Sensitive tree species remain at risk despite improved air quality benefits to US forests.

ABSTRACT: Atmospheric nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) deposition can significantly affect forest biodiversity and production by altering the growth and survival of trees. Three decades of air quality regulations in the United States (U.S.) have led to large reductions in oxides of N (44-81%) and S (50-99%) emissions and associated deposition. Here, we evaluated the magnitude and extent of effects over 20 years from atmospheric N and S deposition on the growth and survival of 94 tree species - representing 96.4 billion trees and an average of 88% of forest basal area across the contiguous U.S. (CONUS). Overall, species' growth and survival rates have responded positively to declining deposition, but we find that decreases of at least 2.5 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1 are needed across 19.8% (growt

SUBMITTER: Coughlin JG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11457011 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature