Stand composition of the SBGS sites has clearly changed
over the past 25 years. The pattern of composition change is
dominated by increased growth and in-growth of white fir,
sugar pine and incense cedar (at moist sites), and lower
growth rates and in-growth of ponderosa and Jeffrey pine.
Identifying a specific effect of air pollution on stand
composition is complex, due to the multiple gradients of
ozone, nitrogen deposition and precipitation. Stand density
increased at sites with high ozone, N deposition and
precipitation due to the faster growth of ozone and shade
tolerant species (white fir and incense cedar) at the expense
of more susceptible species such as ponderosa pine. Dryer sites with low ozone and N deposition had little mortality,
less in-growth, and smaller changes in species composition
than other sites.
The long-term changes at these sites also indicate that
ponderosa pine may be at more risk from air pollution than
Jeffrey pine. Ponderosa pine occurs at sites with high
productivity and pollution in the San Bernardino Mountains,
resulting in more rapid forest changes than at low productivity
and pollution sites where Jeffrey pine occurs.
Additional site information is needed before patterns of
forest change, suggested by these sites, can be confirmed.
The relationship needs to be quantified between stand
composition and multiple pollutants. The additional seven
sites, to be added to the SBGS sites, should add important
information to the trends suggested by the sites established
to date. The results of this study also illustrate the complexity
of local forest responses to multiple environmental
stressors.
Stand composition of the SBGS sites has clearly changed
over the past 25 years. The pattern of composition change is
dominated by increased growth and in-growth of white fir,
sugar pine and incense cedar (at moist sites), and lower
growth rates and in-growth of ponderosa and Jeffrey pine.
Identifying a specific effect of air pollution on stand
composition is complex, due to the multiple gradients of
ozone, nitrogen deposition and precipitation. Stand density
increased at sites with high ozone, N deposition and
precipitation due to the faster growth of ozone and shade
tolerant species (white fir and incense cedar) at the expense
of more susceptible species such as ponderosa pine. Dryer sites with low ozone and N deposition had little mortality,
less in-growth, and smaller changes in species composition
than other sites.
The long-term changes at these sites also indicate that
ponderosa pine may be at more risk from air pollution than
Jeffrey pine. Ponderosa pine occurs at sites with high
productivity and pollution in the San Bernardino Mountains,
resulting in more rapid forest changes than at low productivity
and pollution sites where Jeffrey pine occurs.
Additional site information is needed before patterns of
forest change, suggested by these sites, can be confirmed.
The relationship needs to be quantified between stand
composition and multiple pollutants. The additional seven
sites, to be added to the SBGS sites, should add important
information to the trends suggested by the sites established
to date. The results of this study also illustrate the complexity
of local forest responses to multiple environmental
stressors.
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