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Kaylor SD, Dalton RM, Greaver T, Herrick JD, Leath E, Novak K, Ridley CE. Emerging Scientific Approaches for Identifying Ecologically Adverse Effects of Air Pollution. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024:10.1007/s00267-024-02039-4. [PMID: 39254689 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-024-02039-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 08/25/2024] [Indexed: 09/11/2024]
Abstract
Now more than ever, complex socio-ecological challenges require timely and integrated responses from scientists and policymakers. Air quality is one such challenge. Under the Clean Air Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency establishes ambient air quality standards to protect public welfare from known or anticipated adverse effects of air pollutants. As our understanding of the environment and awareness of social values grow, there is a need to improve characterization of "adversity to the public welfare." Scientific assessment can link ecological effects to public welfare using modern scientific approaches that incorporate ecological complexity and multiple value systems held by the public. We propose ideas for the future of scientific assessments meant to inform air quality and other environmental decision-making, including concrete ways we can focus on vulnerable species and ecosystems, incorporate a multiplicity of values, climate and multiple stressors, and partner to diversify the knowledge upon which protective policies are based.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Douglas Kaylor
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA.
| | - Rebecca M Dalton
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA
| | - Tara Greaver
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA
| | - Jeffrey D Herrick
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA
| | - Emma Leath
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA
| | - Kristopher Novak
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA
| | - Caroline E Ridley
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA
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Ibrahim MH, Kasim S, Ahmed OH, Mohd Rakib MR, Hasbullah NA, Islam Shajib MT. Impact of simulated acid rain on chemical properties of Nyalau series soil and its leachate. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3534. [PMID: 38347036 PMCID: PMC10861451 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52758-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Greenhouse gases can cause acid rain, which in turn degrades soil chemical properties. This research was conducted to determine the effects of simulated acid rain (SAR) on the chemical properties of Nyalau series (Typic paleudults). A 45-day laboratory leaching and incubation study (control conditions) was conducted following standard procedures include preparing simulated acid rain with specific pH levels, followed by experimental design/plan and systematically analyzing both soil and leachate for chemical changes over the 45-day period. Six treatments five of which were SAR (pH 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, and 5.5) and one control referred to as natural rainwater (pH 6.0) were evaluated. From the study, the SAR had significant effects on the chemical properties of the soil and its leachate. The pH of 3.5 of SAR treatments decreased soil pH, K+, and fertility index. In contrast, the contents of Mg2+, Na+, SO42-, NO3-, and acidity were higher at the lower SAR pH. Furthermore, K+ and Mg2+ in the leachate significantly increased with increasing acidity of the SAR. The changes in Ca2+ and NH4+ between the soil and its leachate were positively correlated (r = 0.84 and 0.86), whereas the changes in NO3- negatively correlated (r = - 0.82). The novelty of these results lies in the discovery of significant alterations in soil chemistry due to simulated acid rain (SAR), particularly impacting soil fertility and nutrient availability, with notable positive and negative correlations among specific ions where prolonged exposure to acid rain could negatively affect the moderately tolerant to acidic and nutrient-poor soils. Acid rain can negatively affect soil fertility and the general soils ecosystem functions. Long-term field studies are required to consolidate the findings of this present study in order to reveal the sustained impact of SAR on tropical forest ecosystems, particularly concerning soil health, plant tolerance, and potential shifts in biodiversity and ecological balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamad Hilmi Ibrahim
- Agrotechnology Programme, Faculty of Resources Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia.
