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Title: Red spruce decline in the northeastern US: hypotheses regarding the role of acid rain

Abstract

Red spruce have died in abnormal numbers in the high elevation forests of New York and New England during the past two decades while spruce in the southern Appalachians remain healthy. Investigations of insect damage, fungai pathogens, successional dynamics, competitive status, climate and weather patterns, and possible pollutant effects indicate that the decline was triggered by abiotic stress during the dry years of the 1960s. Tree response, as recorded in the pattern of annual rings, and the wide range of soil conditions in which spruce are declining, suggest drought or dry summers as key factors. Hypotheses regarding the role of acid deposition induced stress have been offered, but at present there is not evidence which clearly links acid deposition to spruce decline. Indirect effects of acid deposition on soils, direct effects of acid deposition on foliage, and interactions of acid deposition and drought stress are possible but unproven pathways by which acid deposition could be involved. 23 references, 6 figures, 1 table.

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Univ. of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
OSTI Identifier:
5320738
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 33:11
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.; 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; ACID RAIN; BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS; SPRUCES; DEATH; BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS; FEDERAL REGION I; FORESTS; NEW YORK; TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS; ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS; ECOSYSTEMS; FEDERAL REGION II; NORTH AMERICA; PLANTS; RAIN; TREES; USA; 560303* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Plants- (-1987); 510200 - Environment, Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989); 500200 - Environment, Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)

Citation Formats

Johnson, A H. Red spruce decline in the northeastern US: hypotheses regarding the role of acid rain. United States: N. p., 1983. Web. doi:10.1080/00022470.1983.10465690.
Johnson, A H. Red spruce decline in the northeastern US: hypotheses regarding the role of acid rain. United States. https://doi.org/10.1080/00022470.1983.10465690
Johnson, A H. 1983. "Red spruce decline in the northeastern US: hypotheses regarding the role of acid rain". United States. https://doi.org/10.1080/00022470.1983.10465690.
@article{osti_5320738,
title = {Red spruce decline in the northeastern US: hypotheses regarding the role of acid rain},
author = {Johnson, A H},
abstractNote = {Red spruce have died in abnormal numbers in the high elevation forests of New York and New England during the past two decades while spruce in the southern Appalachians remain healthy. Investigations of insect damage, fungai pathogens, successional dynamics, competitive status, climate and weather patterns, and possible pollutant effects indicate that the decline was triggered by abiotic stress during the dry years of the 1960s. Tree response, as recorded in the pattern of annual rings, and the wide range of soil conditions in which spruce are declining, suggest drought or dry summers as key factors. Hypotheses regarding the role of acid deposition induced stress have been offered, but at present there is not evidence which clearly links acid deposition to spruce decline. Indirect effects of acid deposition on soils, direct effects of acid deposition on foliage, and interactions of acid deposition and drought stress are possible but unproven pathways by which acid deposition could be involved. 23 references, 6 figures, 1 table.},
doi = {10.1080/00022470.1983.10465690},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5320738}, journal = {J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States)},
number = ,
volume = 33:11,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1983},
month = {Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1983}
}