Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Aboveground vegetation effects on the deposition and cycling of atmospheric sulfur: Chemical and stable isotope evidence

  • Published:
Water, Air, and Soil Pollution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Up to 60% of the sulfate in upland forest throughfall and stemflow at Plastic Lake in central Ontario is non-precipitation by origin, but is derived from aboveground vegetation. The sources of this aboveground vegetation sulfate include dry deposited aerosols and SO2, and mineralized plant organic S. σ34S data indicate that atmospheric S dominates the upland forest ecosystems of southern and central Ontario, with little S isotope fractionation. Seasonal σ34S variations in precipitation sulfate may be due to mixing of bacteriogenic and anthropogenic S. σ18O and concentration data indicate that oxidation of dry-deposited SO2, and mineralization of organic S on vegetation surfaces may contribute one third or more of throughfall sulfate in summer and autumn, but less in late spring, perhaps due to foliar uptake of S during this season. Oxidized SO2, or mineralized organic S contributes one third or more of stemflow sulfate during these seasons.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allison, G. B., Barnes, C. J., Hughes, M. W., and Leaney, F. W. J.: 1983, International Symposium on Isotope Hydrology in Water Resources Development, IAEA, Vienna, Austria, 20 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Society for Testing and Materials: 1984, Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol. 0505, D 3177 - 84, 413.

  • Bache, D. H.: 1977, J. Appl. Ecol. 14, 881.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barrie, L. A., Anlauf, K., Wiebe, H. A., and Fellin, P.: 1984, Acid Precipitation Series 4, Butterworth, Boston, p. 15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caron, F., Tessier, A., Kramer, J. R., Schwarcz, H. P., and Rees, C. E.: 1986, Appl. Geochem. 1, 601.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chevonne, B. I., Herzfeld, D. E., Krupa, S. V., and Chappelka, A. H.: 1986, JAPCA 36, 813.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dallam, R. D.: 1987, Life Sciences 40, 1147.

    Google Scholar 

  • David, M. B.: 1983, ‘Organic and Inorganic Sulfur Cycling in Forested and Aquatic Ecosystems in the Adirondack Region of New York State’, Ph.D. thesis, State University of New York, Syracuse, 268 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dillon, P. J., Lusis, M., Reid, R., and Yap, D.: 1988, Atmos. Environ. 22, 901.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubois, M., Botter, F., Drifford, M., and Sutton, J.: 1982, Analytical Chemistry Symposia Series 11, 549.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farris, F. and Strain, B. R.: 1978, Rod. and Environ. Biophys. 15, 167.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hörstel, H.: 1978, Rad. and Environ. Biophys. 15, 323.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fritz, P., Frape, S. K., Drimmie, R. J., and Heemskerk, A. R.: 1986, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 50, 1561.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fritz, P., Lapcevic, P. A., Miles, M., Frape, S. K., Lawson, D. E., and O'Shea, K. J.: 1988, Can. J. Earth Sci. 25, 195.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garten, C. T., Jr., Bondietti, E. A., and Lomax, R. D.: 1988, Atmos. Environ. 22, 1425.

    Google Scholar 

  • Girard, R., Reid, R. A., and Snyder, W. R.: 1985, Ontario Ministry of the Environment Data Report DR 85/1, 29 p.

