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Effects of accumulation of air pollutants in forest ecosystems
91 FOREST ECOSYSTEMS
Effects of Accumulation of Air Pollutants in Forest Ecosystems, Bernard Ulrich and Jiirgen Pankrath (Editors). Proceedings of a workshop held at Giittingen, West Germany, 16-18 May 1982. Reidel, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, 1983,389 pp., tables and diagrams, price: Dfl. 135/U&$58.50, ISBN 90-277-1476-2. The problem of forest damage is not new. A comprehensive report on the subject was published in 1893 (and not in 1983 as typed) and in 1923, Prof.Dr. Julius Stocklasa was concerned with toxical effects. In the preface, a concept of stability and of acid deposition is developed. The content of the book is grouped under 5 topics. (1) Processes and rates of deposition and storage places of deposited pollutpnts (5 contributions). A distinction is made by B. Ulrich between precipitation and interception, relative to some atmospheric constituents, i.e. SO?, alkali and earth alkali cations and chloride, and a method for the assessment of deposition rates from flux balance measurements is described by R. Mayer. Concentrations have been measured by K.K. Hiifken and measurements of surface resistance during deposition are presented. (2)Processes and rates of proton production by discoupling of the ion cycle (3 contributions). The turnover of protons by mineralization and ion uptake are discussed by E. Matzner and B. Ulrich. The effects on soil chemistry are developed as a consequence of proton input. Weathering balance of 3 soils has been carried out by M.J. Mazzarino to compare the proton consumption in German soils. (3) Effects on chemical soil state (9 contributions). The nature of acidity and the intensity terms are discussed by B. Ulrich, in order to determine the rate of proton and sulphur load and the interactions of these pollutants, E. Matzner presents measurements carried out in stands of forests. Effects of ammonium sulfate on calcareous and non-calcareous soils are described by N.V. Breemen and E.R. Jordeus. Studies in forests and heaths in Scotland are presented in a paper from H.G. Hiller. Some results are from percolate of forest soils as influenced by acid input, and G. Abrahamsen gives results on sulphur pollution and effects on forest trees. A paper by R.A. Skeffington reports on a study of soils (under a canopy) of which only one has a Ca:Al ratio greater than 1. According to G. Briimmer and U. Herms, the concentration in soils increases in the order: Cd, Zn, Cu, Pb, with increasing total content of these elements. (4) Effects on biological soil state and on animals (3 contributions). For H.W. V. Buch, the conditions for the decomposition of organic matter have become one-sided. In addition, the comparison with past results have indicated acidification, so for the consideration of the “physiology” of the soil, measurements of the activity of enzymes in the presence of buffer are presented.
92
(5) Effects of acidification and accumulation of air pollutants on plants (9 contributions). IUFRO studies have been made on maximal SO* emission standards to protect forests. A paper by H. Fliihler is a synthesis on limitations in fluoride pollution. S. Athari and K. Kramer found difficulties in carrying out measurements to define growth losses. A contribution by J.B. Reemtsina deals with regional investigations of immission. It is important that the significance of chemical composition becomes recognized (according to G.H. Tomlinson II), and growth patterns need to be studied in connection with phloem nutrient contents (K.E. Rehfuess et al.). The book ends with investigations dealing with the stem and the root of fir and spruce. This review of the contents of the book gives a good picture of the stateof-the-art in the area of toxical effects in forest ecosystems. It seems that there is more descriptive knowledge about the effects of pollution than there is about the real impact of the majority of the suggested explanative “mechanisms” for the process of forest damage. However, the book is a comprehensive contribution to the subject, albeit in slightly approximative English. Strangely, the final discussion of the workshop is included . . . in the Preface! P. JACQUARD Unit& de Biologie des Populations et des Peuplements Centre Louis Em berger, CNRS Montpellier France AIR POLLUTION
Air Pollution by Photochemical Oxidants. Formation, Tmnsport, Control and Effects on Plants. R. Guderian (Editor), Ecological Studies Vol. 52, Springer-Verlag Berlin, 1985, 346 + xi pp., DM 158.00, ISBN: 3-540-13966-4. Ten years ago a book on photochemical oxidants with a European dimension would not have been written: interest in the topic was minimal, with conventional wisdom maintaining that climatic conditions were not conducive to the formation of harmful levels of oxidants and mention of the topic, in the United Kingdom at least, giving rise to derisory comments that ozone was good for human health, being the essential invigorating component of the air at the better seaside resorts! Since that time, it has become increasingly clear that oxidants not only damage a wide range of crops in Europe, but also play a key role in the conversion of sulphur and nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere to their respective acids, as well as possibly being implicated directly in the current central European forest decline. As such, I warmly welcome the publication of this book, which is written by a number of German scientists from different disciplines together with a distinguished American expert on the effects of oxidants on vegetation.
