Citizen science identifies the effects of nitrogen dioxide and other environmental drivers on tar spot of sycamore

Environmental Pollution

Volume 214, 1 July 2016, Pages 549-555

  (Article)

Gosling, L.^a, 

Ashmore, M.^b , 

Sparks, T.^cd, 

Bell, N.^a

 

^a  Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
^b  Stockholm Environment Institute, University of York, York, United Kingdom
^c  Sigma, Coventry University, United Kingdom 

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Abstract

Elevated sulphur dioxide (SO₂) concentrations were the major cause of the absence of symptoms of tar spot (Rhytisma acerinum) of sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus), in urban areas in the 1970s. The subsequent large decline in SO₂ concentrations has not always been accompanied by increased tar spot symptoms, for reasons that have remained unresolved. We used a large citizen science survey, providing over 1000 records across England, to test two competing hypotheses proposed in earlier studies. We were able to demonstrate the validity of both hypotheses; tar spot symptoms were reduced where there were fewer fallen leaves as a source of inoculum, and elevated nitrogen dioxide concentrations reduced tar spot symptoms above a threshold concentration of about 20 μg m^-3. Symptom severity was also lower at sites with higher temperature and lower rainfall. Our findings demonstrate the power of citizen science to resolve competing hypotheses about the impacts of air pollution and other environmental drivers. © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Author keywords

Acer pseudoplatanus; Citizen science; Nitrogen dioxide; Rhytisma acerinum; Tar spot

Indexed keywords

Engineering controlled terms: Nitrogen; Nitrogen oxides; Tar

Acer pseudoplatanus; Citizen science; England; Nitrogen dioxides; Rhytisma acerinum; Threshold concentrations; Urban areas

Engineering main heading: Sulfur dioxide

Species Index: Acer pseudoplatanus; Rhytisma acerinum

ISSN: 02697491 CODEN: ENPOESource Type: Journal Original language: English

DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2016.04.066Document Type: Article

Publisher: Elsevier Ltd

Funding Details

Acronym; Sponsor: NHM; Natural History Museum

References (29)

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  Ashmore, M.; Stockholm Environment Institute, University of York, United Kingdom; email:mike.ashmore@york.ac.uk
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