| | - Susilawati Kasim
- Department of Land Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
| | - Osumanu Haruna Ahmed
- Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali, Kampus Sinaut, Km 33 Jln Tutong Kampong Sinaut, Tutong, TB1741, Negara Brunei Darussalam
| | - Mohd Rashid Mohd Rakib
- Faculty of Sustainable Agriculture, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 90000, Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Nur Aainaa Hasbullah
- Faculty of Sustainable Agriculture, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 90000, Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Md Tariqul Islam Shajib
- Division of Soil, Water and Environment, Care to People Denmark, 2400, Copenhagen, NV, Denmark
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Design, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC, USA
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Van Houtven G, Phelan J, Clark C, Sabo RD, Buckley J, Thomas RQ, Horn K, LeDuc SD. Nitrogen deposition and climate change effects on tree species composition and ecosystem services for a forest cohort. ECOL MONOGR 2019; 89:e01345. [PMID: 31217625 PMCID: PMC6559268 DOI: 10.1002/ecm.1345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2018] [Revised: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The composition of forests in the northeastern United States and the ecosystem services they provide to future generations will depend on several factors. In this paper, we isolate the effects of two environmental drivers, nitrogen (N) deposition and climate (temperature and precipitation) change, through an analysis of a single cohort of 24 dominant tree species. We assembled a tree database using data from U.S. Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis monitoring plots. Applying observed species-specific growth and survival responses, we simulated how forest stands in a 19-state study area would change from 2005 to 2100 under 12 different future N deposition-climate scenarios. We then estimated implications for three selected forest ecosystem services: merchantable timber, aboveground carbon sequestration, and tree diversity. Total tree biomass (for 24 species combined) was positively associated with both increased N deposition and temperatures; however, due to differences in the direction and magnitude of species-specific responses, forest composition varied across scenarios. For example, red maple (Acer rubrum) trees gained biomass under scenarios with more N deposition and more climate change, whereas biomass of yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) and red pine (Pinus resinosa) was negatively affected. Projections for ecosystem services also varied across scenarios. Carbon sequestration, which is positively associated with biomass accumulation, increased with N deposition and increasing climate change. Total timber values also increased with overall biomass; however, scenarios with increasing climate change tended to favor species with lower merchantable value, whereas more N deposition favored species with higher merchantable value. Tree species diversity was projected to decrease with greater changes in climate (warmer temperatures), especially in the northwestern, central, and southeastern portions of the study area. In contrast, the effects of N deposition on diversity varied greatly in magnitude and direction across the study area. This study highlights species-specific and regional effects of N deposition and climate change in northeastern U.S. forests, which can inform management decision for air quality and forests in the region, as well as climate policy. It also provides a foundation for future studies that may incorporate other important factors such as multiple cohorts, sulfur deposition, insects, and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Van Houtven
- RTI International3040 Cornwallis RoadResearch Triangle ParkNorth Carolina27709USA
| | - Jennifer Phelan
- RTI International3040 Cornwallis RoadResearch Triangle ParkNorth Carolina27709USA
| | - Christopher Clark
- Office of Research and DevelopmentU.S. Environmental Protection Agency1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NWWashingtonD.C.20460USA
| | - Robert D. Sabo
- Office of Research and DevelopmentU.S. Environmental Protection Agency1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NWWashingtonD.C.20460USA
| | - John Buckley
- RTI International3040 Cornwallis RoadResearch Triangle ParkNorth Carolina27709USA
| | - R. Quinn Thomas
- Department of Forest Resources & Environmental ConservationVirginia Tech University310 West Campus DriveBlacksburgVirginia24061USA
| | - Kevin Horn
- Department of Forest Resources & Environmental ConservationVirginia Tech University310 West Campus DriveBlacksburgVirginia24061USA
