Effects of Atmospheric Pollution on High Elevation Fauna in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The goal of this research is to examine the effects of atmospheric pollution on two groups of high elevation terrestrial animals. Air pollution such as acid precipitation and mercury toxicity remains high in eastern forests, and is considered a critical environmental stress (Driscoll et al. 2001, Evers et al. 2005). There may also be interactive effects between acid precipitation and mercury, as an acidified environment both enhances methylation ... More

The goal of this research is to examine the effects of atmospheric pollution on two groups of high elevation terrestrial animals. Air pollution such as acid precipitation and mercury toxicity remains high in eastern forests, and is considered a critical environmental stress (Driscoll et al. 2001, Evers et al. 2005). There may also be interactive effects between acid precipitation and mercury, as an acidified environment both enhances methylation of mercury and depletion of calcium (Harmon et al. 2003). Consequently, adverse effects may be complex (Evers et al. 2005). Thus, there is a strong need to better understand the long-term, landscape-level effects of both acid precipitation and mercury on high elevation populations.
Our research will address two main objectives: 1.) Quantify the effects of acid deposition and subsequent calcium depletion on the reproductive success of high elevation songbirds and the diversity and abundance of terrestrial snail populations (the birds’ primary calcium source) in the southern Appalachians; and 2.) Determine the level of threat of mercury bioaccumulation in high elevation breeding songbirds in the southern Appalachians.

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