基于好氧反硝化及反硝化聚磷菌强化的低温低碳氮比生活污水生物处理中试研究

【背景】低碳氮比生活污水很难达标处理,多级A/O工艺、生物强化技术及生物膜技术的有机结合可有效解决这一问题。【目的】开发出一种泥膜共生多级A/O工艺并进行中试研究,驯化出高效脱氮除磷菌剂并对系统进行生物强化。【方法】通过测定中试设备出水及污水处理厂出水化学需氧量(Chemical oxygen demand,COD)、氨氮(NH_4~+-N)、硝氮(NO_3~--N)、总氮(Total nitrogen,TN)、总磷(Total phosphorus,TP)对比分析两种工艺的污染物去除效能,利用高通量测序技术对比生物强化技术对系统微生物群落结构的影响。【结果】中试设备对COD、NH_4~+-N、NO_3~--N、TN、TP的去除效果均优于污水处理厂的处理工艺;驯化的低温好氧反硝化菌TN去除率最大值可达84.21%,驯化的低温反硝化聚磷菌群对磷的去除率最高可达85.75%;利用驯化菌群对中试设备进行生物强化后较好地改善了系统NH_4~+-N、NO_3~--N、TN、TP的去除效果;经生物强化后,具有好氧反硝化和反硝化聚磷功能的Pseudomonas菌群明显增多。【结论】泥膜共生多级A/O工艺对于低碳氮比生活污水的处理具有很好的效果,利用生物强化技术可有效提高低温条件下系统污染物去除效能。     

Effect of nutrient loading and retention time on performance of high rate algal ponds

Small pilot ponds in a glasshouse at the Scottish Agricultural College (Auchincruive) were used to investigate the effects of changing C:N:P loading rate and retention time on pond performance as measured by nutrient removal and dry matter biomass. One experiment investigated ponds operated at two C:N:P ratios: low (9:7:1) and high (104:10:1) and two retention times (4 and 7 days θ. Increasing retention time from 4 to 7 days increased the concentration of total (dry matter) and algal (chlorophyll a) biomass and the degree of nitrification. It also increased removal of phosphorus, but had no effect on nitrogen or COD removal. Cyanobacteria predominated in ponds operated at both 4 and 7 days, and the density of cyanobacteria increased with increased retention time. Nitrogen removal was independent of C:N:P ratio; indeed the lower C:N:P ratio favoured increased nitrification. A high C:N:P ratio increased phosphorus and COD removal and increased the concentration of algal biomass (chlorophyll a), but had little effect on total biomass (dry matter). A second experiment varied COD loading rate (600, 350 and 100 kg COD ha-¹ d-¹) while maintaining a constant retention time (either 5 or 7 days θ). Species composition was independent of retention time. The longer retention time increased both total and algal biomass concentration and also percentage of nitrogen removed. Nitrification was independent of retention time. Increasing loading rate increased dry matter production and resulted in a predominance of cyanobacteria over Chlorophyceae. Increased loading rate was related to increase in nitrogen removal, however more complete nitrification occurred at low COD loading rates. Phosphorus removal in the pond with 5-day (θ) remained constant independent of loading rate, but in the pond with 7-day θ phosphorus removal increased with increased COD loading. COD removal was independent of both retention time and loading rate. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Phosphorus source alters host plant response to ectomycorrhizal diversity

We examined the influence of phosphorus source and availability on host plant (Pinus rigida) response to ectomycorrhizal diversity under contrasting P conditions. An ectomycorrhizal richness gradient was established with equimolar P supplied as either inorganic phosphate or organic inositol hexaphosphate. We measured growth and N and P uptake of individual P. rigida seedlings inoculated with one, two, or four species of ectomycorrhizal fungi simultaneously and without mycorrhizas in axenic culture. Whereas colonization of P. rigida by individual species of ectomycorrhizal fungi decreased with increasing fungal richness, colonization of all species combined increased. Plant biomass and N content increased across the ectomycorrhizal richness gradient in the organic but not the inorganic P treatment. Plants grown under organic P conditions had higher N concentration than those grown under inorganic P conditions, but there was no effect of richness. Phosphorus content of plants grown in the organic P treatment increased with increasing ectomycorrhizal richness, but there was no response in the inorganic P treatment. Phosphorus concentration was higher in plants grown at the four-species richness level in the organic P treatment, but there was no effect of diversity under inorganic P conditions. Overall, few ectomycorrhizal composition effects were found on plant growth or nutrient status. Phosphatase activities of individual ectomycorrhizal fungi differed under organic P conditions, but there was no difference in total root system phosphatase expression between the inorganic or organic P treatments or across richness levels. Our results provide evidence that plant response to ectomycorrhizal diversity is dependent on the source and availability of P.     