| | - Stephen D. LeDuc
- Office of Research and DevelopmentU.S. Environmental Protection Agency1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NWWashingtonD.C.20460USA
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Benton MJ. Hyperthermal-driven mass extinctions: killing models during the Permian-Triassic mass extinction. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. SERIES A, MATHEMATICAL, PHYSICAL, AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES 2018; 376:20170076. [PMID: 30177561 PMCID: PMC6127390 DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2017.0076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Many mass extinctions of life in the sea and on land have been attributed to geologically rapid heating, and in the case of the Permian-Triassic and others, driven by large igneous province volcanism. The Siberian Traps eruptions raised ambient temperatures to 35-40°C. A key question is how massive eruptions during these events, and others, could have killed life in the sea and on land; proposed killers are reviewed here. In the oceans, benthos and plankton were killed by anoxia-euxinia and lethal heating, respectively, and the habitable depth zone was massively reduced. On land, the combination of extreme heating and drought reduced the habitable land area, and acid rain stripped forests and soils. Physiological experiments show that some animals can adapt to temperature rises of a few degrees, and that some can survive short episodes of increases of 10°C. However, most plants and animals suffer major physiological damage at temperatures of 35-40°C. Studies of the effects of extreme physical conditions on modern organisms, as well as assumptions about rates of environmental change, give direct evidence of likely killing effects deriving from hyperthermals of the past.This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Hyperthermals: rapid and extreme global warming in our geological past'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Benton
- School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1RJ, UK
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Hayes F, Spurgeon DJ, Lofts S, Jones L. Evidence-based logic chains demonstrate multiple impacts of trace metals on ecosystem services. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2018; 223:150-164. [PMID: 29929071 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.05.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2018] [Revised: 04/04/2018] [Accepted: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Trace metals can have far-reaching ecosystem impacts. In this study, we develop consistent and evidence-based logic chains to demonstrate the wider effects of trace metal contamination on a suite of ecosystem services. They demonstrate knock-on effects from an initial receptor that is sensitive to metal toxicity, along a cascade of impact, to final ecosystem services via alterations to multiple ecosystem processes. We developed logic chains to highlight two aspects of metal toxicity: for impacts of copper pollution in soil ecosystems, and for impacts of mercury in freshwaters. Each link of the chains is supported by published evidence, with an indication of the strength of the supporting science. Copper pollution to soils (134 unique chains) showed a complex network of pathways originating from direct effects on a range of invertebrate and microbial taxa and plants. In contrast, mercury pollution on freshwaters (63 unique chains) shows pathways that broadly follow the food web of this habitat, reflecting the potential for mercury bioaccumulation. Despite different pathways, there is considerable overlap in the final ecosystem services impacted by both of these metals and in both ecosystems. These included reduced human-use impacts (food, fishing), reduced human non-use impacts (amenity value) and positive or negative alterations to climate regulation (impacts on carbon sequestration). Other final ecosystem goods impacted include reduced crop production, animal production, flood regulation, drinking water quality and soil purification. Taking an ecosystem services approach demonstrates that consideration of only the direct effects of metal contamination of soils and water will considerably underestimate the total impacts of these pollutants. Construction of logic chains, evidenced by published literature, allows a robust assessment of potential impacts indicating primary, secondary and tertiary effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Hayes
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Environment Centre Wales, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, United Kingdom.
