Simulated acid rain effects on fine roots, ectomycorrhizae, microorganisms, and invertebrates in pine forests of the Southern United States

A 2-yr study evaluated the effects of acid precipitation on the forest floor community. Throughfall was collected at weekly intervals, acidified to pH 4.3 and 3.6, and applied to throughfall excluded 1 m super(2) plots in a stand of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) L.) in south Mississippi, and in a long...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water, air and soil pollution air and soil pollution, 1992-02, Vol.61 (3), p.269-278
Main Authors: Esher, R.J. (Mississippi State Univ. Research Center, Mississippi, MS (USA). Stennis Space Center), Marx, D.H, Ursic, S.J, Baker, R.L, Brown, L.R, Coleman, D.C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ACARINA
ACID RAIN
Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Applied ecology
Biological and medical sciences
CHAMPIGNON
Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
FUNGI
HONGOS
Invertebrata
LLUVIA ACIDA
LUMBRICIDAE
MISSISSIPPI
MYCORHIZE
MYCORRHIZAE
NEMATODA
Pinus
PINUS PALUSTRIS
PINUS TAEDA
PLUIE ACIDE
RACINE
RAICES
RHIZOSPHERE
RIZOSFERA
ROOTS
SIMULACION
SIMULATION
Terrestrial environment, soil, air
TEXAS
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Summary:A 2-yr study evaluated the effects of acid precipitation on the forest floor community. Throughfall was collected at weekly intervals, acidified to pH 4.3 and 3.6, and applied to throughfall excluded 1 m super(2) plots in a stand of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) L.) in south Mississippi, and in a longleaf pine (P. palustris Mill.) plantation in east Texas. After 2 yr, comparisons of the pH 3.6 plots with the controls indicated significant decreases in the number, length and biomass of lateral roots, and the percent and number of ectomycorrhizae. Decreases in these root characteristics for plots subjected to applications of throughfall acidified to near-ambient pH 4.3 were also significant or bordered on significance. Numbers of herbivorous mites increased significantly with decreasing pH, but the predaceous mites appeared insensitive. Treated plots had fewer numbers of some groups of the larger invertebrates, especially earthworms, but variation was generally too great to show significance. The acid treatments had little effect on numbers of nematodes, saprophytic fungi or endomycorrhizal fungi.
ISSN:0049-6979
1573-2932
DOI:10.1007/BF00482610