华南赤红壤无机复合肥氮磷淋失特征

采用室内土柱淋溶模拟试验,研究了不同施肥水平下无机复合肥中氮和磷在华南赤红壤中的淋失特征.结果表明: 铵态氮、硝态氮和总氮淋失量均随施肥量增加而提高;肥料中氮的淋失率在36.8%～49.2%之间,总氮淋失量（y）与施肥量（x）之间的回归方程为y=0.3667x+66.483（R²=0.992）;铵态氮和总氮的淋失主要集中在前5次淋洗,硝态氮的淋失持续时间更长.施肥量对可溶性磷淋失量无显著影响,但颗粒磷和总磷淋失量均随施肥量增加呈上升趋势;肥料磷淋失率在0.002%～0.010%之间,总磷淋失量（y）与施肥量（x）之间的回归方程为y=7e^-5x+0.0538（R²=0.931）;磷的淋失动态与氮显著不同,为缓慢的持续累积过程.硝态氮与铵态氮淋失量比值和可溶性磷与颗粒磷淋失量比值均随施肥量增加呈下降趋势.     

Growth and Contaminant Removal Effect of Several Plants in Constructed Wetlands

The aim of the present study is to probe the relation between plant growth and its decontamination effect in constructed wetlands.Four species were studied in the small-scale mono-cuitured constructed wetlands, which were fed with domestic wastewater. Plant growth indexes were correlated with contaminant removal performance of the constructed wetlands. Wetlands planted with Cyperus flabelliformis Rottb. showed the highest growth indexes such as shoot growth, biomass, root activity, root biomass increment, and the highest contaminant removal rates, whereas wetlands planted with Vetiveria zizanioides L. Nash had the lowest growth indexes and the lowest removal rates. Above-ground biomass and total biomass were significantly correlated with ammonia nitrogen removal, and below-ground biomass with soluble reactive phosphorus removal. Photosynthetic rate had higher correlation with nitrogen removal in these species. Root activity and root biomass increment was more correlated with 5 d biochemical oxygen demand removal.Chemical oxygen demand removal had lower correlations with plant growth indexes. All four species had higher removal rates in summer and autumn. The results suggest that the effect of plant growth on contaminant removal in constructed wetlands were different specifically in plants and contaminants.     

Determinants of species richness in the Park Grass Experiment

The Park Grass Experiment at Rothamsted in southeast England was started in 1856, making it the longest-running experiment in plant ecology anywhere in the world. Experimental inputs include a range of fertilizers (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and organic manures) applied annually, with lime applied occasionally, and these have led to an increase in biomass and, where nitrogen was applied in the form of ammonium sulfate, to substantial decreases in soil pH. The number of species per plot varies from three to 44 per 200 m(2), affording a unique opportunity to study the determinants of plant species richness and to estimate the effect sizes attributable to different factors. The response of species richness to biomass depends on the amount and type of nitrogen applied; richness declined monotonically with increasing biomass on plots receiving no nitrogen or receiving nitrogen in the form of sodium nitrate, but there was no relationship between species richness and biomass on plots acidified by ammonium sulfate application. The response to lime also depended on the type of nitrogen applied; there was no relationship between lime treatment and species richness, except in plots receiving nitrogen in the form of ammonium sulfate, where species richness increased sharply with increasing soil pH. The addition of phosphorus reduced species richness, and application of potassium along with phosphorus reduced species richness further, but the biggest negative effects were when nitrogen and phosphorus were applied together. The analysis demonstrates how multiple factors contribute to the observed diversity patterns and how environmental regulation of species pools can operate at the same spatial and temporal scale as biomass effects.     

