Field sites for 2002 study

The project scope was conceptualized at an inter-programmatic meeting within the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. A consensus was reached that a suite of bioindicators would prove critical in satisfying State management goals to enhance air and water quality; to restore ecosystems, sustain land and natural resource communities; as well as to preserve biodiversity in the state. The immediate goal was to establish unique baseline terrestrial communities of known structure in the Pinelands Ecoregion of New Jersey, then to evaluate the influence of potential environment stressors. Of particular interest were air deposited nitrogen and its measurable biological effects on forest ecosystems for long term trends-assessment.

The objective of Year 1 of this study was to determine if ectomycorrhizal fungal species of trees in the New Jersey pine barrens could serve as a biological indicator for nitrogen pollution.

The full report and appendices are available below in PDF format.

• Assessing Impacts of Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition on
  New Jersey Forests 2002-2003 - Final Report Year 1
• Appendix 1 - Field core ectomycorrhizal, precipitation, and soil chemistry results
• Appendix 2. Field seedling study ectomycorrhizal and chemistry results.
• Appendix 3. Greenhouse seedling study ectomycorrhizal and soil chemistry results.
• Appendix 4. Potential ectomycorrhizal indicator species for N deposition

For questions regarding this report, please contact Thomas Belton.