Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Stress physiology and forest productivity pp 217–239Cite as

Air Pollution: Synthesis of the Role of Major Air Pollutants in Determining Forest Health and Productivity

  • Chapter

Part of the book series: Forestry Sciences ((FOSC,volume 21))

Abstract

Forested ecosystems are exposed to not only a physical climate, but also a modern chemical climate which has the potential to alter forest health and productivity. Recently, unexplained forest deterioration has been identified throughout extensive areas in central Europe, at high elevation coniferous sites, and apparently in commercial forestlands in the eastern United States. Deposition of pollutants from the atmosphere is suspect in playing a role in these forest deterioration phenomena. To date, no cause and effect relationship has been conclusively demonstrated between regional versus local atmospheric deposition and forest deterioration. The major hypotheses currently thought to deserve the focus of scientific investigation deal with forest alterations due to (1) gaseous pollutants (primarily O3), (2) a fertilization effect (primarily from N), (3) acpd deposition effects on foliage and soils, (4) trace metals (e.g. Pb, Cu, Cd, Ni, Zn), (5) general stress from air pollutants, and (6) deposition of organic growth altering substances. Not enough is yet known to suggest adjustments in forest management decisions which might reduce the possible effects of atmospheric deposition. However, foresters must keep informed about the current state-of-knowledge on the air pollution and forest effects issue as we all will play a role in management and policy decisions which shape the character of the environment in which future forests will grow.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Abrahamson, G. 1980. Acid precipitation, plant nutrients, and forest growth. Proc. Int. Conf. Ecol. Impacts Acid Precipitation. SNSF Project, As, Norway.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Andresen, Anthony M., Arthur H. Johnson, and Thomas Siccama. 1980. Levels of lead, copper, and zinc in the forest floor in the northeastern United States. J. Environ. Qual. 9:293–296.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Bernsten, C.M., D.W. Johnson, J.F. Corliss, H.C. Jones, I.J. Fernandez, and W.H. Smith. 1984. Acidic deposition and forests. Report of the SAF Task Force on the Effects of Acidic Deposition on Forest Ecosystems. Society of American Foresters. 51pp.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Bockheim, J.G. 1984. Acidic deposition effects on forest soils and site quality. In: Proc. U.S. — Canadian Conference on Forest Responses to Acidic Deposition. Land and Water Resources Center, University of Maine, Orono, Maine. pp. 19–35.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Breece, Linda and Sherman Hasbrouck (eds.). 1984. Forest responses to acidic deposition. Proc: U.S. — Canadian Conf. on Forest Responses to Acidic Deposition. Land and Water Resources Center, University of Maine, Orono, Maine.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Burgess, Robert L. (ed.). 1984. Effects of acidic deposition on forest ecosystems in the northeastern United States: An evaluation of current evidence. ESF 84-016. College of Env. Sci. and For., Syracuse, NY. 140pp.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Chevone, Boris I. 1985. Gaseous and wet atmospheric pollutant effects on forest tree seedling growth. In: Proc. Symposium on Air Pollutants Effects on Foret Ecosystems. The Acid Rain Foundation, St. Paul, Minnesota. pp. 87–94.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST). 1984. Acid precipitation in relation to agriculture, forestry. and aquatic biology. C.A.S.T. Report No. 100. Ames, Iowa. 31pp.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Cowling, Ellis B. 1984. Conclusions regarding the decline of forests in North America and central Europe. Statement prepared for William Ruckelshaus, Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina. 13pp.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Davis, D.D. and R.G. Wilhour. 1976. Susceptibility of woody plants to sulfur dioxide and photochemical oxidants. