An Approach for Evaluating the Effectiveness of Various Ozone Air Quality Standards for Protecting Trees

We demonstrate an approach for evaluating the level of protection attained using a variety of forms and levels of past, current, and proposed Air Quality Standards (AQSs). The U.S. Clean Air Act requires the establishment of ambient air quality standards to protect health and public welfare. However, determination of attainment of these standards is based on ambient pollutant concentrations rather than prevention of adverse effects. To determine if a given AQS protected against adverse effects on vegetation, hourly ozone concentrations were adjusted to create exposure levels that “just attain” a given standard. These exposures were used in combination with a physiologically-based tree growth model to account for the interactions of climate and ozone. In the evaluation, we used ozone concentrations from two 6-year time periods from the San Bernardino Mountains in California. There were clear differences in the level of vegetation protection achieved with the various AQSs. Based on modeled plant growth, the most effective standards were the California 8-hr average maximum of 70 ppb and a seasonal, cumulative, concentration-weighted index (SUM06), which if attained, resulted in annual growth reductions of 1% or less. Least effective was the 1-hr maximum of 120 ppb which resulted in a 7% annual reduction. We conclude that combining climate, exposure scenarios, and a process-based plant growth simulator was a useful approach for evaluating effectiveness of current or proposed air quality standards, or evaluating the form and/or level of a standard based on preventing adverse growth effects.     

A Procedure for NEPA Assessment of Selenium Hazards Associated With Mining

This paper gives step-by-step instructions for assessing aquatic selenium hazards associated with mining. The procedure was developed to provide the U.S. Forest Service with a proactive capability for determining the risk of selenium pollution when it reviews mine permit applications in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The procedural framework is constructed in a decision-tree format in order to guide users through the various steps, provide a logical sequence for completing individual tasks, and identify key decision points. There are five major components designed to gather information on operational parameters of the proposed mine as well as key aspects of the physical, chemical, and biological environment surrounding it — geological assessment, mine operation assessment, hydrological assessment, biological assessment, and hazard assessment. Validation tests conducted at three mines where selenium pollution has occurred confirmed that the procedure will accurately predict ecological risks. In each case, it correctly identified and quantified selenium hazard, and indicated the steps needed to reduce this hazard to an acceptable level. By utilizing the procedure, NEPA workers can be confident in their ability to understand the risk of aquatic selenium pollution and take appropriate action. Although the procedure was developed for the Forest Service it should also be useful to other federal land management agencies that conduct NEPA assessments, as well as regulatory agencies responsible for issuing coal mining permits under the authority of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) and associated Section 401 water quality certification under the Clean Water Act. Mining companies will also benefit from the application of this procedure because priority selenium sources can be identified in relation to specific mine operating parameters. The procedure will reveal the point(s) at which there is a need to modify operating conditions to meet environmental quality goals. By recognizing concerns early in the NEPA process, it may be possible for a mining company to match operational parameters with environmental requirements, thereby increasing the likelihood that the permit application will be approved.     

Gradient analysis of the chrogenetic structure of lowland and highland scotch pine populations

Gradients of genetic distances (GGDs) between 26 adjacent cenopopulations of Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) along the transects through the distinct landscape-ecotopic isolation borders were analyzed graphically. The results made it possible to reveal and quantitatively estimate gradients and borders of gene-pool structural patterns in populations of this species in the central part of Northern Eurasia. In lowland areas, the most distinct borders were found between pine populations growing on dry lands and bogs (Pineta sphagnosa) in the forest zone of the Transural region, as well as between the Arakaragaiskii and Amankaragaiskii island pine forests in the steppe zone (Northern Turgai). In highland areas (the Urals and the Carpathians), the greatest GGDs were observed between low-mountain (about 600 m above sea level) and middle-mountain (850–900 m) populations. Analysis of GGDs is a promising gene-geographic method for determining population borders and studying the chorogenetic structure of species.     

