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Ozone bioindicator

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Why Is Ozone Important? Ground-level ozone occurs at phytotoxic levels in the United States (Lefohn and Pinkerton 1988). Elevated levels of ozone can cause foliar injury to several tree species, may cause growth loss, and can make trees more susceptible to insects and pathogens (Chappelka and Samuelson 1998). However, tree species have varying degrees of sensitivity to ozone, and ozone can induce foliar injury only if tree stomata are open. Thus, the overall impact of elevated ozone concentrations depends on the amount of ozone, climatic conditions such as drought, and the composition of the forest.

Parent Publication

Citation

Coulston, John W.; Ambrose, Mark J. 2007. Ozone bioindicator. In: Forest health monitoring: 2005 national technical report. General Technical Report SRS-104. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. (pages 27-32)
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/55882