重要环境因子对小球藻去除污水中氮磷的影响

对小球藻去除污水中氮磷的性能进行了研究,考察了初始氮磷浓度、氮磷比、光照条件和pH等因素对其去除效率的影响。结果表明,在初始氮磷浓度分别在35 mg/L和7 mg/L以下时去除率接近100%;氮磷比为5∶1和10∶1,小球藻第4 d基本完全去除了污水中的氨态氮,而氮磷比对小球藻的除磷能力没有显著影响;在初始氨态氮或总磷浓度相同的条件下,光照条件(L/D为24 h∶0 h和12 h∶12 h)对氮磷去除效果的无明显差异性（P＞0.05）,而随着氮磷浓度的增加,连续光照条件逐渐展现出去除氮磷的优势;小球藻在pH 7～8范围内对氨态氮的去除率最佳,pH 5～7范围内,对总磷的去除率最佳。     

氮添加对昆仑山高山草地土壤、微生物和植物生态化学计量特征的影响

全球范围内的氮沉降增加改变了生态系统氮(N)素循环过程,由此带来的生态学效应已成为当前研究的热点。以昆仑山高山草地生态系统2种优势植物黄花棘豆(Oxytropis ochrocephala)和针茅(Stipa capillata)为研究对象,开展人工氮肥添加试验,研究土壤-微生物-植物系统各组分生态化学计量特征对氮添加的响应特征。结果表明:①氮添加显著提高了土壤NH4^+-N和土壤NO3^--N含量(P<0.05),土壤全N、全磷(P)、速效P含量没有明显变化。②氮添加条件下针茅叶片N含量增加,P含量降低,而黄花棘豆N和P含量无明显变化。③土壤微生物量碳(MBC)和微生物量氮(MBN)随着施氮量的增加呈现出先增加后降低的趋势,当施氮量为6N·m^-2·y^-1时呈现出最高值。土壤NH4+-N含量与土壤微生物量N含量有显著的正相关关系(P<0.01)。综合分析表明,短期氮添加有利于土壤养分和微生物量的积累,促进植物和微生物养分吸收利用。2种优势植物的生态化学计量特征对氮沉降的响应不同,过量的氮输入将会造成植物生长受到P限制,氮沉降会改变昆仑山高山草地生态系统的生物地球化学循环过程。     

Effect of operational and design parameters on removal efficiency of pilot-scale FWS constructed wetlands and comparison with HSF systems

In order to investigate the effect of temperature, hydraulic residence time (HRT), vegetation type, substrate material and wetland shape on the performance of free-water surface (FWS) constructed wetlands treating wastewater, 5 pilot-scale units were constructed and operated continuously from December 2004 until March 2007 in parallel experiments. Four of the units (A, B, C, D) were rectangular in plan view with dimensions 3.40 m in length and 0.85 m in width, and contained substrate material at a thickness of 0.45 m. The fifth unit (E) had a trapezoidal plan view shape, with a width at the inlet of 1.15 m and at the outlet of 0.55 m, while the length and the thickness of the substrate were the same as in the other four. All units operated at a water depth of 0.10 m. Units B–E contained clay substrate and unit A contained sand. The four units with clay were planted as follows: two with cattails (B and E), one with common reeds (C), and one with giant reeds (D). Unit A, containing sand, was planted with cattails. Planting and substrate material combinations were appropriate for comparison of the effect of vegetation and material type on the function of the system. Synthetic wastewater was introduced in the units. During the operation period four HRTs (i.e., 6 days, 8 days, 14 days and 20 days) were used, while wastewater temperatures varied from about 0.0 °C to 29.1 °C. The removal performance of the five constructed wetland units was good, since it reached on the average 77.5%, 67.9%, 60.4%, 53.9%, 56.0% and 51.7% for BOD, COD, TKN, ammonia (NH₄-N), ortho-phosphate (PO₄-P) and total phosphorus (TP), respectively. BOD and phosphorus removal efficiencies showed dependence on temperature in most units. The 14-day HRT was found adequate for acceptable removal of organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus for most temperatures. A 20-day HRT is recommended for acceptable removal of BOD and PO₄-P in the cold season. The unit with the trapezoidal plan view shape showed the best performance, with mean removals of 80.1%, 73.5%, 70.4%, 68.6%, 64.7% and 63.5% for BOD, COD, TKN, NH₄-N, PO₄-P and TP, respectively. The cattail was found statistically more efficient than the other two plants in COD and PO₄-P removal. The unit that contained the clay substrate was found statistically more efficient in phosphorus removal than the unit containing sand. HSF CW units were found more efficient than FWS units in removal of most pollutant.     