Long term changes in atmospheric N and S throughfall deposition and effects on soil solution chemistry in a Scots pine forest in the Netherlands

In a Scots pine forest the throughfall deposition and the chemical composition of the soil solution was monitored since 1984. (Inter)national legislation measures led to a reduction of the deposition of nitrogen and sulphur. The deposition of sulphur has decreased by approximately 65%. The total mineral-nitrogen deposition has decreased by ca. 25%, which is mainly due to a reduction in ammonium-N deposition (−40%), since nitrate-N deposition has increased (+50%). The nitrogen concentration in the upper mineral soil solution at 10 cm depth has decreased, leading to an improved nutritional balance, which may result in improved tree vitality. In the drainage water at 90 cm depth the fluxes of NO₃⁻ and SO₄²⁻ have decreased, resulting in a reduced leeching of accompanying base cations, thus preserving nutrients in the ecosystem. It may take still several years, however, before this will meet the prerequisite of a sustainable ecosystem.     

模拟氮沉降对重庆缙云山马尾松林土壤呼吸和酶活性的季节性影响

土壤酶参与土壤碳氮转化,同时土壤碳氮状况又是土壤酶活性的基础,而大气氮沉降通过影响土壤酶活性进而影响土壤CO_2释放.通过野外模拟试验,探讨不同氮沉降量对马尾松土壤呼吸和酶活性的影响,探索该区域马尾松土壤呼吸(Rs)与土壤温度(T)、土壤湿度(W)、Ure(脲酶)、Ive(转化酶)、CAT(过氧化氢酶)及ACP(酸性磷酸酶)的关系,为深入研究氮沉降对马尾松林森林生态系统的影响提供参考.2014年5月~2015年7月在缙云山马尾松林设置3个氮添加水平和一个无氮添加的对照处理:低氮[N_5,20 g·(m~2·a)~(-1)],中氮[N_(10),40 g·(m~2·a)~(-1)]、高氮[N_(15),60 g·(m~2·a)~(-1)]和对照[N0,0g·(m~2·a)~(-1)],每个处理量分4次,在每个季度开始各施1次,每个处理各9次重复,采用ACE(automated soil CO_2exchange station,UK)自动土壤呼吸监测系统分别对土壤呼吸、土壤温度和土壤湿度进行分析测定.结果表明:1土壤酶和土壤呼吸均具有明显的季节变化规律,各处理土壤呼吸均表现为夏季最高,其次是春季和秋季,最低为冬季,而各处理土壤酶活性则无一致的变化规律.2总体而言,氮沉降对土壤呼吸和酶活性均有抑制作用,且抑制程度随氮浓度增加而加强,但冬季氮沉降对马尾松林土壤呼吸有促进作用,春、夏、秋这3个季节氮沉降对Ure、Ive、CAT及ACP有抑制作用,而冬季氮沉降对4种土壤酶活性影响则存在差异.3逐步回归表明,无氮和低氮处理时,T、Ure和Ive对Rs的贡献较大,且随着T、Ure和Ive的增加,Rs也急剧增加;中氮处理时,T、Ure和CAT对Rs的贡献较大,Rs随着T、Ure和Ive的增加而增加;高氮处理时,Rs随着Ure的增加而降低,随着CAT和W的增加而增加.     

松针生理性质对其富集多环芳烃行为的影响

测定了雪松(Cedrus deodar)和黑松(Pinus thunbergii)松针的脂含量、气孔密度和比表面积等生理性质及松针中多环芳烃 (PAHs)浓度,考察了松针生理性质对其富集PAHs行为的影响.结果表明,雪松松针中PAHs浓度高于黑松,其平均总浓度(ΣPAHs)分别为(1101±692)ng/g和(518±339)ng/g,2种松针对PAHs的富集能力有较大差异,脂含量是决定松针富集PAHs量的首要因素.2种松针中PAHs组成均以3环和4环PAHs为主,分别占ΣPAHs的56%和31%以上.松针对于3环PAHs的富集能力强于4环PAHs,两者浓度差异约为2倍左右;对于5、6环PAHs,未发现其浓度与脂含量之间的相关关系.由于雪松和黑松松针的脂含量随比表面积具有不同的变化趋势,2种松针中PAHs浓度随比表面积的变化趋势相反.对于5、6环PAHs,松针比表面积和气孔密度对其浓度有显著影响.     

