A framework to quantify the strength of ecological links between an environmental stressor and final ecosystem services

Bell, Michael D.; Phelan, Jennifer; Blett, Tamara; Landers, Dixon H.; Nahlik, Amanda M.; Houtven, George Van; Davis, Clayton L.; Clark, Christopher M.; Hewitt, Julie

doi:10.1002/ecs2.1806

Cited by 25 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 50 publications

(109 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Forest tree diversity can be considered as a source of “intermediate” ecosystem services (Landers and Nahlik , Bell et al. ), in that tree diversity can influence several “final” ecosystem goods and services that are directly used by people, such as timber volume for commercial use and wild game for hunting (Gamfeldt et al. ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nitrogen deposition and climate change effects on tree species composition and ecosystem services for a forest cohort

Houtven

Phelan

Clark

et al. 2019

Ecological Monographs

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nitrogen deposition and climate change effects on tree species composition and ecosystem services for a forest cohort

Houtven

Phelan

Clark

et al. 2019

Ecological Monographs

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…All groups used the STEPS Framework (Bell et al. ) to create a conceptual model of ecosystem responses to atmospheric deposition in order to link the exceedance of a CL to a FEGS and the associated human beneficiaries affected (Fig. ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A conceptual model of the STEPS Framework (Bell et al. ). The Stressor Module (red squares) consists of the chemical, environmental, and/or biological responses that are influenced by a stressor and lead to a change in the biological indicator.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Details are available in Bell et al. (). SOS S , strength of science for the stressor; SOS C , strength of science for the chain; SOS E , strength of science for the effect; SOS EPF , strength of science for the EPF.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In order to link acidic deposition, biogeochemical characteristics, and impacts to ecological endpoints that are important to humans, we integrated the use of CLs and FEGS‐CS into the STEPS Framework ( St ressor– E cological P roduction function–Final Ecosystem S ervices; Bell et al. ). The STEPS Framework allows association of specific beneficiaries (e.g., anglers, artists, and food subsisters) with ecological endpoints from explicit environmental classes or types (e.g., lakes, grasslands, and rivers), as well as tracing changes in ecological endpoints to shifts in a biological indicator caused by exceedance of aquatic acidification CLs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Impacts to ecosystem services from aquatic acidification: using FEGS‐CS to understand the impacts of air pollution

et al. 2017

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. Increases in anthropogenic emissions of sulfur (S) and nitrogen (N) have resulted in increasesin the associated atmospheric deposition of acidic compounds. In sensitive watersheds, this deposition has initiated a cascade of negative environmental effects on aquatic ecosystems, resulting in a degradation or loss of valuable ecosystem goods and services. Here, we report the activities of an expert workgroup to synthesize information on acidic deposition-induced aquatic acidification from the published literature and to link critical load exceedances with ecosystem services and beneficiaries, using the Stressor-Ecological Production function-Final Ecosystem Services (STEPS) Framework and the Final Ecosystem Goods and Services Classification System (FEGS-CS). Experts identified and documented the sensitive aquatic ecosystem ecological endpoints valued by humans, and the environmental pathways through which these endpoints may experience degradation in response to acidification. Beneficiary groups were then identified for each sensitive ecological endpoint to clarify relationships between humans and the effects of aquatic acidification, and to lay the foundation for future research and analysis to value these FEGS.

show abstract

Atmospheric deposition and exceedances of critical loads from 1800−2025 for the conterminous United States

Clark

Phelan

Doraiswamy

et al. 2018

Ecological Applications

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Atmospheric deposition of nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) has increased dramatically over pre-industrial levels, with many potential impacts on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Quantitative thresholds, termed "critical loads" (CLs), have been developed to estimate the deposition rate above which damage is thought to occur. However, there remains no comprehensive comparison of when, where, and over what time periods individual CLs have been exceeded. We addressed this knowledge gap by combining several published data sources for historical and contemporary deposition, and overlaying these on six CL types from the National Critical Loads Database (NCLDv2.5; terrestrial acidification, aquatic acidification, lichen, nitrate leaching, plant community composition, and forest-tree health) to examine exceedances from 1800 to 2011. We expressed CLs as the minimum, 10th, and 50th percentiles within 12-km grid cells. Minimum CLs were relatively uniform across the country (200-400 eq·ha ·yr ), and have been exceeded for decades beginning in the early 20th century. The area exceeding minimum CLs peaked in the 1970s and 1980s, exposing 300,000 to 3 million km (depending on the CL type) to harmful levels of deposition, with a total area exceeded of 5.8 million km (~70% of the conterminous United States). Since then, deposition levels have dropped, especially for S, with modest reductions in exceedance by 2011 for all CL types, totaling 5.2 million km in exceedance. The 10th and 50th percentile CLs followed similar trends, but were not consistently available at the 12-km grid scale. We also examined near-term future deposition and exceedances in 2025 under current air quality regulations, and under various scenarios of climate change and additional nitrogen management controls. Current regulations were projected to reduce exceedances of any CL from 5.2 million km in 2011 to 4.8 million km in 2025. None of the additional N management or climate scenarios significantly affected areal exceedances, although exceedance severity declined. In total, it is clear that many CLs have been exceeded for decades, and are likely to remain so in the short term under current policies. Additionally, we suggest many areas for improvement to enhance our understanding of deposition and its effects to support informed decision making.

show abstract

A framework to quantify the strength of ecological links between an environmental stressor and final ecosystem services

Cited by 25 publications

References 50 publications

Nitrogen deposition and climate change effects on tree species composition and ecosystem services for a forest cohort

Nitrogen deposition and climate change effects on tree species composition and ecosystem services for a forest cohort

Impacts to ecosystem services from aquatic acidification: using FEGS‐CS to understand the impacts of air pollution

Atmospheric deposition and exceedances of critical loads from 1800−2025 for the conterminous United States

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About