Effects of Accumulation of Air Pollutants in Forest Ecosystems, Bernard Ulrich and Jiirgen Pankrath (Editors). Proceedings of a workshop held at Giittingen, West Germany, 16-18 May 1982. Reidel, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, 1983,389 pp., tables and diagrams, price: Dfl. 135/U&$58.50, ISBN 90-277-1476-2. The problem of forest damage is not new. A comprehensive report on the subject was published in 1893 (and not in 1983 as typed) and in 1923, Prof.Dr. Julius Stocklasa was concerned with toxical effects. In the preface, a concept of stability and of acid deposition is developed. The content of the book is grouped under 5 topics. (1) Processes and rates of deposition and storage places of deposited pollutpnts (5 contributions). A distinction is made by B. Ulrich between precipitation and interception, relative to some atmospheric constituents, i.e. SO?, alkali and earth alkali cations and chloride, and a method for the assessment of deposition rates from flux balance measurements is described by R. Mayer. Concentrations have been measured by K.K. Hiifken and measurements of surface resistance during deposition are presented. (2)Processes and rates of proton production by discoupling of the ion cycle (3 contributions). The turnover of protons by mineralization and ion uptake are discussed by E. Matzner and B. Ulrich. The effects on soil chemistry are developed as a consequence of proton input. Weathering balance of 3 soils has been carried out by M.J. Mazzarino to compare the proton consumption in German soils. (3) Effects on chemical soil state (9 contributions). The nature of acidity and the intensity terms are discussed by B. Ulrich, in order to determine the rate of proton and sulphur load and the interactions of these pollutants, E. Matzner presents measurements carried out in stands of forests. Effects of ammonium sulfate on calcareous and non-calcareous soils are described by N.V. Breemen and E.R. Jordeus. Studies in forests and heaths in Scotland are presented in a paper from H.G. Hiller. Some results are from percolate of forest soils as influenced by acid input, and G. Abrahamsen gives results on sulphur pollution and effects on forest trees. A paper by R.A. Skeffington reports on a study of soils (under a canopy) of which only one has a Ca:Al ratio greater than 1. According to G. Briimmer and U. Herms, the concentration in soils increases in the order: Cd, Zn, Cu, Pb, with increasing total content of these elements. (4) Effects on biological soil state and on animals (3 contributions). For H.W. V. Buch, the conditions for the decomposition of organic matter have become one-sided. In addition, the comparison with past results have indicated acidification, so for the consideration of the “physiology” of the soil, measurements of the activity of enzymes in the presence of buffer are presented.
92
(5) Effects of acidification and accumulation of air pollutants on plants (9 contributions). IUFRO studies have been made on maximal SO* emission standards to protect forests. A paper by H. Fliihler is a synthesis on limitations in fluoride pollution. S. Athari and K. Kramer found difficulties in carrying out measurements to define growth losses. A contribution by J.B. Reemtsina deals with regional investigations of immission. It is important that the significance of chemical composition becomes recognized (according to G.H. Tomlinson II), and growth patterns need to be studied in connection with phloem nutrient contents (K.E. Rehfuess et al.). The book ends with investigations dealing with the stem and the root of fir and spruce. This review of the contents of the book gives a good picture of the stateof-the-art in the area of toxical effects in forest ecosystems. It seems that there is more descriptive knowledge about the effects of pollution than there is about the real impact of the majority of the suggested explanative “mechanisms” for the process of forest damage. However, the book is a comprehensive contribution to the subject, albeit in slightly approximative English. Strangely, the final discussion of the workshop is included . . . in the Preface! P. JACQUARD Unit& de Biologie des Populations et des Peuplements Centre Louis Em berger, CNRS Montpellier France AIR POLLUTION
Air Pollution by Photochemical Oxidants. Formation, Tmnsport, Control and Effects on Plants. R. Guderian (Editor), Ecological Studies Vol. 52, Springer-Verlag Berlin, 1985, 346 + xi pp., DM 158.00, ISBN: 3-540-13966-4. Ten years ago a book on photochemical oxidants with a European dimension would not have been written: interest in the topic was minimal, with conventional wisdom maintaining that climatic conditions were not conducive to the formation of harmful levels of oxidants and mention of the topic, in the United Kingdom at least, giving rise to derisory comments that ozone was good for human health, being the essential invigorating component of the air at the better seaside resorts! Since that time, it has become increasingly clear that oxidants not only damage a wide range of crops in Europe, but also play a key role in the conversion of sulphur and nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere to their respective acids, as well as possibly being implicated directly in the current central European forest decline. As such, I warmly welcome the publication of this book, which is written by a number of German scientists from different disciplines together with a distinguished American expert on the effects of oxidants on vegetation.