缙云山马尾松林和柑橘林土壤微生物PLFA沿海拔梯度的变化

土壤微生物群落是土壤生态系统的重要组成部分,对环境变化敏感.本文运用磷脂脂肪酸法(PLFA)研究缙云山马尾松林和柑橘林土壤微生物群落结构沿海拔梯度的变化特征.结果表明,从6个海拔土壤中共检测到48种PLFA,其中i16:0、10Me17:0、10Me18:0 TBSA在6个海拔中含量均最高,且柑橘林土壤PLFA种类和含量明显高于马尾松林.随着海拔升高马尾松林土壤微生物种类和含量逐渐增加,柑橘林则逐渐降低,各海拔间细菌、真菌、放线菌、革兰氏阴性菌(G~-)及革兰氏阳性菌(G~+)含量差异显著.土壤微生物群落多样性研究结果表明,马尾松林低海拔丰富度指数(R),多样性指数(H')、均匀度指数(J)均显著高于高海拔,而柑橘林R在低海拔最高,H'、J则在高海拔最高.不同海拔土壤细菌、放线菌、G~-及G~+与土壤酶和环境因子之间存在相关性,细菌、放线菌、G~-及G~+与脲酶(Ure)、转化酶(Ive)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、林分类型均呈极显著正相关,真菌与Ure、Ive、CAT呈显著正相关;而细菌、真菌、放线菌、G~-及G~+与海拔呈极显著或显著负相关.Ure、Ive、CAT、林分及海拔是影响土壤微生物PLFA变化的重要因子.     

油松排放萜烯类化合物浓度的日变化及排放速率的研究

 采用封闭式采样和气相色谱法分析监测了北京主要树种油松排放的萜烯类化合物，其中包括α和β蒎烯、蒈烯、松油烯、柠檬烯和罗勒烯，以及少量异戊二烯。松油烯、B蒎烯、柠檬烯和蒈烯的排放量之和占油松排放碳氢总量的94％以上。萜烯和异戌二烯排放速率随日照和温度的升高而增加。萜烯等浓度的日变化表明在正午和午夜油松有两个排放高峰。在日均气温为18℃时油松的碳氢化合物平均总排放速率约为8.7μh/h.g。     

重庆南山马尾松衰亡与土壤铝活化的关系

研究了重庆南山马尾松衰亡与铝中毒的关系.发现南山土壤中活性铝含量相当高,而活性钙含量很低,轻灾区和重灾区的Al/Ca比都已超过伤害植物的阈值.试验结果表明,铝活化是土壤严重酸化的后果.溶液培养试验结果表明,铝对马尾松幼苗生长有明显毒害作用,且毒性最大的形态是Al~(3+),铝中毒是南山酸雨危害马尾松的主要原因.     

Can intensive management increase carbon storage in forests?

A possible response to increasing atmospheric CO₂ concentration is to attempt to increase the amount of carbon stored in terrestrial vegetation. One approach to increasing the size of the terrestrial carbon sink is to increase the growth of forests by utilizing intensive forest management practices. This article uses data from the literature and from forest growth and yield models to analyze the impact of three management practices on carbon storage: thinning, fertilization, and control of competing vegetation. Using Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) as example species, results from experiments with computer simulation models suggest that, for these two species, thinning generally does not increase carbon storage and may actually cause a decrease. The exception is thinning of very dense young stands. Fertilization generally increases carbon storage, although the response can be quite variable. The largest gains in carbon storage are likely to come from fertilizing lower-quality sites and from fertilizing thinned or less dense stands. Forests usually show increased growth in response to fertilization over a wide range of ages. Simulation of the growth of loblolly pine indicates that controlling competing vegetation at an early age helps to maximize stand growth and carbon storage. The research described in this article has been funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency. This document has been prepared at the EPA Environmental Research Laboratory in Corvallis, Oregon, through contract number 68-C8-0006 to NSI Technology Inc. It has been subjected to the agency’s peer and administrative review and approved for publication. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.