引种降香黄檀和顶果木对石漠化山区土壤磷素转化及其有效性的影响

我国西南岩溶区石漠化严重,植被覆盖率低,土壤贫瘠。植被恢复作为一项重要的生态治理措施,在提高土壤养分有效性,增加生物多样性和改善生态环境等方面发挥着极其重要的作用。以广西马山县经过8年植被恢复的4种样地类型(降香黄檀纯林;顶果木纯林;降香黄檀/顶果木混交林;相邻的天然灌草丛作为对照组)为研究对象,探讨了引进固氮树种(降香黄檀和顶果木)及其种植模式对石漠化山区土壤磷素转化及其有效性的影响。研究结果表明：(1)降香黄檀/顶果木混交林土壤的有机质(SOM)、硝态氮(NO~-₃-N)、有效磷(AP)、微生物生物量碳(MBC)、微生物生物量氮(MBN)和微生物生物量磷(MBP)含量均显著高于对照(P<0.05);降香黄檀/顶果木混交林、顶果木纯林和降香黄檀纯林的全磷(TP)相比于对照组更易转化为AP,其中以降香黄檀/顶果木混交林的效果最佳。(2)相关分析结果表明,土壤NH~+₄-N、NO~-₃-N和MBN与AP分别呈显著线性正相关(P<0.05),MBN与MBP呈极显著线性正相关(P<0.01)。(3)引种降香黄...     

石灰石滤柱出水回流曝气生物滤池系统的处理效能及微生物群落多样性

[背景]曝气生物滤池(Biological Aerated Filter,BAF)对有机物和氨氮的处理效果较好,但除磷效果不佳.[目的]提高BAF系统的除磷效能.[方法]在缺氧/好氧滤柱后设置了部分采用石灰石滤料的滤柱(未添加石灰石滤料的系统作为对照组),对比分析了使用石灰石滤柱出水回流BAF系统的处理效能,通过最大或...     

Operational factors and nutrient effects on activated sludge treatment of Pinus radiata kraft mill wastewater

The biodegradability of Pinus radiata bleached kraft mill wastewater by an activated sludge treatment during a period of 280 days was evaluated. The effect of varying hydraulic retention time (HRT) in the range of 48 to 4.5 h and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) addition on removal of biological oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (COD), suspended solids (TSS and VSS), total phenolic compounds, tannin and lignin and reduction of toxicity was investigated. Removal of BOD5 was higher than 90% when HRT varied from 16 to 6 h, but decreased when HRT was less than 6 h. Similar performance was observed for COD removal, which was about 60% when HRT was varied from 16 to 6 h. Removal of total phenolic compounds and tannin and lignin was seriously affected by HRT. N and P addition to maintaining a ratio of 100:5:0.3 provided optimal BOD5, COD and suspended solids removal when HRT varied from 16 to 7 h, and no toxicity (using Daphnia) was detected in the treated effluent. When HRT was less than 6 h, the system showed destabilisation and pH, COD, BOD5 and suspended solids removal decreased.     

The role of litter in an old-field community: impact of litter quantity in different seasons on plant species richness and abundance

Summary We studied the effect of removing and adding plant litter in different seasons on biomass, density, and species richness in a Solidago dominated old-field community in New Jersey, USA. We removed all the naturally accumulated plant litter in November (658 g/m²) and in May (856 g/m²) and doubled the amount of litter in November and May in replicated plots (1 m²). An equal number of plots were left as controls. Litter removal and addition had little impact on total plant biomass or individual species biomass in the growing season following the manipulations. Litter removal, however, significantly increased plant densities but this varied depending upon the season of litter removal, species, and life history type. Specifically, the fall litter removal had a much greater impact than the spring litter removal suggesting that litter has its greatest impact after plant senescence in the fall and prior to major periods of early plant growth in spring. Annual species showed the greatest response, especially early in the growing season. Both spring and fall litter removal significantly increased species richness throughout the study. Litter additions in both spring and fall reduced both plant densities and species richness in June, but these differences disappeared near the end of the growing season in September. We concluded than in productive communities where litter accumulation may be substantial, litter may promote low species richness and plant density. This explanation does not invoke resource competition for the decline in species richness. Finally, we hypothesize that there may be broad thresholds of litter accumulation in different community types that may act to either increase or decrease plant yield and diversity.     

