Title: Ozone bioindicators and forest health: a guide to the evaluation, analysis, and interpretation of the ozone injury data in the Forest Inventory and Analysis Program

Author: Smith, Gretchen C.; Coulston, John W.; O'Connell, Barbara M.

Year: 2008

Publication: Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-34. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agricluture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 100 p.

Abstract: In 1994, the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) and Forest Health Monitoring programs of the U.S. Forest Service implemented a national ozone (O₃) biomonitoring program designed to address specific questions about the area and percent of forest land subject to levels of O₃ pollution that may negatively affect the forest ecosystem. This is the first and only nationally consistent effort to monitor O₃ stress on the forests of the United States. This report provides background information on O₃ and its effects on trees and ecosystems, and describes the rationale behind using sensitive bioindicator plants to detect O₃ stress and assess the risk of probable O₃ impact. Also included are a description of field methods, analytic techniques, estimation procedures, and how to access, use and interpret the ozone bioindicator attributes and data outputs such as the national ozone risk map.