Ecological Risks from Atmospheric Deposition of Nitrogen and Sulphur in Jack Pine forests of Northwestern Canada

Abstract

Chronic elevated nitrogen (N) deposition can have adverse effects on terrestrial ecosystems. For large areas of northern Canada distant from emissions sources, long-range atmospheric transport of N may impact plant species diversity, even at low deposition levels. The objective of this study was to establish plant species community thresholds for N deposition under multiple environmental gradients using gradient forest analysis. Plant species abundance data for 297 Jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.)-dominant forest plots across Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada, were evaluated against 43 bioclimatic and deposition variables. Bioclimatic variables were overwhelmingly the most important drivers of community thresholds. Nonetheless, dry N oxide (DNO) and dry N dioxide deposition inferred a total deposited N (TDN) community threshold of 1.4–2.1 kg N ha−1 yr−1. This range was predominantly associated with changes in several lichen species, including Cladina mitis, Vulpicida pinastri, Evernia mesomorpha and Lecanora circumborealis, some of which are known bioindicators of N deposition. A secondary DNO threshold appeared to be driving changes in several vascular species and was equivalent to 2.45–3.15 kg N ha−1 yr−1 on the TDN gradient. These results suggest that in low deposition ‘background’ regions a biodiversity-based empirical critical load of 1.4–3.15 kg N ha−1 yr−1 will protect lichen communities and other N-sensitive species in Jack pine forests across Northwestern Canada. Nitrogen deposition above the critical load may lead to adverse effects on plant species biodiversity within these forests.