26年长期施肥对土壤微生物量碳、氮及土壤呼吸的影响

研究长期小麦连作施肥条件下土壤微生物量碳、氮,土壤呼吸的变化及其与土壤养分的相关性。以陕西长武长期定位试验为平台,应用氯仿熏蒸-K2SO4提取法、碱液吸收法和化学分析法分析了长达26a不同施肥处理农田土壤微生物量碳、微生物量氮和土壤呼吸之间的差异及其调控土壤肥力的作用。长期施肥及种植作物,均能提高土壤微生物量碳、氮含量,尤其是施用有机肥,土壤微生物量碳、氮含量高于单施无机肥的处理,土壤呼吸量也提高15.91%—75.73%,而施用无机肥对于土壤呼吸无促进作用。土壤微生物生物量碳氮、土壤呼吸与土壤有机质、全氮呈极显著相关。长期有机无机肥配施可以提高土壤微生物量碳氮、土壤呼吸,氮磷肥与厩肥配施对提高土壤肥力效果最好。微生物量碳氮及土壤呼吸可以反映土壤质量的变化,作为评价土壤肥力的生物学指标。     

Nutrient concentrations and fibre contents of plant community biomass reflect species richness patterns along a broad range of land-use intensities among agricultural grasslands

Understanding changes in biodiversity in agricultural landscapes in relation to land-use type and intensity is a major issue in current ecological research. In this context nutrient enrichment has been identified as a key mechanism inducing species loss in Central European grassland ecosystems. At the same time, insights into the linkage between agricultural land use and plant nutrient status are largely missing. So far, studies on the relationship between chemical composition of plant community biomass and biodiversity have mainly been restricted to wetlands and all these studies neglected the effects of land use. Therefore, we analyzed aboveground biomass of 145 grassland plots covering a gradient of land-use intensities in three regions across Germany. In particular, we explored relationships between vascular plant species richness and nutrient concentrations as well as fibre contents (neutral and acid detergent fibre and lignin) in the aboveground community biomass.We found the concentrations of several nutrients in the biomass to be closely linked to plant species richness and land use. Whereas phosphorus concentrations increased with land-use intensity and decreased with plant species richness, nitrogen and potassium concentrations showed less clear patterns. Fibre fractions were negatively related to nutrient concentrations in biomass, but hardly to land-use measures and species richness. Only high lignin contents were positively associated with species richness of grasslands. The N:P ratio was strongly positively related to species richness and even more so to the number of endangered plant species, indicating a higher persistence of endangered species under P (co-)limited conditions. Therefore, we stress the importance of low P supply for species-rich grasslands and suggest the N:P ratio in community biomass to be a useful proxy of the conservation value of agriculturally used grasslands.     

Effect of influent nutrient ratios and hydraulic retention time (HRT) on simultaneous phosphorus and nitrogen removal in a two-sludge sequencing batch reactor process

A laboratory-scale anaerobic–anoxic/nitrification sequencing batch reactor (A₂N-SBR) fed with domestic wastewater was operated to examine the effect of varying ratios of influent COD/P, COD/TN and TN/P on the nutrient removal. With the increased COD/P, the phosphorus removals exhibited an upward trend. The influent TN/P ratios had a positive linear correlation with the phosphorus removal efficiencies, mainly because nitrates act as electron acceptors for the phosphorus uptake in the A₂N-SBR. Moreover, it was found that lower COD/TN ratio, e.g. 3.5, did not significantly weaken the phosphorus removal, though the nitrogen removal first decreased greatly. The optimal phosphorus and nitrogen removals of 94% and 91%, respectively were achieved with influent COD/P and COD/TN ratios of 19.9 and 9.9, respectively. Additionally, a real-time control strategy for A₂N-SBR can be undertaken based on some characteristic points of pH, redox potential (ORP) and dissolved oxygen (DO) profiles in order to obtain the optimum hydraulic retention time (HRT) and improve the operating reliability.     

