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Gassed by gannets!

7 March 2000

A study of ammonia emissions from seabirds that breed in bird colonies around the UK.

Ammonia concentrations 20 times higher than those typically measured at chicken farms have been detected by scientists working on seabird colonies. Such large sources of ammonia could be causing a major impact on the local ecology, and may be just as guilty as intensive farming. Ammonia is a prime source of nitrogen enrichment.

This is one of the subjects being investigated in the GANE (Global Atmospheric Nitrogen Enrichment) research initiative funded by NERC. The first meeting of the principal investigators will be on Thursday, 9th March, when they will share information on progress of the various projects that form the initiative.

Scientists at the NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) and the University of Durham have started a study of ammonia emissions from the 10m seabirds that breed in bird colonies around the UK. Using a range of techniques they will measure the amount of ammonia produced by different species.

"We expect to see interesting species differences; for example, emission rates should be lower from puffins, which nest in burrows, than from other species such as gannets, or guillemots which nest on cliff surfaces," says CEH's Dr Sarah Wanless.

The ammonia released from colonies as a whole will be assessed using an inert atmospheric tracer. From there, the next step is to build up a database of global seabird colony distributions, and use this to calculate the total ammonia emissions.

So how important are these natural emission 'hot-spots' and how does the environment cope? "We are not sure yet," said CEH's Dr Mark Sutton, "but we might get some clues by looking at the impact of penguin colonies in the Antarctic. The ammonia produced by penguins reacts to form aerosols in the atmosphere. These aerosols scatter light and thus decrease greenhouse warming. Seabird emissions will have an impact in remote areas where these are the main source of ammonia in the absence of agricultural sources. The extra nitrogen provided from the ammonia deposition is expected to lead to changes in plant species composition causing a loss of sensitive plant species."

Battery chickens, pig farms and muck spreading are all well-known culprits in over-loading the atmosphere with ammonia gas, adding to acid rain and contributing to global climate change. It is easy to keep knocking agriculture, which probably does account for at least 80% of such acidic emissions, but it now seems that there are other - perfectly natural - origins. Environmental research will produce the first accurate measures of how these natural sources contribute to nitrogen emissions.

"The polluter pays" - tell that to the birds!

Further information

Sarah Wanless
CEH Banchory, Hill of Brathens, Banchory, Kincardineshire, AB31 4BY
Tel: 01330 826 300

Mark Sutton
CEH Edinburgh, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0QB
Tel: 0131 445 4343

NERC Press Office
Natural Environment Research Council
Polaris House, North Star Avenue
Swindon, SN2 1EU
Tel: 01793 411561
Mob: 07917 557215

Notes

1. GANE is a £7·1m Thematic Programme largely funded by the Natural Environment Research Council, with substantial additional contributions from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Scottish Executive. It will investigate the problems posed by the massive additions we are making to the UK and global nitrogen cycle.

Why is research on nitrogen enrichment so important?

• We are releasing 'reactive' nitrogen into the UK and global environment at an unprecedented rate.
• Most regions of the UK have elevated levels of nitrogen due to fertiliser use, animal production and burning fossil fuels.
• Nitrogen oxides in the air generate ozone. Both are harmful to human health.
• Nitrates and ammonium can reduce biodiversity.
• Nitrates and ammonium acidify soil and water, and they contribute to corrosion of building materials and statues.
• Nitrates pollute lakes, estuaries and the coastal marine environment.
• Global nitrogen enrichment is playing a part in changing the Earth's climate.

2. There will be meeting of GANE project leaders on Thursday March 9th at the Great Northern Hotel, Kings Cross, London. Media representatives will be welcome to join the meeting for lunch at 13.00 hours and stay for the afternoon presentations.

The Chairman will be Professor Janet Sprent and the event will include contributions from DETR, MAFF, CEH and the Environment Agency. Representatives from the Scottish Executive, the Welsh Office and English Nature will be present.

3. Dr Sarah Wanless (CEH - Banchory), Dr Mark Sutton (CEH - Edinburgh) and Dr K C Hamer (University of Durham) have a project funded by GANE on Atmospheric ammonia emission from seabird colonies and its contribution to nitrogen supply of remote coastal ecosystems. Much of the research will be focused on the CEH long term research site on the Isle of May, in the Firth of Forth, as well as other sites in the UK, polar and tropical regions

4. NERC is the leading body in the UK for research, survey, monitoring and training in the environmental sciences. NERC funds research in universities and in its own Centres and Surveys. NERC trains scientists for the future - over 1,000 postgraduate students of environmental sciences are funded by NERC.

Press release: 05/00

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