Dr. Moire Wadleigh, for providing the opportunity to work under her tutelage, for generously lending her time and expertise, and for her patience in answering my many questions. I would also like to thank Dr. David Schneider, a member of my supervisory committee, for his help with the initial planning of the experiment and the final analyses. His assistance with statistical concepts was always useful and given with remarkable efficiency, even when from several thousand miles away. For his help in dealing with the meteorological aspects of the study, I extend my appreciation to Dr. John Jacobs. Alison Pye merits my gratitude for her substantial help with sample analysis on the mass spectrometer, and Pam King for her laboratory expertise, always generously given. Dr. Wilf Nicholls and Madonna Bishop contributed to this study by allowing the use of the MUN Botanical Garden as a sampling site. Moral support during my two years at Memorial University of Newfoundland was provided by many people. First and foremost, thanks goes to Sebastien Heon, who was always ready to help, either by assisting in my monthly sampling excursions or simply by lending an attentive ear. His culinary talents also provided welcome gustative distractions in times of intellectual barrenness. Jennifer Bonnell, who survived the experience of graduate school before me, deserves gratitude for her understanding and for her motivational skills. Marie Julie Roux proved to be a splendid office mate and provided moral support in times of need. Last but not least, great thanks goes to Dr. Leonard Lye, who, despite not being a member of my supervisory committee, freely offered his expertise in statistical matters in times when it was urgently needed. This research was supported by an NSERC Post Graduate Scholarship (A), a stipend from the School of Graduate Studies and an NSERC Discovery grant to Dr. Wadleigh. 111 Table of Contents Abstract . ii Acknowledgments . 111 Table of contents . iv List of tables . vii List of figures . ix Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1 Statement of problem .................................................. 1 1.2 The sulphur system ................................................... 3 1.2.1 The global sulphur cycle ........................................ 4 1.2.1.1 Sulphur in the atmosphere ............................... 7 1.2.1.1.1 Sulphur deposition processes ..................... 9 1.2.1.2 Anthropogenic contributions ............................ 10 1.2.1.3 Sulphur in the biosphere ............................... 12 1.2.2 Sulphur isotopes ............................................. 14 1.2.2.1 Sulphur isotope fractionation in biological systems .......... 16 1.3 Lichens ............................................................ 18 1.3.1 The lichen symbiosis .......................................... 18 1.3.2 Lichen growth forms and morphology ............................ 19 1.3.3 Lichen nutrition .............................................. 22 1.3.3.1 Nutrient sources ...................................... 22 1.3.3.2 Accumulation mechanisms ............................. 23 1.3.3.3 Water relations ....................................... 24 1.3.4 Lichen reproduction .......................................... 26 1.3.5 Alectorioid lichens ........................................... 27 1.4 Biomonitoring with lichens ............................................ 29 1.4.1 Why does it work? ........................................... 30 1.4.2 Biomonitoring approaches ..................................... 31 1.4.2.1 Passive biomonitoring ................................. 31 1.4.2.2 Active biomonitoring .................................. 33 1.4.2.2.1 Transplant studies ............................. 35 1.4.3 Lichens and atmospheric pollutants .............................. 37 lV 1.4.3.1 Sulphur dioxide ...................................... 38 1.4.4 Lichens and stable isotopes ..................................... 40 Chapter 2: Materials and Methods 2.1 Choice ofbiomonitor .................................................. 1 2.2 Study area ........................................................... 1 2.2.1 Sulphur sources in Newfoundland ................................ 1 2.2.2 Sampling