| | - D J Spurgeon
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Maclean Building, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, OX10 8BB, United Kingdom
| | - S Lofts
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, United Kingdom
| | - L Jones
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Environment Centre Wales, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, United Kingdom
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Müller C, Elliott J, Pugh TAM, Ruane AC, Ciais P, Balkovic J, Deryng D, Folberth C, Izaurralde RC, Jones CD, Khabarov N, Lawrence P, Liu W, Reddy AD, Schmid E, Wang X. Global patterns of crop yield stability under additional nutrient and water inputs. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0198748. [PMID: 29949598 PMCID: PMC6021068 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0198748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2018] [Accepted: 05/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Agricultural production must increase to feed a growing and wealthier population, as well as to satisfy increasing demands for biomaterials and biomass-based energy. At the same time, deforestation and land-use change need to be minimized in order to preserve biodiversity and maintain carbon stores in vegetation and soils. Consequently, agricultural land use needs to be intensified in order to increase food production per unit area of land. Here we use simulations of AgMIP's Global Gridded Crop Model Intercomparison (GGCMI) phase 1 to assess implications of input-driven intensification (water, nutrients) on crop yield and yield stability, which is an important aspect in food security. We find region- and crop-specific responses for the simulated period 1980-2009 with broadly increasing yield variability under additional nitrogen inputs and stabilizing yields under additional water inputs (irrigation), reflecting current patterns of water and nutrient limitation. The different models of the GGCMI ensemble show similar response patterns, but model differences warrant further research on management assumptions, such as variety selection and soil management, and inputs as well as on model implementation of different soil and plant processes, such as on heat stress, and parameters. Higher variability in crop productivity under higher fertilizer input will require adequate buffer mechanisms in trade and distribution/storage networks to avoid food price volatility.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joshua Elliott
- University of Chicago and ANL Computation Institute, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- Columbia University Center for Climate Systems Research, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Thomas A. M. Pugh
- School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Science and Birmingham Institute of Forest Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- IMK-IFU, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
| | - Alex C. Ruane
- Columbia University Center for Climate Systems Research, New York, New York, United States of America
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Goddard Institute for Space Studies, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Philippe Ciais
- Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Juraj Balkovic
- Ecosystem Services and Management Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg, Austria
- Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Delphine Deryng
- Columbia University Center for Climate Systems Research, New York, New York, United States of America
- Climate Analytics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian Folberth
- Ecosystem Services and Management Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg, Austria
| | - R. Cesar Izaurralde
- University of Maryland, Department of Geographical Sciences, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
- Texas A&M University, Texas AgriLife Research and Extension, Temple, Texas, United States of America
| | - Curtis D. Jones
- University of Maryland, Department of Geographical Sciences, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Nikolay Khabarov
- Ecosystem Services and Management Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg, Austria
| | - Peter Lawrence
- National Center for Atmospheric Research, Earth System Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Wenfeng Liu
- Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Duebendorf, Switzerland
| | - Ashwan D. Reddy
- University of Maryland, Department of Geographical Sciences, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Erwin Schmid
- Institute for Sustainable Economic Development, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Xuhui Wang
- Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- Sino-French Institute of Earth System Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
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Clark CM, Bell MD, Boyd JW, Compton JE, Davidson EA, Davis C, Fenn ME, Geiser L, Jones L, Blett TF. Nitrogen‐induced terrestrial eutrophication: cascading effects and impacts on ecosystem services. Ecosphere 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M. Clark
- National Center for Environmental Assessment Office of Research and Development U.S. EPA Washington D.C. 20460 USA
| | - Michael D. Bell
- Air Resources Division National Park Service Lakewood Colorado 80225 USA
| | | | - Jana E. Compton
- Western Ecology Division Office of Research and Development U.S. EPA Corvallis Oregon 97333 USA
| | - Eric A. Davidson
- Appalachian Laboratory University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Frostburg Maryland 21532 USA
| | - Christine Davis
- Office of Air and Radiation, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards U.S. EPA Research Triangle Park North Carolina 27709 USA
| | - Mark E. Fenn
- Pacific Southwest Research Station USDA Forest Service Riverside California 92607 USA
| | - Linda Geiser
- Washington Office‐Water Wildlife Fish Air and Rare Plants USDA Forest Service Washington D.C. 20250 USA
| | - Laurence Jones
