Projected response of 94 tree species to changes in N and S deposition from 2005 to 2100 and the associated ecosystem services at risk
On this page:
Tree species provide a range of important societal values, including timber for harvesting, carbon
sequestration, and recreational enjoyment for hikers, backpackers, and hunters. A recent analysis
indicates that tree species respond differentially to atmospheric deposition of N and S, with uncertain
implications on the future forest composition and the ecosystem services that these forests provide.
Here we provide a first-ever estimate for the coterminous US (CONUS) on species level changes in
relative abundance of the current forest cohort from 2005 to 2100 across 16 future climate and
deposition scenarios. We then estimate how two final ecosystem service (FEGS) may be affected (i.e.
timber production, carbon sequestration) and one intermediate ecosystem service which underpins many
FEGS (i.e. forest biodiversity). We also explore individual services that are more difficult to quantify
and estimate the directional effects for U.S. forests.