Determining adequate levels of nitrogen and sulfur deposition to prevent harmful tree species level decreases
Justin Coughlin1, Christopher M. Clark2, Robert Sabo3, Jeremy Ash4, Jennifer James5, Travis J. Smith6 and Linda Pardo7
Ecosystems in the United States have experienced extensive nitrogen and sulfur deposition decreases over the last thirty years resulting in lower levels of acidic rain, lessening eutrophication, and declining soil acidification. As nitrogen and sulfur deposition continue to decrease, policy frameworks can be established to determine adequate levels of deposition to protect species diversity and abundance. Recent advances in quantifiable deposition effects on individual tree species in the contiguous United States (CONUS) have presented novel data on the growth and survival rates of 94 different tree species including new critical load information. Using the most current NADP total nitrogen and sulfur deposition (dry + wet) surfaces, the United States Forest Service’s live tree basal area surfaces, and the newly available tree species response curves, we have generated forest-level rasters showing the net (negative and positive) effects on tree species across the CONUS from 2014-2016 averaged total nitrogen and sulfur deposition. In addition, deposition magnitude CONUS rasters have been modeled to determine levels that would ensure forest growth and survival rates do not exceed 5 and 1%, respectively. This pertinent information can be used in policy decisions to ascertain appropriate ambient level concentrations of NOx and SOx ensuring forests are not adversely harmed.
1US Environmental Protection Agency, coughlin.justin@epa.gov
2US Environmental Protection Agency, clark.christopher@epa.gov
3US Environmental Protection Agency, sabo.robert@epa.gov
4US Forest Service, jeremy.ash@usda.gov
5US Environmental Protection Agency, James.Jennifer@epa.gov
6US Environmental Protection Agency, Smith.JTravis@epa.gov
7US Forest Service, linda.pardo@usda.gov