Identifying an interfering factor on chemical oxygen demand (COD) determination in piggery wastewater and eliminating the factor by an indigenous Pseudomonas stutzeri strain

AIMS: This study attempted to demonstrate nitrite interference on chemical oxygen demand (COD) determination in piggery wastewater, and the capability of aerobic denitrification of the SU2 strain which is capable of promoting the efficiency of nitrogen and COD removal from piggery wastewater. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study was performed in a 17-litre reactor with a 30% packing ratio, with a ratio of immobilized SU2 cells to sludge of 100:1. The ratio of aeration to nonaeration was 4 : 1.5. Removal efficiency of COD was 86.8%. Removal efficiency of BOD and SS was higher than 90%, and removal efficiency of NH4+-N and TKN was almost 100%. CONCLUSIONS: NO2- -N interference is significant when its concentration in piggery wastewater exceeds 100 mg l-1. COD in piggery wastewater can be indirectly reduced following nitrite reduction by SU2 strain. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Utilizing immobilized SU2 cells in coordination with an SBR system simultaneously reduces nitrite and COD concentrations.     

Plant responses to nutrient addition and predictive ability of vegetation N:P ratio in an austral fen

1. Previous studies of the N:P ratio in wetland plants have been carried out in northern hemisphere wetlands where atmospheric nitrogen deposition is higher. There is little research on foliar N:P ratio as a potential indicator of nutrient limitation in vegetation communities in southern hemisphere wetlands. This study aimed to redress this knowledge gap and answer the following questions: how well does the plant tissue nitrogen to phosphorus (N:P) ratio predict wetland plant community nutrient limitation, as indicated by vegetation standing stocks and below-ground biomass, in southern hemisphere fens? Secondly, what are the impacts of realistic upper levels of farm nutrient run-off on natural montane fen vegetation?
2. Low (35 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) and high (70 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) levels of nitrate-N or ammonium-N with and without P (20 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) were added to 81 vegetation plots over a period of 2.75 years. Species composition, plant nutrient status, and above-ground live vegetation standing stocks were assessed after 3 years, and below-ground biomass after 2 years.
3. Plant tissue analysis suggested the community was N limited or N and P co-limited; we found greater standing stocks of vegetation in plots treated with 70 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ ammonium-N, indicating N limitation. No difference between other treatments was found in above-ground standing stocks or below-ground biomass. Plant species cover increased in both high N treatments, consistent with N limitation. These changes in plant species cover were accompanied by significant decreases in species richness in both high N treatments. Native species dominated the vegetation and this was unaffected by nutrient addition (90% cover).
4. This is one of the first studies to test and find support for the N:P ratio in southern hemisphere wetlands. Observed declines in species richness after N fertilisation in an N-limited fen suggests increased N may pose risks to austral wetlands. Responses by plant communities (changes in composition, biomass) to lower levels of nutrient addition may require longer periods of fertilisation to be apparent in slow growing ecosystems.

     

Bryophyte biomass and species richness on the Park Grass Experiment,Rothamsted, UK

The relationships between bryophyte biomass and species richness and soil pH, nutrient applications and vascular plant biomass and species richness were analyzed for the Park Grass Experiment (Rothamsted, UK). The study examined the abundance of bryophytes in relation to long-term fertilizer and lime application and to fertilizer treatments recently being ceased on some plots. The probability of bryophytes being present on a plot increased with increasing soil pH, and on plots at soil pH 3.3–4.5, the lowest values in this experiment, there were virtually no mosses present. Total bryophyte biomass decreased with increasing vascular plant biomass and vascular plant richness. Both bryophyte biomass and species richness showed a curvilinear response to soil pH. Bryophyte biomass was markedly increased on plots where nitrogen (N) fertilization had recently been ceased. The abundance of the common bryophyte species showed individualistic responses to treatments. N had a negative effect on the abundance of Brachythecium rutabulum. Increasing soil pH, and the application of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilizer together, had a positive effect on Eurhynchium praelongum. This species was also negatively affected by N, but tolerated larger amounts of it (100–150 kg ha^–1 N) than B. rutabulum. An ephemeral moss, Bryum subapiculatum, had a unimodal response to soil pH but showed no response to N, P, K or other explanatory variables.