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Ecol. Res. Series EPA-600/3-76-102. Corvallis, Oregon. 72pp.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Elliott, L.F. and F.J. Stevenson (eds.). 1977. Soils for management of organic wastes and waste waters. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, Wis. 650 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Fernandez, Ivan J. 1983. Acidic deposition and its effects on forest productivity — A review of the present state of knowledge, research activities, and information needs. National Council of the Paper Industry for Air and Stream Improvement Tech. Bull. 392. New York. 104pp.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Fernandez, Ivan J. 1985. Potential effects of atmospheric deposition on forest soils. In: Proc. Symposium on Air Pollutants Effects on Forest Ecosystems. The Acid Rain Foundation, St. Paul. Minnesota. pp. 238–250.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Fernandez, I.J. and R.A. Struchtemeyer. 1985. Chemical characteristics of soils under spruce-fir forests in eastern Maine. Can. J. Soil Sci. 65:61–69.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Fernandez, Ivan J. and Miroslaw M. Czapowskyj. 1985. Levels of trace metals in the forest floors of low elevation, commercial spruce-fir sites in Maine. Northeast. Env. Sci. 4:1–7.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Friedland, A.J., A.H. Johnson, T.G. Siccama, and D.L. Mader. 1984a. Trace metal profiles in the forest floor of New England. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 48:422–425.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Friedland, Andrew J., Gary J. Hawley, and Robert A. Gregory. 1985. Investigations of nitrogen as a possible contributor to red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) decline. In: Proc. Symposium on Air Pollutants Effects on Forest Ecosystems. The Acid Rain Foundation, St. Paul, Minnesota. pp. 95–106.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Friedland, Andrew J., Robert A. Gregory, Lauri Karenlampi, and Arthur H. Johnson. 1984b. Winter damage to foliage as a factor in red spruce decline. Can. J. For. Res. 14:963–965.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Hanson, Denis W., Stephen A. Norton, and John S. Williams. 1982. Modern and paleolimnological evidence for accelerated leaching and metal accumulation in soils in New England caused by atmospheric deposition. Water Air Soil Pollut. 18:227–239.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Idso, Sherwood B. 1982. Carbon dioxide: Friend or foe? IBR Press, Tempe, Arizona. 92pp.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Johnson, A.H. and T.G. Siccama. 1983. Acid deposition and forest decline. Environ. Sci. Tech. 17:294–306.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Johnson, A.H., T.G. Siccama, and A.J. Friedland. 1982. Spatial and temporal patterns of lead accumulation in the forest floor in the northeastern United States. J. Environ. Qual. 11:577–580.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Lovett, Gary M. 1984. Atmospheric deposition to forests. In: Proc. U.S. — Canadian Conference on Forest Responses to Acidic Deposition. Land and Water Resources Center, University of Maine. Orono, Maine. pp. 7–18.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Lovett, Gary M., William A. Reiners, and Richard K. Olsen. 1982. Cloud droplet deposition in subalpine balsam fir forests: Hydrological and chemical inputs. Science 218:1303–1304.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Miller, P.R., O.C. Taylor. and R.G. Wilhour. 1982. Oxidant air pollution effects on a western coniferous forest ecosystem. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Public. No. EPA-600/D-82-276, Corvallis, Oregon. 10pp.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Moloney, K.A., L.J. Stratton, and R.M. Klein. 1983. Effects of simulated acidic, metal-containing precipitation on coniferous litter decomposition. Can. J. Bot. 61:3337–3342.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Morrison, Ian K. 1984. Acid rain — A review of literature on acid deposition effects in forest ecosystems. For. Abst. 45:483–506.