  • Gmur, N. F., Evans, L. S., and Cunningham, E. A.: 1983, Atmos. Environ. 17, 715.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gosz, J. R., Likens, G. E., and Bormann, F. H.: 1976, Oecologia 22, 305.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hällgren, J.-E.: 1978, Sulfur in the Environment — Part II: Ecological Impacts, J. O. Nriagu (ed.), Wiley-Interscience, New York, p. 163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hicks, B. B.: 1986, Water, Air, and Soil Pollut. 30, 75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holt, B. D., Cunningham, P. T., and Kumar, R.: 1979, Int. J. Environ. Anal. Chem. 6, 43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holt, B. D., Kumar, R., and Cunningham, P. T.: 1981, Atmos. Environ. 15, 557.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jäger, H.-J., Bender, J., and Grunhage, L.: 1985, Environ. Pollut. (Series A) 39, 317.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johannes, A. H., Chen, Y. L., Dackson, K., and Suleski, T.: 1986, Water, Air, and Soil Pollut. 30, 211.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, D. W., Richter, D. D., Van Miegroet, H., Cole, D. W., and Kelly, J. M.: 1986, Water, Air, and Soil Pollut. 30, 965.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, D. W., Turner, J., and Kelly, J. M.: 1982, Water Resour. Res. 18, 449.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kittredge, J.: 1948, Forest Influences, McGraw-Hill, New York, 394 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krouse, H. R. and Van Everdingen, R. O.: 1984, Water, Air, and Soil Pollut. 23, 61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, R.: 1980, Forest Hydrology, Columbia University Press, New York, 349 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindberg, S. E. and Garten, C. T. Jr.: 1988, Nature 336, 148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindberg, S. E., Lovett, G. M., Richter, D. D., and Johnson, D. W.: 1986, Science 231, 141.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lloyd, R. M.: 1967, Science 156, 1228.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lovett, G. M. and Lindberg, S. E.: 1984, J. Applied Ecol. 21, 1013.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, R. and Ulrich, B.: 1978, Atmos. Environ. 12, 375.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, R. and Ulrich, B.: 1980, Oecol. Plant. 9, 157.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mizutani, Y. and Rafter, T. A.: 1969, N. Z. J. Sci. 12, 60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neary, A. J., Mistry, E. and Vanderstar, L.: 1987, Can. J. Soil Sci. 67, 341.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nihlgard, B.: 1970, Oikos 21, 208.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nriagu, J. O. and Coker, R. D.: 1978, Tellus 30B, 365.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ontario Geological Survey: 1962, Map 2035.

  • Parker, G. G., Lindberg, S. E., and Kelly, J. M.: 1980, Atmospheric Sulfur Deposition —Environmental Impact and Health Effects, Ann Arbor Science, Ann Arbor, Michigan, p. 477.

    Google Scholar 

  • Qureshi, R. M.: 1986, ‘The Isotopic Composition of Aqueous Sulfate’, Ph.D. thesis, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, 353 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richter, D. D., Johnson, D. W., and Todd, D. E.: 1983, J. Environ. Qual. 12, 263.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, A. J., Morton, A. J., and Robins, P. C.: 1975, J. Appl. Ecol. 12, 367.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seinfeld, J. H.: 1986, Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics of Air Pollution, Wiley-Interscience, New York, 738 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shibatani, R.: 1988, ‘Meltwater Processes and Runoff Mechanisms in a Small Precambrian Shield Watershed During Snowmelt’, M.Sc thesis, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, 193 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sirois, A. and Barrie, L. A.: 1988, Tellus 40B, 59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, W. H.: 1976, Ecol. 57, 324.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanner, R. L., Forrest, J., and Newman, L.: 1 1978, Sulfur in the Environment, Wiley-Interscience, New York, p. 371.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Breemen, N., Burrough, P. A., Velthorst, E. J., Van Dobben, H. F., De Wit, T., Ridder, T. B., and Reijnders, H. F. R.: 1982, Nature 299, 548.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Everdingen, R. O., Shakur, M. A., and Krouse, H. R.: 1982, Can. J. Earth Sci. 19, 1246.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Stempvoort, D. R. 1989, ‘The Use of Stable Isotope Techniques to Investigate the Sulfur Cycle in Upland Forests of Central and Southern Ontario’, Ph.D. thesis, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, 254 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Stempvoort, D. R., Reardon, E. J., and Fritz, P.: 1990, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 54, 2817.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wainwright, M.: 1982, Proceedings of the International Sulphur'82 Conference, Vol. 1, The British Sulphur Corp., London, England, p. 349.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wills, J. J.: 1987, ‘An Isotopic Investigation of Stemflow, Throughfall, Precipitation, and Soilwater in a Selected Portion of the Plastic Lake Watershed, Dorset, Ontario’. B.Sc. thesis, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yanagisawa, F. and Sakai, H.: 1983, Anal Chem. 55, 985.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zinke, P. J.: 1967, Forest Hydrology, Pergamon, Oxford, p. 137.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Waterloo, N2L 3G1, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

    D. R. van Stempvoort & J. J. Wills

  2. GSF-Institute for Hydrology, Ingolstddter Landstr. 1, D-8042, Neuherberg, Germany

    P. Fritz

Authors
  1. D. R. van Stempvoort
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. J. Wills
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P. Fritz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

van Stempvoort, D.R., Wills, J.J. & Fritz, P. Aboveground vegetation effects on the deposition and cycling of atmospheric sulfur: Chemical and stable isotope evidence. Water Air Soil Pollut 60, 55–82 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00293966

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00293966

Keywords

Search

Navigation