 Air Pollution Impacts on Health: EcosystemsOzone can impact ecosystems so that the normal ecological functions such as water movement, mineral nutrient cycling, and habitats for various animals and plant species become altered. Scientists believe that the effects of ozone on long-lived species such as trees can add up over many years, impacting entire ecosystems. In general, the more highly polluted an ecosystem is the higher the rate of decline and mortality. Tree growth rates are often slowed by ozone exposure and some species are more sensitive than others are to air pollution. Ozone effects on trees are cumulative so exposures to even small amounts can impact the ecosystems over time. When many forests have sick and dying trees, the important tree species can diminish and be replaced by species that are more ozone tolerant. This shift in dominant tree species disturbs the equilibrium that ecosystems operate on, and in turn creates larger shifts throughout the ecosystem as a whole. In response to increasing public concern regarding the health of our plant's ecosystems, state and federal agencies now monitor ecosystem health through a science called biomonitoring. Biomonitoring, or biological monitoring, uses the response(s) of sensitive plant species called indicators to assess changes in the environment. This is a valuable tool that many air monitoring programs have taken advantage of. Check out the links below to find out more about biomonitoring. For more information about ozone biomonitoring in forest ecosystems: To conduct your own biomonitoring experiment, check out the Milkweed Monitoring project in the Easy Breathers Lab. |
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