- Environment Centre Wales Centre for Ecology and Hydrology Deiniol Road Bangor LL57 2UW United Kingdom
| | - Tamara F. Blett
- Air Resources Division National Park Service Lakewood Colorado 80225 USA
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Rhodes C, Bingham A, Heard AM, Hewitt J, Lynch J, Waite R, Bell MD. Diatoms to human uses: linking nitrogen deposition, aquatic eutrophication, and ecosystem services. Ecosphere 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Charles Rhodes
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Office of Water, and Office of Research and Development U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Washington D.C. 20460 USA
| | - Andrew Bingham
- Air Resources Division National Park Service Denver Colorado 80225 USA
| | - Andrea M. Heard
- Sierra Nevada Network National Park Service Three Rivers California 93271 USA
| | - Julie Hewitt
- Office of Water U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Washington D.C. 20460 USA
| | - Jason Lynch
- Office of Air and Radiation U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Washington D.C. 20460 USA
| | - Randall Waite
- Office of Air and Radiation U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Durham North Carolina 27711 USA
| | - Michael D. Bell
- Air Resources Division National Park Service Denver Colorado 80225 USA
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O'Dea CB, Anderson S, Sullivan T, Landers D, Casey CF. Impacts to ecosystem services from aquatic acidification: using FEGS‐CS to understand the impacts of air pollution. Ecosphere 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Claire B. O'Dea
- United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Air Resource Management Program 1400 Independence Avenue SW Washington D.C. 20250 USA
| | - Sarah Anderson
- Washington State University Pullman Washington 99164 USA
| | - Timothy Sullivan
- E&S Environmental Chemistry, Inc 2161 NW Fillmore Avenue Corvallis Oregon 97330 USA
| | - Dixon Landers
- Western Ecology Division National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Corvallis Oregon 97333 USA
| | - C. Frank Casey
- U.S. Geological Survey 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive Reston Virginia 20192 USA
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Bell MD, Phelan J, Blett TF, Landers D, Nahlik AM, Van Houtven G, Davis C, Clark CM, Hewitt J. A framework to quantify the strength of ecological links between an environmental stressor and final ecosystem services. Ecosphere 2017; 8:e01806. [PMID: 30221018 PMCID: PMC6134850 DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic stressors such as climate change, increased fire frequency, and pollution drive shifts in ecosystem function and resilience. Scientists generally rely on biological indicators of these stressors to signal that ecosystem conditions have been altered. However, these biological indicators are not always capable of being directly related to ecosystem components that provide benefits to humans and/or can be used to evaluate the cost-benefit of a change in health of the component (ecosystem services). Therefore, we developed the STEPS (STressor - Ecological Production function - final ecosystem Services) Framework to link changes in a biological indicator of a stressor to final ecosystem services. The STEPS framework produces "chains" of ecological components that explore the breadth of impacts resulting from the change of a stressor. Chains are comprised of the biological indicator, the ecological production function (EPF; which uses ecological components to link the biological indicator to a final ecosystem service), and the user group who directly uses, appreciates, or values the component. The framework uses a qualitative score (High, Medium, Low) to describe the Strength of Science (SOS) for the relationship between each component in the EPF. We tested the STEPS Framework within a workshop setting using the exceedance of critical loads of air pollution as a model stressor and the Final Ecosystem Goods and Services Classification System (FEGS-CS) to describe final ecosystem services. We identified chains for four modes of ecological response to deposition: aquatic acidification, aquatic eutrophication, terrestrial acidification, and terrestrial eutrophication. The workshop participants identified 183 unique EPFs linking a change in a biological indicator to a FEGS; and when accounting for the multiple beneficiaries, we ended with 1104 chains. The SOS scores were effective in identifying chains with the highest confidence ranking as well as those where more research is needed. The STEPS framework could be adapted to any system in which a stressor is modifying a biological component. The results of the analysis can be used by the social science community to apply valuation measures to multiple or selected chains, providing a comprehensive analysis of the effects of anthropogenic stressors on measures of human well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D. Bell
- Air Resources Division, National Park Service, Lakewood, Colorado 80225, USA
| | - Jennifer Phelan
- RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Rd., Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA
| | - Tamara F. Blett
- Air Resources Division, National Park Service, Lakewood, Colorado 80225, USA
| | - Dixon Landers
- US Environmental Protection Agency, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Western Ecology Division, Corvallis, Oregon 97333, USA
| | | | - George Van Houtven
- RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Rd., Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA
| | - Christine Davis
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air and Radiation, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, 109 TW Alexander Dr., Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Christopher M. Clark
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Center for Environmental Assessment, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004, USA
| | - Julie Hewitt
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20004, USA
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