Biological and Forest Health Trends Myron J. Mitchell SUNY-Environmental Science and Forestry Syracuse, New York
Outline of Presentation • Chemical versus biological response • Aquatic biota – Fish – Other Biota • Terrestrial biota with emphasis on sugar maple • Need for integrated approach
H 2 SO 4 SO x NH x , NO x HNO 3 Biotic Impacts Nutrient Cations Anions Depletion Toxicity Nutrient Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ Mobile Toxic 2- SO 4 H + , Al +3 NO 3 -
From Adirondack Lake Survey Corporation
Fish From: Driscoll, C.T., K.M. Driscoll, M.J. Mitchell and D.J. Raynal. 2003. Effects of acidic deposition on forest and aquatic ecosystems in New York State. Environmental Pollution 123:327-336.
Other Aquatic Biota Example of Brooktrout Lake in the Adirondack Mountains (from Clifford Siegfried)
Brooktrout Lake –pH; 1984-2006 6.5 6 pH 5.5 5 4.5 4 n 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 4 u 8 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 J 9 9 9 9 9 9 0 0 0 0 9 9 9 0 0 - 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 7 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / 1 9 7 5 3 1 1 9 7 5 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Species Richness ZOOPLANKTON TAXA - BROOKTROUT LAKE 1984, 1987-88, 2005-2007 (preliminary) 25 10 20 8 15 6 10 4 5 2 0 0 4 4 6 8 0 2 4 6 8 9 9 9 0 0 0 0 4 4 6 8 0 2 4 6 9 9 9 9 0 0 0 0 8 9 9 9 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 9 9 9 9 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2
Forest Ecosystems Red Spruce Decline (higher elevations) Sugar Maple Decline From: Bailey S. W., S. B. Horsley, R. P. Long, and R. A. Hallett.2004. Influence of Edaphic Factors on Sugar Maple Nutrition and Health on the Allegheny Plateau. SSSAJ 68:243–252
residuum/colluvium nutrient poor seep bedrock glacial till bedrock glacial outw ash nutrient rich
Mortality (% dead basal area) Upper B-horizon 60 60 50 50 2% Threshold 0.5% Threshold 40 40 30 30 20 20 10 10 0 0 0.01 0.1 1 10 0.1 1 10 100 Ca saturation% Mg saturation% less severe defoliation severe defoliation
Atmospheric Deposition Major Driver: But Other Factors Matter • Other components of air pollutants including ozone • Geology (location and substrate) • Introduction of exotic species • Herbivory (Deer, Moose, Insects) • Land use change including forest management • Climatic effects • Not only is the biota affected, but the biota can have a marked impact on the chemistry especially N cycling and nitrate in surface waters
Exotic Pests and Pathogens as Agents of Species Change Established pests: Gypsy moth Hemlock woolly adelgid Beech scale New pests & pathogens: Asian longhorned beetle Sudden oak death Emerald ash borer From: Lovett, G. M., C. D. Canham, M. A. Arthur, K. C. Weathers, and R. D. Fitzhugh. 2006. Forest ecosystem responses to exotic pests and pathogens in eastern North America. Bioscience 56:395-405.
Control of Nitrate in Catskill Streams Stream NO 3 vs. Soil C:N Annual Mean Stream 35 R 2 =0.59 30 p=0.0022 NO 3 ( μ mol/L) 25 20 15 10 5 0 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Mean Soil C:N From: Lovett, G. M., K. C. Weathers, and M. A. Arthur. 2002. Control of nitrogen loss from forested watersheds by soil Variance in soil C:N is primarily explained carbon:nitrogen ratio and tree species by species composition, especially sugar composition. Ecosystems 5:712-718 maple and red oak
Ca Rich Site (S14) Ca Poorer Site (S15) Litter Litter Litter Litter High Ca Low C:N Low Ca High C:N Low H i g h Mineralization M i n e r a l i z a t i o n & Nitrification Uptake & N i t r i f i c a t i o n Uptake - NO 3 - NO 3 Leaching Leaching Ca 2+ Ca 2+ weathering L e a c h w i n g e n g i a h c t a e h L e r i n g Stream Stream High Ca 2+ Ca-rich parent material Low Ca 2+ Ca-poorer parent material - High NO 3 - Low NO 3 - and Ca 2+ in From: Christopher, S.F., B.D. Page, J.L. Campbell and M.J. Mitchell. 2006. Contrasting stream water NO 3 two nearly adjacent catchments: the role of soil Ca and forest vegetation. Global Change Biology 12:364-381.
H 2 SO 4 SO x NH x , NO x HNO 3 Biotic Impacts Nutrient Anions Cations Depletion Toxicity Nutrient Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ Toxic Mobile H + , Al +3 2- SO 4 NO 3 -
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