Impact of ground-level ozone on Mediterranean forest ecosystems health

Given the high ozone concentrations observed in the Mediterranean region during summer, it is crucial to extend our knowledge on the potential ozone impacts on forest health with in situ studies, especially to protect typical endemic forests of the Mediterranean basin. This study is focused on ozone measurements and exposures over the Eastern Adriatic coast and on the calculation of different O-3 metrics, i.e., accumulated exposure AOT(40) (AOT40(dir), AOT40(ICP), AOT40(pheno)) and stomatal O-3 fluxes with an hourly threshold of uptake (Y) to represent the detoxification capacity of trees (PODY, with Y = 0, 1, 2 nmol O-3 m(-2) S-1) used for forest protection. Finally, we provide an assessment of the relationships between the forest response indicators and environmental variables. Passive ozone measurements and monitoring of forest health indicators, namely growth and crown defoliation, were performed for Quercus ilex, Quercus pubescens, Pinus halepensis, and Pints nigra forests. Results showed that, for all the analysed species, ozone levels were close to reached the upper plausibility limits for passive monitoring of air quality at forest sites (100 ppb), with the highest values found on P. halepensis in the summer period. O-3 metrics based on exposure were found to be higher in pine plots than in oak plots, while the highest values of uptake-based metrics were found on P. nigra. Regarding relationships between environmental variables and forest-health response indicators, the crown defoliation was significantly correlated with the soil water content at various depth while the tree growth was correlated with the different O-3 metrics. The most important predictors affecting tree growth of Q. pubescerts and Q. ilex were ACT40(phe)(no) and AOT40(dir) and PODO for P. nigra. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study assessed ozone exposure and uptake in forests along the Eastern Adriatic coast in the Mediterranean region. Results showed that ozone levels were close to reaching the upper limits for passive monitoring at forest sites, with the highest uptake metrics found in P. nigra. Relationships between environmental variables and forest-health indicators were also analyzed, with significant correlations found between crown defoliation and soil water content, and between tree growth and different O-3 metrics.