Relationships Among Stressors, Forests, and Aquatic Systems
*As Number and Severity of Stressors Increase,The Impacts to Forests and Associated Aquatic Systems Increase
STRESSORS-Air Pollutants-Altered Fire Regimes-Changes in Land Use--Urbanization-Exotic Species (Insects and Plants)
AQUATIC SYSTEMS-Chemistry-Sedimentation-Species Diversity-High and Low Flows
FOREST SYSTEMS-Growth-Reproduction-Mortality-Species Diversity-Tree Condition
Nitrogen Deposition Primary Effects on Forest Ecosystems
TreeGrowth
Stimulus
Nitrogen Saturation
Acidification Of SoilLoss of Nutrient Cations
Mobilization of Toxic Cations
Change ing Understory
SpeciesDiversity
Stream Degradation-Increased Cations-Decreased Water Quality-Decreased Aquatic Life
Changes inLichen
Diversity
Forest Degradation-Reduced Growth-Deteriorated Crowns-Increased Tree Mortality-Increased Sensitivity to Stressors
NitrogenFertilization
Relationships between Cations in Streams and Forest Health Indicators
UnderstorySpecies
Tree Growth, Mortality, &
Regeneration
CrownCondition
NutrientCations inStreams
Illustration of Multi-tier Concept
XNEE
XXDOC
XXMethane flux
XXSoil CO2 flux
XXLitterfall
XXXLive biomass
X*XXXDisturbance
XXXXLeaf area
XXXXLand cover
Tier 4Intensive Site
Tier 3Condition Sample
Tier 2Extensive Inventory
Tier 1Remote Sensing
Example
Variable
* Designed experiments
Tier 2 Surveys–USFS Forest Inventoryand Analysis (FIA)
Plots measured with a 5-year panel system to characterize forests of the Delaware River Basin.
Added 3 soil samples at 3 depths to each forested plot, + stream survey.
Focus on Appalachian Plateau (Northern Basin)
Neversink
Delaware Water Gap
French Creek
Fragmentation estimates from low-altitude CIR aerial photography
Stream survey preliminary results
N release typically happens with C/N below 23– all of Neversink is low C/N in streamwater. I need to have Kevin re-work this with a break at 25.
Headwaters are very low in Ca. Tree data could be correlated.
Mineral Soil Ca
0.00
0.050.10
0.150.20
0.25
0.300.35
0.40
Ridgetop Upper Mid Lower
ELEVATION
Ca
(cm
olc K
g-1)
Foliar Calcium
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Ridgetop Upper Mid LowerSlope
mol
g-1
FW
Y. Birch
S. Maple
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Ridgetop Upper Slope Mid-Slope Lower Slope
Pu
tre
scin
e (
nm
ol/g
)
Neversink Watershed
Calcium in Soil and Foliage of Yellow Birch and Sugar Maple, and levels of Putresine in Foliage
Neversink ISEMIntensification scheme
Phase 4 Plots
--probability estimate for entire watershed
Phase 5 Plots
--deliberately co-located with process studies
P4 Tree Data (25%)Neversink Watershed
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
STANDAGE CULL_PCT LENGTH_T DBH CRWNDEN CRWNDBK FOLTRAN TRDAM1 TRDAM2
Phase 4 PlotsNeversink Watershed--2001
0-10 cm Mineral Soils
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Percent Total CarbonpH (water) Percent Total Nitrogen ECEC
pH
or
%
Cmolc/kg
Hypothetical Relationships among P4 + P5 Indicators
and Steam Condition
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Die
ba
ck
Tra
ns
pa
ren
cy
So
il p
H
CE
C
Str
ea
m C
a
Biscuit Brook
Winnesok
Lawrence Falls
Murdoch Draw
Since Thresholds for Water Quality, for Human Consumption and Aquatic Life,
have been Established, they can be used toDetermine Thresholds for P4 and P5 Indicators.
By use of GIS and Analytical Models, the Indicator Values observed on P2 and P3 Plots can be
Analyzed using Ecologically-Meaningful Thresholds
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