Red spruce response to ozone and cloudwater after three years exposure

Journal Article · · Journal of Environmental Quality; (United States)

OSTI ID:7162089

Thorton, F C; Pier, P A; McDuffie, C Jr

This study reports on the results of a 3-yr study conducted at a high elevation site in the southern Appalachians to determine if cloudwater and ozone (O[sub 3]) adversely affect the growth of red spruce seedlings (Picea rubens Sarg.). Field chambers were established at Whitetop Mountain, VA (elevation 1689 m), in 1988. Three replicate chamber treatments were constructed to produce the following treatments: (I) exclusion of clouds and O[sub 3] (COE), (II) ambient O[sub 3] with clouds removed (CE), and (III) exposure to both clouds and O[sub 3] (CC). Ambient air plots (AA) were also included in order to assess possible chamber effects. After 3 yr, seedlings were impacted little by the reduction in pollution levels within the CE and COE chambers. No differences in seedling diameter growth were found for either seedling type, and height growth differences that were detected indicated more height growth in treatments with ambient O[sub 3] and cloudwater. Minimal biomass effects were also found. Increased nutrient leaching of needle Ca and Mg was observed in cloudwater treatments, but needle concentrations were not reduced to deficiency levels. Removal of both cloudwater and O[sub 3] (COE) did not enhance photosynthesis (Ps) rates for native or GSM seedlings. However, Ps of seedlings in which only cloudwater was removed (CE) was lower in 1-yr-old needles (C+1) of native and GSM seedlings, and in 2-yr-old needles (C+2) of native seedlings. These lower Ps rates of CE seedlings were correlated with lower needle N concentrations, indicating that cloudwater NO[sub 3][sup [minus]] and NH[sub 4][sup +] may have provided a fertilizer effect within AA and CC treatments. Respiration of current year needles of native seedlings was not affected by treatments; however, respiration was lower in older needles in which O[sub 3] and cloudwater were removed.

• OSTI ID: 7162089
• Journal Information: Journal of Environmental Quality; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Quality; (United States) Vol. 21:2; ISSN JEVQAA; ISSN 0047-2425
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290301 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety-- Regional & Global Environmental Aspects-- (1992-)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AGE DEPENDENCE
AIR POLLUTION
APPALACHIAN BASIN
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CLOUDS
CONIFERS
DISSOLUTION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
EXPOSURE CHAMBERS
FIELD TESTS
FORESTS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GROWTH
LEACHING
OZONE
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
PINOPHYTA
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
POLLUTION
PRODUCTIVITY
RESPIRATION
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
SEEDLINGS
SENSITIVITY
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SPRUCES
SYNTHESIS
TESTING
TOXICITY
TREES