Abstract
Two ubiquitous diazotrophic North American lichens, Peltigera aphthosa and P. polydaclyla, were subjected to simulated acid rain. Both lichens exhibited a 50% reduction in nitrogen fixation at pH 5, 80% reduction at pH 4 and complete inhibition at pH 2. Nitrogen fixation was zero after 20 days exposure to simulated rain at pH 3 and zero after fourdays at pH 2.