8.04.08 - Multiple stressors

UNIT NOTICEBOARD

2021-03-03

International Conference "Air Pollution threats to Plant Ecosystems" -- POSTPONED DUE TO CORONA VIRUS OUTBREAK

Paphos, Cyprus; NEW DATE: 11-15 October 2021

Following the postponement of the 2020’ conference due to COVID-19 pandemic, we are pleased to announce that the international conference entitled “Air Pollution threats to Plant Ecosystems” will be held in Paphos (Cyprus) on 11-15 October 2021. All needed sanitary directives will be implemented on site. Due to exceptional conditions, up-do-date information will be regularly released by emails.

Air pollution and climate change remain a persistent threat to plant ecosystems, urging for international cooperation and unified research efforts. This international event is co-organized by the Committee on Air Pollution Effects Research on Mediterranean Ecosystems (CAPERmed), the International Union of Forest Research Organization (IUFRO) and the International Cooperative Programme on Effects of Air Pollution on Natural Vegetation and Crops (ICP Vegetation). The conference, for the first time combining three events, will serve as an excellent example of effective international collaboration in the research of air pollution and plant ecosystems.

Do not miss this cornerstone of international science. The CAPERmed IV meeting will be held back-to-back with the 3rd International Conference on “Ozone and Plant Ecosystems” and the 30th international biennial conference of the IUFRO Research Group on “Air pollution and climate change” on 11-14 October 2021. A full-day excursion is planned on 15 October 2021.

Deadlines

Abstract submission: 1 September 2021. All abstracts "accepted" in 2020 remain "accepted", a revised version can be sent by 1st September 2021.
Early-bird registration: 15 September 2021
Late registration: starting 16 September 2021


More details:
New website: https://cyprus2021.com/
Contact: Dr. Pierre Sicard (pierre.sicard@arches-conseils.fr)
Twitter: @PlantsPollution

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Coordinator:

Mikhail Kozlov, Finland

Deputies:

Rocio Alonso, Spain

Cristina Branquinho, Portugal

Tatiana Cornelissen, Brazil

About Unit

The intention of the Working Party "Impacts of air pollution and climate change - multiple stressors" is to raise awareness on the multiple, interactive effects of air pollution (ozone, nitrogen oxides, excess nitrogen deposition) and climate change (increase in CO2, temperature, extreme climatic events) on forest ecosystems and the services they provide. By forest ecosystem services, we refer to those functions that are valued by humans (e.g., water quality/quantity, clean air, carbon sequestration, habitat protection), but which are taken for granted and/or are difficult to quantify (see Fig. 1).

The interrelationship between physical, biological, and social systems are intimately influenced by one another: their concurrent consideration will allow us to gain insights that would not otherwise be available from a traditional, single disciplinary approach to research. To this end, we will encourage interdisciplinary research (atmospheric science, forest ecology, plant physiology and biochemistry, biodiversity and invasives, soil science, ecohydrology, geochemistry, fire science, land management), multi-trophic level studies, and integrative approaches (monitoring, research, modelling). This will not only improve knowledge, but will also help identify unknowns, and improve visibility of our research. This is a critical next-step to understand the consequences of air pollution and climate change on global forest ecosystems and refine our research agenda.


State of Knowledge

The importance of studying the effect of concurrent, multiple environmental stressors (elevated ozone, excess nitrogen deposition, drought, increased temperature) or enhancers (elevated CO2 or nitrogen deposition) on forest ecosystems is increasingly highlighted (Bytnerowicz et al., 2007; Paoletti et al., 2007). Anthropogenically driven gradients in pollution exposure and deposition have been used historically to elucidate long term effects of concurrent stressors on forest ecosystems (overview in Arbaugh et al., 2003). Long term, chronic to acute (in the mid 1970s and 1980s) O3 exposure increased mortality of sensitive species and altered forest stand composition (Miller et al., 1989). Recent studies of this pollution gradient demonstrated a link between high air pollution exposure, tree susceptibility to bark beetle, and higher tree mortality (Grulke et al., 2008).  Read full article.