Acid Precipitation Effects on Forest Habitats: Implications for Wildlife

Abstract: Forests ecosystems, with their stratified structure, provide a diversity of habitats for a variety of animals. The influence of acidic deposition on forests is being studied intensely, and preliminary research indicates that some forest resources are being affected. These effects and the potential for subsequent change in forest structure and function imply that an impact on the wildlife inhabitants is occurring. In most cases, these impacts are not direct, but instead reflect modifications of habitat and changes in trophic relationships. Detecting changes distinguishable from normal spatiotemporal variations in animal populations is difficult. The net result over time may be reductions or shifts in populations and species composition. This paper provides an overview of current information on the impact of acidic deposition on forest resources as it relates to animals.