    Google Scholar 

  28. National Atmospheric Deposition Program. 1985. NADP annual data summary — Precipitation chemistry in the United States — 1982. Colorado State University, Fort Collins. Colorado.

    Google Scholar 

  29. National Swedish Environment Protection Board (NSEPB). 1982. Ecological effects of acid deposition. Report on background papers. Stockholm Conference on the Acidification of the Environment. Expert Meeting I. Report SNV PM 1636. Stockholm, Sweden.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Pendias, Henryk and Alina Kabata-Pendias. 1984. Trace metals in soils and plants. CRC Press. Inc., Boca Raton. Florida. 315 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Peters, Norman E. and Joseph E. Bonelli. 1982. Chemical composition of bulk precipitation in the north-central and northeastern United States, December 1980 through February 1981. U.S. Geological Survey Circular 874. Alexandria. VA.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Rehfuess, K.E. 1983. Walderkrankugen und Immissionen-eine Zwischenbi1anz. Allg. Forstzeitschr. 38:601–610.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Ruhling, Ake and Germund Tyler. 1973. Heavy metal pollution and decomposition of spruce needle litter. Oikos 24:402–41630.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Schutt, Peter and Ellis B. Cowling. 1985. Waldesterben. a general decline of forests in central Europe: Symptoms. development. and possible causes. Plant Disease 69:548–558.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Shafer, S.R., R.I. Bruck. and A.S. Heagle. 1985. Formation of ectomycorrhizae on Pinus taeda seedlings exposed to simulated acidic rain. Can. J. For. Res. 15:66–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Skelly, John M. 1980. Photochemical oxidant impact on Mediterranean and temperate forest ecosystems: Real and potential effects. In: Proc. Symposium on Effects of Air Pollutants on Mediterranean and Temperate Forest Ecosystems. Pacific Southwest For. and Range Experiment Station. Berkley. California. pp. 38–50.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Smith, W.H. 1981. Air pollution and forests. Springer-Verlag, Inc. New York, NY. 379pp.

    Google Scholar 

  38. The Acid Rain Foundation (TARF). 1985. Proc.: Symposium on Air pollutants effects on forest ecosystems. St. Paul. Minnesota.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Tyler, Germund. 1975. Effect of heavy metal pollution on decomposition and mineralization rates in forest soils. In: International Conference on Heavy Metals in the Environment. Toronto. Canada. pp.217–226.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Ulrich, B. 1983. A concept of forest ecosystem stability and of acid deposition as driving force for destabilization. In: Effects of Accumulation of Air Pollutants in Forest Ecosystems. D. Reidel Pub. Co., Boston, MA. pp.1–32.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Ulrich. B., R. Mayer and P.K. Khanna. 1980. Chemical changes due to acid precipitation in a loess-derived soil in central Europe. Soil Sci. 130:193–199.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1983a. The acidic deposition phenomenon and its effects. Critical Assessment Review Papers. Vol. II. Effects Sciences. EPA-600/8-83-0116B. Washington, D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  43. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1983b. National air quality and emissions trends report. 1983. EPA-450/4-84-029. Washington. D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  44. United States Forest Service. 1985. Effects of atmospheric deposition on spruce-fir forests: Research plan for a spruce-fir effects cooperative. U.S. Forest Service Northeastern For. Experiment Station, Broomall. PA.

    Google Scholar 

  45. von Osten, Wolf U. 1985. Evidence for effects of air pollution on ecosystems, in particular on forests in the Federal Republic of Germany. In: Proc. Symposium on Air Pollutants Effects on Forest Ecosystems. The Acid Rain Foundation, St. Paul. Minnesota. pp.175–190.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, 04469, USA

    Ivan J. Fernandez (Assistant Professor of Soil Science and Cooperating Assistant Professor of Forest Resources)

  2. Maine Agricultural Experiment Station Publication 1058, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, USA

    Ivan J. Fernandez (Assistant Professor of Soil Science and Cooperating Assistant Professor of Forest Resources)

Authors
  1. Ivan J. Fernandez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA

    Thomas C. Hennessey

  2. University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA

    Phillip M. Dougherty

  3. USDA Forest Service, Gainesville, Florida, USA

    Susan V. Kossuth

  4. University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA

    Jon D. Johnson

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1986 Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Fernandez, I.J. (1986). Air Pollution: Synthesis of the Role of Major Air Pollutants in Determining Forest Health and Productivity. In: Hennessey, T.C., Dougherty, P.M., Kossuth, S.V., Johnson, J.D. (eds) Stress physiology and forest productivity. Forestry Sciences, vol 21. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4424-4_11

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4424-4_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-8469-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-4424-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation