Effects of elevated concentrations of atmospheric CO₂ and tropospheric O₃ on foliar biochemical indicators of environmental change and their relationship with site productivity

Research Issue

Methods are needed to assess the positive or negative impact of environmental pollution on forest productivity in an asymptomatic forest stand.  Several research groups in the Northern Research Station (NRS) are striving to develop physiological and biochemical markers that can assess the early onset of stress in forests due to environmental factors, before injury is visible.

Our Research

Several interdisciplinary teams have conducted studies on the impact of increasing tropospheric ozone and carbon dioxide levels at the Aspen FACE Experiment, Harshaw Research Farm near Rhinelander, Wisconsin.  As an added dimension to these studies, our group will evaluate foliar biochemical indicators of stress (polyamines, amino acids, chlorophyll, soluble proteins, exchangeable inorganic ions) expressed at the cellular level in sugar maple, paper birch, and aspen. 

Expected Outcomes

The results will help to validate and further define the use of foliar biochemical indicators as an early assessment tool of environmental stress on northern forests, which includes increasing levels of carbon dioxide, background ozone, and other aspects of climate change.

Research Results

Minocha, R., Long S., Minocha, S., Marquardt, P., Nelson, N.D., and Kubiske M.E. 2010.  Effects of elevated CO2 amd O3 on aspen carbon and nitrogen metabolism in aspen at the aspen FACE (Free-air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment) study site. Annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America, August 1-6, Pittsburgh, PA.

Minocha, Rakesh, Long Stephanie, Minocha, Subhash, Marquardt, P., Nelson, Neil, and Kubiske Mark 2010.  Effects of long-term (10 years) exposure to elevated CO2 and O3 on trembling aspen carbon and nitrogen metabolism at the aspen FACE (Free-air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment) study site. Joint annual meeting of the American Society of Plant Biologists and the Canadian Society of Plant Physiologists, July 31-Ausust 4, Palais des Congrès, Montréal, Canada.

Research Participants

Principal Investigator

• Rakesh Minocha, US Forest Service Northern Research Station - Research Plant Physiologist

Co-Investigators

• Neil D. Nelson, US Forest Service Northern Research Station - Research Plant Physiologist Emeritus
• Paula Marquardt, US Forest Service Northern Research Station - Research Plant Geneticist
• Stephanie Long, US Forest Service Northern Research Station - Biological Science Technician