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Ozone Needs for Additional Research

Because expert predictions identify O₃ as a significant forest stressor well into the 21^st century (Heck and others 1998), scientists and policy experts have jointly assessed critical research needs pertaining to effects on forested systems. The Ecological Research Needs Workshop (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1998) developed one such set of research priorities. A summary of those priorities for forests and natural areas is provided here (Heck and others 1998):

1. Consideration of factors related to scaling results in growth chambers to mature trees, stands, communities, and landscapes.
2. Measurement of selected endpoints (growth, mortality, foliage injury, etc.) in managed and natural ecosystems such as loblolly pine plantations or bottomland hardwood ecosystems across selected O₃ gradients throughout the South, using results to support development of empirical and process-based models designed to understand the mechanisms of plant response to O₃.
3. Determination of utility of using visible foliar injury and other biological indicators to interpret effects of O₃ on specific indices of ecosystem health.
4. Development of economic techniques that measure changes in the value of managed and natural ecosystems affected by O₃.
5. Development of a reasonable O₃ exposure index via defined relationship between O₃ exposure concentration, uptake dose, and selected endpoints (growth, mortality, foliar injury).
6. Study of the interactions between O₃ and other abiotic or biotic stressors.