Nitrogen isotope fractionation explains the N-15 enrichment of Antarctic cryptogams by volatilized ammonia from penguin and seal colonies

• Published in: Polar Research
• Main Authors: Bokhorst, Stef, van Logtestijn, Richard, Convey, Peter, Aerts, Rien
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: Lichen; moss; nitrogen pathway; nutrient transfer; ocean-land interaction; /dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/life_below_water; name=SDG 14 - Life Below Water; Antarctic; Guano; Antarc*; Antarctica; Elephant Seal; Polar Research; Usnea antarctica
• Online Access: https://research.vu.nl/en/publications/253a7d67-c248-48ec-813a-cc7dbf69a250; https://doi.org/10.33265/polar.v38.3355; https://hdl.handle.net/1871.1/253a7d67-c248-48ec-813a-cc7dbf69a250

Vegetation near bird and seal rookeries typically has high δ15N signatures and these high values are linked to the enriched δ15N values of rookery soils. However, Antarctic cryptogams are mostly dependent on atmospheric ammonia (NH3) and volatized NH3 from rookeries is severely depleted in δ15N-NH3....