Challenges characterizing N deposition to high elevation protected areas: A case study integrating instrument, simulated, and lichen inventory datasets for the Devils Postpile National Monument and surrounding region, USA

Excess N deposition is a common stressor of ecological health. Sensitive biota, including many lichens, respond to small differences in atmospheric N deposition. For lands with a conservation mandate, obtaining sufficient N data to evaluate risks is a challenge, especially in Mediterranean or arid l...

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Autores principales:	Sarah Jovan, Mark E. Fenn, Monica Buhler, Andrzej Bytnerowicz, Adrienne Kovasi, Martin Hutten, Elisa DiMeglio, Donald Schweizer
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Elsevier 2021
Materias:	Epiphytic lichens Saxicolous lichens Nitrogen deposition Sierra Nevada Range Critical loads Federal class 1 areas Ecology QH540-549.5
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/1c34d597bf1b48fb91eb7863aeca4757
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:1c34d597bf1b48fb91eb7863aeca47572021-12-01T04:42:14ZChallenges characterizing N deposition to high elevation protected areas: A case study integrating instrument, simulated, and lichen inventory datasets for the Devils Postpile National Monument and surrounding region, USA1470-160X10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.107311https://doaj.org/article/1c34d597bf1b48fb91eb7863aeca47572021-03-01T00:00:00Zhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X2031253Xhttps://doaj.org/toc/1470-160XExcess N deposition is a common stressor of ecological health. Sensitive biota, including many lichens, respond to small differences in atmospheric N deposition. For lands with a conservation mandate, obtaining sufficient N data to evaluate risks is a challenge, especially in Mediterranean or arid landscapes. Managers in the Western U.S. commonly use epiphytic (“tree-dwelling”) lichens to supplement N assessments, although options for higher elevations lacking epiphytes are poorly developed. Managers instead rely on broad-scale air quality simulations like the Total Deposition Model (TDEP). The Sierra Nevada Range is an example where anthropogenic N reaches mid-to-high elevation protected areas but managers lack tools for monitoring at ecologically relevant spatial-scales. Our main goals were to demonstrate how well-studied epiphytic bioindicators can supplement N assessments and recommend saxicolous (“rock-dwelling”) candidates for similar development to improve coverage in higher elevations. As a case study, we characterized N deposition at a small (323 ha) protected area, Devils Postpile National Monument (DEPO), by integrating data from TDEP, air instruments, and assays of %N in the epiphyte Letharia vulpina. We used the regional N threshold associated with detrimental effects to epiphytic lichen communities, 2.9 kg N ha−1 yr−1 in throughfall (i.e. under a tree canopy), as a provisional critical load (CL) for indicating areas at risk of ecological impacts. Results clearly showed the need for empirical, diverse, and finer-scaled information, even for an area as small as DEPO. Importantly, simulations from TDEP overestimated dry deposition of oxidized N, making total N estimates nearly twice measured values (6.0 vs 3.03 – 3.66 kg N ha−1 yr−1, respectively). While small, our L. vulpina dataset (n = 5) from the Monument indicated highly variable N in throughfall (1.7 – 4.44 kg N ha−1 yr−1), with small-scale drivers, like proximity to the river canyon and the Central Valley, tipping the scale towards CL exceedance. Regional L. vulpina assays (n = 355) showed a distinct north-to-south gradient in California where N deposition at DEPO was highly similar to the nearby protected area, Yosemite National Park, where ecological impacts of excess N are well-documented. To expand N bio-monitoring into higher elevation areas, we recommend vetting five widespread saxicolous species, Rhizoplaca melanophthalma, Umbilicaria phaea, U. polaris, Xanthoparmelia coloradoënsis, and X. cumberlandia.Sarah JovanMark E. FennMonica BuhlerAndrzej BytnerowiczAdrienne KovasiMartin HuttenElisa DiMeglioDonald SchweizerElsevierarticleEpiphytic lichensSaxicolous lichensNitrogen depositionSierra Nevada RangeCritical loadsFederal class 1 areasEcologyQH540-549.5ENEcological Indicators, Vol 122, Iss , Pp 107311- (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Epiphytic lichens Saxicolous lichens Nitrogen deposition Sierra Nevada Range Critical loads Federal class 1 areas Ecology QH540-549.5
spellingShingle	Epiphytic lichens Saxicolous lichens Nitrogen deposition Sierra Nevada Range Critical loads Federal class 1 areas Ecology QH540-549.5 Sarah Jovan Mark E. Fenn Monica Buhler Andrzej Bytnerowicz Adrienne Kovasi Martin Hutten Elisa DiMeglio Donald Schweizer Challenges characterizing N deposition to high elevation protected areas: A case study integrating instrument, simulated, and lichen inventory datasets for the Devils Postpile National Monument and surrounding region, USA
