Response of sugar maple to multiple year exposures to ozone and simulated acidic precipitation

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 92; no. 2; pp. 119 - 126
• Main Authors: Laurence, J.A., Kohut, R.J., Amundson, R.G., Weinstein, D.A., MacLean, D.C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.01.1996; Elsevier
• Subjects: Acer saccharum; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Growth; Non agrochemicals pollutants; ozone; photosynthesis; physiology; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Pollution effects and side effects of agrochemicals on crop plants and forest trees. Other anthropogenic factors; Pollution effects. Side effects of agrochemicals; soil chemistry; New York; United States; North America; America; physiology; Growth; photosynthesis; ozone; soil chemistry; Open top chamber; Tolerance; Ozone; Oxidant; Stress; Aceraceae; Acid precipitation; Pollutant; Controlled environment study; Simulation; Acer saccharum; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Air pollution; Hardwood forest tree; Spermatophyta; Photosynthesis; Soil plant relation; Soil solution; Nutritional status
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/0269-7491(95)00105-0

Potted sugar maple seedlings were exposed to ozone and acidic precipitation in open-top chambers for three consecutive growing seasons. Periodic measurements of photosynthesis, dark respiration, through-fall and soil solution chemistry, and annual measurements of the weight of plant parts were made. Experimental treatments caused few and minor effects on above- or below-ground growth of the seedlings, even after three growing seasons. There were trends for reduced photosynthesis in trees exposed to elevated concentrations of ozone and increased photosynthesis in those exposed to the lowest pH simulated rain treatment. The chemistries of soil-solutions and through-fall were not altered significantly by treatment. Although major effects were not observed, sugar maple may respond to exposures that take place over a significant part of its life cycle.