Studies to assess the effects of ozone on native vegetation of Acadia National Park: Final project report
Eckert R, Kohut R, Lee T, Laurence J, King P, Stapelfeldt K, Raba R. 1995. Studies to assess the effects of ozone on native vegetation of Acadia National Park: Final project report. University of New Hampshire; Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research. University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
From the introduction: "Acadia National Park (ACAD) in Maine experiences some of the highest concentrations of ozone on the East Coast. During the summer months, polluted air masses from the heavily populated and industrialized northeast corridor often move up the coast, cross the Gulf of Maine, and return to land in the vicinity of the Park resulting in high concentrations of ozone there. Since the National Park Service is charged with protecting the natural resources of the Park, it is important to understand the actual and potential impacts ozone may have on the native vegetation of the Park. Although foliar ozone injury has been reported on eastern white pine in the Park (Sanchini, 1988; Treshow, 1984), the etiology of the injury was not proven. The effects of ozone on native plants in the Park and the levels at which effects are initiated were poorly understood. To gain this understanding, a project using open-top chambers to expose species of native plants to controlled levels of ozone were assessed by evaluating levels of foliar injury and rates of photosynthesis." "From a biodiversity perspective, the sensitivity to ozone of black cherry and small sundrops is significant since both species are uncommon in the Park, and deleterious effects from exposure to ozone could result in a decline of their populations." "The pollutant-sensitivity classifications, and the dose-response and response threshold information compiled in the study will be of considerable value to the Park Service in its mission to protect the plant resources of ACAD...Most of the information garnered through these studies makes up a new and important contribution to the scientific literature on pollutant impacts on plants." /STUDY LOCATIONS:/ /ACADIA NATIONAL PARK/
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Eckert, Robert; Kohut, Robert; Lee, Thomas; Laurence, John; King, Paul; Stapelfeldt, Karen; Raba, Richard
- Date of Issue
- 1995-06
- Publisher
- University of New Hampshire; Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research
- Units
- ACAD
- Keywords
- Acadia National Park, Air Quality, Foliar Damage, Ozone (O3), Vegetation