Is acidification still an ecological threat?

Alewell, Christine; Manderscheid, Bernhard; Meesenburg, Henning; Bittersohl, J.

doi:10.1038/35038158

Cited by 101 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…However, large amounts of sulphur accumulated in soil horizons in the period of increased acid depositions. Nowadays, this reserve is gradually leaching (Alewell et al 2000), resulting in only slight increases of pH and decreases of ionic concentrations forms of aluminium (so called hysteresis; Kopáček et al 2002). Results of dynamic hydrochemical modelling of small catchments (Hruška et al 2002;Hardekopf et al 2008) show that acidification, despite decreasing trends in atmospheric deposition, will still affect freshwater ecosystems for a significant period of time.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differences in benthic macroinvertebrate structure of headwater streams with extreme hydrochemistry

Horecký

Rucki²,

Krám

et al. 2013

Biologia

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A synoptic study of acidified mountain streams covering six Czech sites was performed. The aim was to provide biological data from small mountain streams in catchments with historically high acid atmospheric deposition, which have so far been subject of intensive long-term monitoring of hydrology and hydrochemistry only, in order to follow the development of the structure of benthic macroinvertebrates in the course of recovery from acidification. We focused on small headwater streams with minimum human influence in the catchment and relatively low concentrations of dissolved organic matter. The sites were classified according to their water pH status: three of them were strongly acidified (pH 4.07-4.57, concentration of reactive aluminium R-Al 448-1913 µg L −1 ), two were moderately acidified (pH 5.08-6.38, R-Al 52-261 µg L −1 ) and one non-acidified (pH 7.63-7.89, R-Al 12-59 µg L −1 ). The largest biotic difference detected by PCA was in the presence of the caddisflies Drusus, Rhyacophila, and Chaetopteryx villosa and stoneflies Leuctra pseudocingulata and Diura bicaudata. The results indicate that at the most acidified sites (the Lysina and the right branch of the Litavka), the process of biological recovery has not started yet due to an insufficient increase in stream pH. Indeed, MAGIC modelling published earlier shows that significant increases cannot be expected in the following decades. An average pH of at least 4.5 is needed for return of less acid-tolerant taxa such as Diura bicaudata, Leuctra major, L. pseudocingulata, L. pseudosignifera, Drusus or Rhyacophila. However, at the Sklářský potok -Jizerka site, both the clear-cut of mature spruce plantations in [1984][1985][1986][1987][1988][1989][1990] and the regional drop in SO2 emissions in the 1990s resulted in a decline of acid deposition and rising streamwater pH. Mean annual pH at the Sklářský potok -Jizerka outlet increased from 4.0 (1982-1985) to 5.3 (1990-1994), but episodic acidification has still resulted in a delay in recovery of the biota, particularly acid-sensitive species, which may be expected within a couple decades.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differences in benthic macroinvertebrate structure of headwater streams with extreme hydrochemistry

Horecký

Rucki²,

Krám

et al. 2013

Biologia

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“…The extent and timing of increased acid neutralising capacity (ANC) and pH depends, however, not only on the reduction in emission/ deposition rate of sulphur (S) and nitrogen (N) compounds but also on the way that soils and vegetation respond to their reductions (e.g. Wright and Hauhs, 1991;Alewell et al, 2000). Among them, sulphate (SO 4 ) desorption, organic S cycling in soils (Novák et al, 1996;Torssander and Mörth, 1998;Prechtel et al, 2001) and factors affecting N cycling in catchments (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sulphur and nitrogen fluxes and budgets in the Bohemian Forest and Tatra Mountains during the Industrial Revolution (1850-2000)

