Grantee Research Project Results
1999 Progress Report: Assessment of forest disturbance in the mid-Atlantic region: a multi-scale linkage between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems
EPA Grant Number: R826110Title: Assessment of forest disturbance in the mid-Atlantic region: a multi-scale linkage between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems
Investigators: Eshleman, Keith N. , Townsend, Philip A. , Pitelka, Louis F. , Gardner, Robert H. , Galloway, James N. , Webb, James R. , Currie, William S. , Herlihy, Alan T. , Seagle, Steven W.
Current Investigators: Eshleman, Keith N. , Pitelka, Louis F. , Gardner, Robert H. , Seagle, Steven W. , Galloway, James N. , Webb, James R.
Institution: University of Maryland - College Park , University of Virginia , Oregon State University
Current Institution: University of Maryland - College Park , Oregon State University , University of Virginia
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: October 1, 1997 through September 30, 2002
Project Period Covered by this Report: October 1, 1998 through September 30, 1999
Project Amount: $697,834
RFA: Approaches to Multi-scale Ecological Assessment in the Middle Atlantic Region (1997) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration , Aquatic Ecosystems
Objective:
The objective of this project is to develop, test, validate, and demonstrate an analytical framework for assessing regional-scale forest disturbance in the mid-Atlantic region by establishing a multiscale linkage between forest disturbance and forest nitrogen export to surface waters. It is hypothesized that excessive nitrogen (N) leakage (export) from forested watersheds is a potentially useful, integrative "indicator" of a negative change in forest function that occurs in synchrony with changes in forest structure and species composition. This research focuses on forest disturbance associated with recent defoliations by the gypsy moth larva at spatial scales ranging from small watersheds to the entire region.Progress Summary:
The major research accomplishments during the second year of the project included: (1) completing the compilation of long-term discharge and dissolved N data for about 25 intensively studied watersheds in the region; (2) completing computations of monthly and annual dissolved N fluxes in streamwater from the intensively studied watersheds; (3) completing field characterization of forest vegetation for the intensively studied watersheds; (4) completing a compilation of existing forest defoliation data for the 25 intensively studied watersheds; (5) organizing all hydrochemical and watershed characterization data for the intensively studied watersheds into a computer database; (6) computing UNERF parameters for those intensively studied watersheds for which adequate field data are available; (7) completing field characterization of forest vegetation for 28 "extensive" watersheds in the mountains of western Virginia, in addition to completing compilation of streamwater N concentrations and defoliation histories; (8) compiling a large number of regional-scale databases for the Chesapeake Bay watershed that are being used to develop and test a model that describes the location and distribution of forest types in the region; and (9) developing a predictive, decision tree model of forest species patterns in the north-central region of Pennsylvania (an area that includes the "pilot" Young Womans Creek watershed).Future Activities:
Research plans for Year 3 include the following activities: (1) refinement of the database containing the "intensive watershed" information; (2) statistical analysis of watershed vegetation data and comparisons with FIA vegetation data; (3) parameterization of the UNERF model for all intensively studied watersheds; (4) parameterization of "ecoregion-specific" UNERF models to describe N export responses; (5) verification of predicted N export responses using data from 28 western Virginia watersheds; (6) assessment of regional trends in forest change based on historical FIA data; (7) parameterization of forest species composition models for selected ecoregions within the Chesapeake Bay watershed; and (8) correlation of regional N export from first order forested watersheds with indices of forest species composition change.Journal Articles on this Report : 7 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
Other project views: | All 24 publications | 9 publications in selected types | All 8 journal articles |
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Type | Citation | ||
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Eshleman KN. A linear model of the effects of disturbance on nitrogen leakage from forested watersheds. EOS, Transactions American Geophysical Union 1997;78:F327. |
R826110 (1999) R826110 (Final) |
not available |
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Modeling the effects of disturbance on dissolved nitrogen export from forested watersheds. EOS Trans Amer Geophys Union 1999;80. |
R826110 (1999) |
not available |
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Searching for gypsy moth: modeling additive and innovational interventions in streamwater concentration time series. EOS, Transactions, American, Geophysical Union 1999;80. |
R826110 (1999) |
not available |
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Eshleman KN, Morgan II RP, Webb JR, Deviney FA, Galloway JN. Temporal patterns of nitrogen leakage from mid-Appalachian forested watersheds: role of insect defoliation. Water Resources Research 1998;34(8):2005-2016. |
R826110 (1999) R826110 (Final) |
Exit Exit |
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Eshleman KN, Gardner RH, Seagle SW, Castro NM, Fiscus DA, Webb JR, Galloway JN, Deviney FA, Herlihy AT. Effects of disturbance on nitrogen export from forested lands of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 2000;63(1):187-197. |
R826110 (1999) R826110 (2000) R826110 (Final) |
Exit Exit |
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Eshleman KN. A linear model of the effects of disturbance on dissolved nitrogen leakage from forested watersheds. Water Resources Research 2000;36(11):3325-3335. |
R826110 (1999) R826110 (2000) R826110 (Final) |
Exit |
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Eshleman KN, Fiscus DA, Castro NM, Webb JR, Herlihy AT. Regionalization of disturbance-induced nitrogen leakage from mid-Appalachian forests using a linear systems model. Hydrological Processes 2004;18(14):2713-2725. |
R826110 (1999) R826110 (2000) R826110 (2001) R826110 (Final) |
Exit Exit |
Supplemental Keywords:
nitrogen, forest composition, gypsy moth, defoliation, disturbance, Chesapeake Bay, regression tree, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Ecosystem Protection, Environmental Exposure & Risk, Water, Geographic Area, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Water & Watershed, Nutrients, Hydrology, Environmental Chemistry, Ecosystem/Assessment/Indicators, exploratory research environmental biology, Ecological Effects - Environmental Exposure & Risk, Aquatic, Ecological Risk Assessment, Ecology and Ecosystems, Mid-Atlantic, Watersheds, Ecological Indicators, Scaling, nutrient transport, environmental monitoring, aquatic ecosystem, EMAP, nutrient supply, remote sensing, ecological exposure, ecological effects, watershed management, ecosystem assessment, N deposition, temperate forest ecosystems, nutrient flux, forest ecosystem, spatial scale, forest ecosystems, modeling, Chesapeake Bay watershed, conservation, environmental consequences, regional scale impacts, ecological assessment, ecological impacts, ecosystem management, gypsy moth, regional scale, terrestrial, aquatic ecosystems, water quality, nitrogen compounds, assessment methods, stress responses, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program, integrated ecological assessment, remotely sensed data, defoliation, interactions, nutrient fluxes, land use, nitrogen, Environmental Monitoring & Assessment Program, indicators, Chesapeake BayProgress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.