Assessing Ecological Risks from Atmospheric Deposition of Nitrogen and Sulfur to US Forests Using Epiphytic Macrolichens
Critical loads of atmospheric deposition help decision-makers identify levels of air pollution harmful to ecosystem components. But when critical loads are exceeded, how can the accompanying ecological risk be quantified? We use a 90% quantile regression to model relationships between nitrogen and s...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-06-01
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| Series: | Diversity |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/11/6/87 |
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| author | Linda H. Geiser Peter R. Nelson Sarah E. Jovan Heather T. Root Christopher M. Clark |
| author_facet | Linda H. Geiser Peter R. Nelson Sarah E. Jovan Heather T. Root Christopher M. Clark |
| author_sort | Linda H. Geiser |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Critical loads of atmospheric deposition help decision-makers identify levels of air pollution harmful to ecosystem components. But when critical loads are exceeded, how can the accompanying ecological risk be quantified? We use a 90% quantile regression to model relationships between nitrogen and sulfur deposition and epiphytic macrolichens, focusing on responses of concern to managers of US forests: Species richness and abundance and diversity of functional groups with integral ecological roles. Analyses utilized national-scale lichen survey data, sensitivity ratings, and modeled deposition and climate data. We propose 20, 50, and 80% declines in these responses as cut-offs for low, moderate, and high ecological risk from deposition. Critical loads (low risk cut-off) for total species richness, sensitive species richness, forage lichen abundance and cyanolichen abundance, respectively, were 3.5, 3.1, 1.9, and 1.3 kg N and 6.0, 2.5, 2.6, and 2.3 kg S ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>−1</sup>. High environmental risk (80% decline), excluding total species richness, occurred at 14.8, 10.4, and 6.6 kg N and 14.1, 13, and 11 kg S ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>−1</sup>. These risks were further characterized in relation to geography, species of conservation concern, number of species affected, recovery timeframes, climate, and effects on interdependent biota, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem services. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T07:56:21Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T07:56:21Z |
| publishDate | 2019-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-a17b7b29a4414372a185ee0138d8a4e12022-12-22T01:56:53ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182019-06-011168710.3390/d11060087d11060087Assessing Ecological Risks from Atmospheric Deposition of Nitrogen and Sulfur to US Forests Using Epiphytic MacrolichensLinda H. Geiser0Peter R. Nelson1Sarah E. Jovan2Heather T. Root3Christopher M. Clark4Water, Wildlife, Fish, Air & Rare Plants Directorate, Forest Service, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, 201 14th St SW, Mailstop 1121, Washington, DC 20250, USAPenobscot Experimental Forest, Northern Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, and University of Fort Kent, Maine, 54 Government Road, Bradley, ME 04411, USAPacific Northwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, 620 SW Main St., Suite 502, Portland, OR 97205, USADepartment of Botany, Weber State University, 1415 Edvalson St., Dept. 2504, Ogden, UT 84408-2505, USANational Center for Environmental Assessment, Office of Research & Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460, USACritical loads of atmospheric deposition help decision-makers identify levels of air pollution harmful to ecosystem components. But when critical loads are exceeded, how can the accompanying ecological risk be quantified? We use a 90% quantile regression to model relationships between nitrogen and sulfur deposition and epiphytic macrolichens, focusing on responses of concern to managers of US forests: Species richness and abundance and diversity of functional groups with integral ecological roles. Analyses utilized national-scale lichen survey data, sensitivity ratings, and modeled deposition and climate data. We propose 20, 50, and 80% declines in these responses as cut-offs for low, moderate, and high ecological risk from deposition. Critical loads (low risk cut-off) for total species richness, sensitive species richness, forage lichen abundance and cyanolichen abundance, respectively, were 3.5, 3.1, 1.9, and 1.3 kg N and 6.0, 2.5, 2.6, and 2.3 kg S ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>−1</sup>. High environmental risk (80% decline), excluding total species richness, occurred at 14.8, 10.4, and 6.6 kg N and 14.1, 13, and 11 kg S ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>−1</sup>. These risks were further characterized in relation to geography, species of conservation concern, number of species affected, recovery timeframes, climate, and effects on interdependent biota, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem services.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/11/6/87critical loadlichenair pollutionenvironmental assessmentquantile regressionecological riskclimatebiodiversityconservationland managementCMAQPRISM |
| spellingShingle | Linda H. Geiser Peter R. Nelson Sarah E. Jovan Heather T. Root Christopher M. Clark Assessing Ecological Risks from Atmospheric Deposition of Nitrogen and Sulfur to US Forests Using Epiphytic Macrolichens Diversity critical load lichen air pollution environmental assessment quantile regression ecological risk climate biodiversity conservation land management CMAQ PRISM |
| title | Assessing Ecological Risks from Atmospheric Deposition of Nitrogen and Sulfur to US Forests Using Epiphytic Macrolichens |
| title_full | Assessing Ecological Risks from Atmospheric Deposition of Nitrogen and Sulfur to US Forests Using Epiphytic Macrolichens |
| title_fullStr | Assessing Ecological Risks from Atmospheric Deposition of Nitrogen and Sulfur to US Forests Using Epiphytic Macrolichens |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing Ecological Risks from Atmospheric Deposition of Nitrogen and Sulfur to US Forests Using Epiphytic Macrolichens |
| title_short | Assessing Ecological Risks from Atmospheric Deposition of Nitrogen and Sulfur to US Forests Using Epiphytic Macrolichens |
| title_sort | assessing ecological risks from atmospheric deposition of nitrogen and sulfur to us forests using epiphytic macrolichens |
| topic | critical load lichen air pollution environmental assessment quantile regression ecological risk climate biodiversity conservation land management CMAQ PRISM |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/11/6/87 |
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