Kopáček¹,

Veselý

Stuchlı́k

2001

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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Major fluxes of sulphur and dissolved inorganic nitrogen were estimated in Central European mountain ecosystems of the Bohemian Forest (forest lakes) and Tatra Mountains (alpine lakes) over the industrial period. Sulphur outputs from these ecosystems were comparable to inputs during a period of relatively stable atmospheric deposition (10-35 mmol m -2 yr -1 ) around the 1930s. Atmospheric inputs of sulphur increased by three-to four-fold between the 1950s and 1980s to ~140 and ~60 mmol m -2 yr -1 in the Bohemian Forest and Tatra Mountains, respectively. Sulphur outputs were lower than inputs due to accumulation in soils, which was higher in forest soils than in the sparser alpine soils and represented 0.8-1.6 and 0.2-0.3 mol m -2 , respectively, for the whole 1930-2000 period. In the 1990s, atmospheric inputs of sulphur decreased 80% and 50% in the Bohemian Forest and Tatra Mountains, respectively, and sulphur outputs exceeded inputs. Catchment soils became pronounced sources of sulphur with output fluxes averaging between 15 and 31 mmol m -2 yr -1 . Higher sulphur accumulation in the forest soils has delayed (by several decades) recovery of forest lakes from acidification compared to alpine lakes. Estimated deposition of dissolved inorganic nitrogen was 53-75 mmol m -2 yr -1 in the Bohemian Forest and 35-45 mmol m -2 yr -1 in the Tatra Mountains in the 1880-1950 period, i.e. below the empirically derived threshold of ~70 mmol m -2 yr -1 , above which nitrogen leaching often occurs. Dissolved inorganic nitrogen was efficiently retained in the ecosystems and nitrate export was negligible (0-7 mmol m -2 yr -1 ). By the 1980s, nitrogen deposition increased to ~160 and ~80 mmol m -2 yr -1 in the Bohemian Forest and Tatra Mountains, respectively, and nitrogen output increased to 120 and 60 mmol m -2 yr -1 . Moreover, assimilation of nitrogen in soils declined from ~40 to 10-20 mmol m -2 yr -1 in the alpine soils and even more in the Bohemian Forest, where one of the catchments has even become a net source of nitrogen. In the 1990s, nitrogen deposition decreased by ~30% and DIN output decreased to <70 and 35 mmol m -2 yr -1 in the Bohemian Forest and Tatra Mountains, respectively. New steady-state conditions, with negligible nitrogen export, could be reached in future but at lower nitrogen depositions than in the 1930s.

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“…Since the pH of the precipitation in most parts of Europe and North America has now (2017) increased considerably compared with the 1980-90s (Alewell et al 2000;Aas et al 2011;Garmo et al 2014), we will probably also see a positive trend in amphibian abundance and diversity in other acid-sensitive areas of the Western Hemisphere during the next few decades.…”

Section: Perspectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It may therefore take a long time for the fauna and flora of the acidified areas to recover completely; AirClim (2011) mentions one hundred years or more, depending on the depth and composition of the soil. Acidification must therefore still be considered a problem for aquatic life for a long time (Stoddard et al 1999;Alewell et al 2000;Garmo et al 2014). Climate changes and forest practises may also contribute to acidification in the future (Moldan et al 2013).…”

Section: Better Survival and Amphibian Recoverymentioning

confidence: 99%

Amphibian recovery after a decrease in acidic precipitation

Dolmen

Finstad

Skei³

2017

Ambio

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The printed version can be found on http://rdcu.be/y6BG (view only without subscription). AbstractWe here report the first sign of amphibian recovery after a strong decline due to acidic precipitation over many decades and peaking around 1980-90. In 2010, the pH level of ponds and small lakes in two heavily acidified areas in southwestern Scandinavia (Aust-Agder and Østfold in Norway) had risen significantly at an (arithmetic) average of 0.14 since 1988-89.Parallel with the general rise in pH, amphibians ( Rana temporaria , R. arvalis , Bufo bufo , Lissotriton vulgaris and Triturus cristatus ) had become significantly more common: the frequency of amphibian localities rose from 33% to 49% ( n = 115), and the average number of amphibian species per locality had risen from 0.51 to 0.88. In two other (reference) areas, one with better buffering capacity (Telemark, n = 21) and the other with much less input of acidic precipitation (Nord-Trøndelag, n = 106), there were no significant changes in pH or amphibians.Corresponding author: Dag Dolmen, NTNU University Museum, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway.

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Is acidification still an ecological threat?

Cited by 101 publications

References 4 publications

Differences in benthic macroinvertebrate structure of headwater streams with extreme hydrochemistry

Differences in benthic macroinvertebrate structure of headwater streams with extreme hydrochemistry

Sulphur and nitrogen fluxes and budgets in the Bohemian Forest and Tatra Mountains during the Industrial Revolution (1850-2000)

Amphibian recovery after a decrease in acidic precipitation

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