Disentangling the effects of acidic air pollution, atmospheric CO2 , and climate change on recent growth of red spruce trees in the Central Appalachian Mountains

Global Change Biology
Justin M Mathias, Richard B Thomas

Abstract

In the 45 years after legislation of the Clean Air Act, there has been tremendous progress in reducing acidic air pollutants in the eastern United States, yet limited evidence exists that cleaner air has improved forest health. Here, we investigate the influence of recent environmental changes on the growth and physiology of red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) trees, a key indicator species of forest health, spanning three locations along a 100 km transect in the Central Appalachian Mountains. We incorporated a multiproxy approach using 75-year tree ring chronologies of basal tree growth, carbon isotope discrimination (∆13 C, a proxy for leaf gas exchange), and δ15 N (a proxy for ecosystem N status) to examine tree and ecosystem level responses to environmental change. Results reveal the two most important factors driving increased tree growth since ca. 1989 are reductions in acidic sulfur pollution and increases in atmospheric CO2 , while reductions in pollutant emissions of NOx and warmer springs played smaller, but significant roles. Tree ring ∆13 C signatures increased significantly since 1989, concurrently with significant declines in tree ring δ15 N signatures. These isotope chronologies provide strong evidence that simultane...Continue Reading

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Citations

May 12, 2019·The New Phytologist·Ryan HelcoskiKristina J Anderson-Teixeira
Jan 25, 2020·Tree Physiology·Matthew A VadeboncoeurHeidi Asbjornsen
Oct 3, 2020·Evolutionary Applications·Thibaut CapblancqStephen R Keller
Dec 6, 2020·The Science of the Total Environment·Gilberto BindaDamiano Monticelli
Jan 20, 2021·Global Change Biology·Soumaya BelmecheriShelly A Rayback
Feb 10, 2021·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Justin M Mathias, Richard B Thomas

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