description	Excess N deposition is a common stressor of ecological health. Sensitive biota, including many lichens, respond to small differences in atmospheric N deposition. For lands with a conservation mandate, obtaining sufficient N data to evaluate risks is a challenge, especially in Mediterranean or arid landscapes. Managers in the Western U.S. commonly use epiphytic (“tree-dwelling”) lichens to supplement N assessments, although options for higher elevations lacking epiphytes are poorly developed. Managers instead rely on broad-scale air quality simulations like the Total Deposition Model (TDEP). The Sierra Nevada Range is an example where anthropogenic N reaches mid-to-high elevation protected areas but managers lack tools for monitoring at ecologically relevant spatial-scales. Our main goals were to demonstrate how well-studied epiphytic bioindicators can supplement N assessments and recommend saxicolous (“rock-dwelling”) candidates for similar development to improve coverage in higher elevations. As a case study, we characterized N deposition at a small (323 ha) protected area, Devils Postpile National Monument (DEPO), by integrating data from TDEP, air instruments, and assays of %N in the epiphyte Letharia vulpina. We used the regional N threshold associated with detrimental effects to epiphytic lichen communities, 2.9 kg N ha−1 yr−1 in throughfall (i.e. under a tree canopy), as a provisional critical load (CL) for indicating areas at risk of ecological impacts. Results clearly showed the need for empirical, diverse, and finer-scaled information, even for an area as small as DEPO. Importantly, simulations from TDEP overestimated dry deposition of oxidized N, making total N estimates nearly twice measured values (6.0 vs 3.03 – 3.66 kg N ha−1 yr−1, respectively). While small, our L. vulpina dataset (n = 5) from the Monument indicated highly variable N in throughfall (1.7 – 4.44 kg N ha−1 yr−1), with small-scale drivers, like proximity to the river canyon and the Central Valley, tipping the scale towards CL exceedance. Regional L. vulpina assays (n = 355) showed a distinct north-to-south gradient in California where N deposition at DEPO was highly similar to the nearby protected area, Yosemite National Park, where ecological impacts of excess N are well-documented. To expand N bio-monitoring into higher elevation areas, we recommend vetting five widespread saxicolous species, Rhizoplaca melanophthalma, Umbilicaria phaea, U. polaris, Xanthoparmelia coloradoënsis, and X. cumberlandia.
format	article
author	Sarah Jovan Mark E. Fenn Monica Buhler Andrzej Bytnerowicz Adrienne Kovasi Martin Hutten Elisa DiMeglio Donald Schweizer
author_facet	Sarah Jovan Mark E. Fenn Monica Buhler Andrzej Bytnerowicz Adrienne Kovasi Martin Hutten Elisa DiMeglio Donald Schweizer
author_sort	Sarah Jovan
title	Challenges characterizing N deposition to high elevation protected areas: A case study integrating instrument, simulated, and lichen inventory datasets for the Devils Postpile National Monument and surrounding region, USA
title_short	Challenges characterizing N deposition to high elevation protected areas: A case study integrating instrument, simulated, and lichen inventory datasets for the Devils Postpile National Monument and surrounding region, USA
title_full	Challenges characterizing N deposition to high elevation protected areas: A case study integrating instrument, simulated, and lichen inventory datasets for the Devils Postpile National Monument and surrounding region, USA
title_fullStr	Challenges characterizing N deposition to high elevation protected areas: A case study integrating instrument, simulated, and lichen inventory datasets for the Devils Postpile National Monument and surrounding region, USA
title_full_unstemmed	Challenges characterizing N deposition to high elevation protected areas: A case study integrating instrument, simulated, and lichen inventory datasets for the Devils Postpile National Monument and surrounding region, USA
title_sort	challenges characterizing n deposition to high elevation protected areas: a case study integrating instrument, simulated, and lichen inventory datasets for the devils postpile national monument and surrounding region, usa
publisher	Elsevier
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/1c34d597bf1b48fb91eb7863aeca4757
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Challenges characterizing N deposition to high elevation protected areas: A case study integrating instrument, simulated, and lichen inventory datasets for the Devils Postpile National Monument and surrounding region, USA

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