Forecasting effects of SO/sub 2/ pollution on growth and succession in a western conifer forest

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980 · U.S. dept of Argriculture Forest service Service Pacific Southwest Forest and range Experiment Station; (United States)

OSTI ID:5884736

Kercher, J R; Axelrod, M C; Bingham, G E

A simulator has been developed for the mixed conifer forest type of the Sierra Nevada, California to forecast the effects of SO/sub 2/ on forest growth and succession. The model simulates recruitment, growth, and death of each tree and is based on a northeastern USA simulator with extensive modifications. These modifications include the introduction of fire ecology, temporal seed crop patterns unique to the Sierra, and water stress. Pollutant stress is modeled as an effect on tree growth. The model simulates the shift from the ponderosa pine dominated forest type to the white fir dominated mixed conifer type as elevation increases from 5000 to 6000 ft. It also simulates the fire suppression of white fir and the fire-climax of ponderosa pine. For a 10% growth reduction of ponderosa pine from pollutant stress and with growth reductions in other species as determined by their relative sensitivities, standing crops of ponderosa pine were reduced and white fir increased. 9 references, 4 figures.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA
• OSTI ID: 5884736
• Conference Information: Journal Name: U.S. dept of Argriculture Forest service Service Pacific Southwest Forest and range Experiment Station; (United States)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560303* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Plants-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CALIFORNIA
CHALCOGENIDES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
CONIFERS
ECOSYSTEMS
FEDERAL REGION IX
FORECASTING
FORESTS
GROWTH
INHIBITION
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MOUNTAINS
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PINES
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
SIERRA NEVADA COLORADO
SIMULATION
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
TREES
USA