A regional examination of episodic acidification response to reduced acidic deposition and the influence of plantation forests in Irish headwater streams

Feeley, Hugh B.; Bruen, Michael; Blacklocke, Sean; Kelly‐Quinn, Mary

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.10.074

Cited by 23 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 87 publications

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“…Changes in Cl − concentrations were the dominant tertiary driver of episodic acidification, with a general tendency for dilution that limits episodic acidification at most streams. We did not observe a strong tendency for a sea‐salt effect reflected by increased Cl − concentrations at high flow that would enhance stream acidification, as commonly observed in locations such as Ireland and the United Kingdom with strong marine influence on climate (Feeley et al, ). Other ANC components such as DOC charge and NO 3 − were generally only minor contributors to episodic acidification in these AT streams with exceptions at some streams, most commonly in the North section for DOC charge and in the Central and South sections for NO 3 − .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chronic and episodic acidification of streams along the Appalachian Trail corridor, eastern United States

Burns

McDonnell

Rice

et al. 2020

Hydrological Processes

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Acidic atmospheric deposition has adversely affected aquatic ecosystems globally. As emissions and deposition of sulfur (S) and nitrogen (N) have declined in recent decades across North America and Europe, ecosystem recovery is evident in many surface waters. However, persistent chronic and episodic acidification remain important concerns in vulnerable regions. We evaluated acidification in 269 headwater streams during 2010–2012 along the Appalachian Trail (AT) that transits several ecoregions and is located downwind of high levels of S and N emission sources. Discharge was estimated by matching sampled streams to those of a nearby gaged stream and assuming equivalent daily mean flow percentiles. Charge balance acid‐neutralizing capacity (ANC) values were adjusted to the 15th (Q15) and 85th flow percentiles (Q85) by applying the ANC/discharge slope among sample pairs collected at each stream. A site‐based approach was applied to streams sampled twice or more and a second regression‐based approach to streams sampled once to estimate episodic acidification magnitudes as the ANC difference from Q15 to Q85. Streams with ANC <0 μeq/L doubled from 16% to 32% as discharge increased from Q15 to Q85 according to the site‐based approach. The proportion of streams with ANC <0 μeq/L at low flow and high flow decreased from north to south. Base cation dilution explained the greatest amount of episodic acidification among streams and variation in sulfate (SO42−) concentrations was a secondary explanatory variable. Episodic SO42− patterns varied geographically with dilution dominant in northern streams underlain by soils developed in glacial sediment and increased concentrations dominant in southern streams with older, highly weathered soils. Episodic acidification increased as low‐flow ANC increased, exceeding 90 μeq/L in 25% of streams. Episodic increases in ANC were the dominant pattern in streams with low‐flow ANC values <30 μeq/L. Chronic and episodic acidification remain an ecological concern among AT streams. The approach developed here could be applied to estimate the magnitude and extent of chronic and episodic acidification in other regions recovering from decreasing levels of atmospheric S and N deposition.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chronic and episodic acidification of streams along the Appalachian Trail corridor, eastern United States

Burns

McDonnell

Rice

et al. 2020

Hydrological Processes

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“…The effect of acidity on lotic macroinvertebrates has been well documented in temperate regions, resulting in altered community structure, increased drift, reduced adult emergence and lower species richness (Hall et al, 1980;Hall and Ide, 1987;Lepori et al, 2003). The presence of forestry has also been shown to exacerbate acidification (Kelly-Quinn et al, 1996;Dunford et al, 2012;Feeley et al, 2013) in temperate regions, in part driven by scavenging of atmospheric acid anions and also by organic acidity. The occult/horizontal precipitation characteristic of cloud forests such as Cusuco National Park commonly contains far higher concentrations of solutes than rain water (Beiderwieden et al, 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution and structure of lotic macroinvertebrate communities and the influence of environmental factors in a tropical cloud forest, Cusuco National Park, Honduras

O’Callaghan

Kelly‐Quinn

2016

J Limnol

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“…Forests are considered to be efficient sinks for atmospheric pollutants attributed to the interception of sulphates and nitrates (Fowler et al, 1989) and sea salts (Allott & Brennan, 2000) by the forest canopy coupled with the inability of the peatland soil and geology to buffer the acidity (Jenkins et al, 1990;Ormerod et al, 1991). In addition, dissolved organic carbon and inorganic aluminium concentrations have been shown to be higher in forested catchments (Ormerod et al, 1989;Feeley et al, 2013) and are recognised contributors to episodic acidification (Passy, 2006). However, further work would need to be carried out to ascertain this.…”

Section: General Spatial and Temporal Patterns And Driving Factors Ofmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Peatland catchments can be easily eroded resulting in high organically derived suspended sediment input into receiving waters (Evans et al, 2006;Long and Jennings, 2006). Decreased dissolved organic carbon has been reported downstream and away from the constraining influence of the peat and, while associations have yet to be made for the residing biota (Ramchunder et al, 2011;Pound et al, 2013), Feeley et al (2013) reported forestry related stream acidification was primarily driven by organic acids. Peatland stream water pH can range from acidic to moderately alkaline depending on catchment geology (Miller et al, 2001;O'Driscoll et al, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial and seasonal variation of peatland-fed riverine macroinvertebrate and benthic diatom assemblages and implications for assessment: a case study from Ireland

et al. 2014

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Blanket peat catchments are important biodiversity refugia. Key pressures on peatland catchment water bodies include artificial drainage, forestry, over-grazing, wind farm development and climate change, and assessment of these pressures requires sensitive monitoring programmes. This study, undertaken in two neighbouring blanket peat catchments, examined the variability in macroinvertebrate and diatom assemblages and related indices in response to spatial and seasonal variability. Multivariate analysis revealed significant trends in the taxa distribution of both groups and the indices downstream and away from the constraining influence of the peat. However, the ecological quality ratios and status assessments for the associated water bodies were consistent irrespective of spatial variability in assemblages and raw indices. Significant seasonal trends emerged only in the macroinvertebrate assemblages and indices. This study contributes to the understanding of sources of uncertainty in ecological assessment and thus provides valuable information for the calibration of assessment protocols for sensitive peatland catchments.

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A regional examination of episodic acidification response to reduced acidic deposition and the influence of plantation forests in Irish headwater streams

Cited by 23 publications

References 87 publications

Chronic and episodic acidification of streams along the Appalachian Trail corridor, eastern United States

Chronic and episodic acidification of streams along the Appalachian Trail corridor, eastern United States

Distribution and structure of lotic macroinvertebrate communities and the influence of environmental factors in a tropical cloud forest, Cusuco National Park, Honduras

Spatial and seasonal variation of peatland-fed riverine macroinvertebrate and benthic diatom assemblages and implications for assessment: a case study from Ireland

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