Studies to assess the effects of ozone on native vegetation of Acadia National Park: 1992 annual report
Eckert R, Lee T, Stapelfeldt K, Theisen A, Kohut R, Laurence J, King P. 1993. Studies to assess the effects of ozone on native vegetation of Acadia National Park: 1992 annual report. University of New Hampshire; Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research. University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
A total of 11 species of plants native to the park were exposed to controlled levels of ozone in the open-top chambers at the fumigation site near Sand Beach. In addition, an ozone monitoring station was established on the summit of Cadillac Mountain. Effects of ozone on plants were assessed in both chronic and acute exposure studies and responses to ozone treatments were evaluated by assessing foliar injury, rates of net photosynthesis, and fluorescence emissions. 'The acute exposures did not result in foliar injury or in a significant reduction in rates of photosynthesis in either big-leaf aster or white pine.' ...'A fluorescence study on white pine and big-leaf aster during the acute exposures showed a significant increase in the red/far-red flourescence ratio in white pine 24 hours after the Aug. acute exposure. This result suggests that ozone interfered with electron transport between photosystem II and I.' A vegetation survey was conducted in the park to determine if visible ozone injury had occurred in natural populations at Acadia. 'No ozone symptoms were observed in the 257 plants sampled.' An electrophoretic assessment of allozyme diversity of eastern white pine was conducted to assess genetic diversity of Acadia populations and compare them with populations from a range-wide sample of the species. A secondary objective was to assess whether genetic diversity was related to levels of needle mottle and tip chlorosis. 'Diameter, height, and location were recorded and each tree was permanently labeled.' 'Acadia white pines are comparable in diversity with populations from the range-wide sample. There is not evidence suggesting high levels of inbreeding, genetic bottlenecks, or other problems related to genetic diversity. Comparisons of populations within Acadia showed that the population located at the north end of Eagle Lake is the most genetically divers, and contains alleles not found in the other populations. This is a population that should be managed with the protection of genetic diversity as a primary objective. No relationship was found between occurrence of needle mottle or tip chlorosis and genetic population parameters.' /STUDY LOCATIONS:/ /ACADIA NATIONAL PARK/MOUNT DESERT ISLAND/Cadillac Mountain/Great Hill/Duck Brook/Otter Creek/Jackson Lab/Schooner Head Overlook/Breakneck Ponds/Eagle Lake/Aunt Betty Pond/Salsbury Cove/Halfmoon Pond/Parkman Mountain/
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Eckert, Robert; Lee, Tom; Stapelfeldt, Karen; Theisen, Arnold; Kohut, Robert; Laurence, John; King, Paul
- Date of Issue
- 1993-03
- Publisher
- University of New Hampshire; Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research
- Units
- ACAD
- Keywords
- Acadia National Park, Air Quality, Aunt Betty Pond, Breakneck Ponds, Cadillac Mountain, Duck Brook, Eagle Lake, Electrophoresis, Foliar Damage, Genetics, Great Hill, Halfmoon Pond, Jackson Lab, Mount Desert Island, Otter Creek, Ozone (O3), Parkman Mountain, Permanent Plots, Plants, Salsbury Cove, Schooner Head Overlook, Vegetation