Forests and ecological services: Wildlife ecological services and air quality at the Bankhead National Forest in Alabama

Background/Question/Methods

Ecological services are those services provided via natural ecosystems to benefit human beings. The forest ecosystem and wildlife species residing in these ecosystems provide services vital to human health and well being. Providers of the valuable wildlife ecological services at the Bankhead National Forest in Alabama were assessed based on literature and integrated data. Through quantification and classification, these wildlife ecological services’ values are evaluated. With growing population growth and global climate change, it is increasingly important to keep these ecosystems intact and discover more about the ecological significance of forested lands and the role they play in one of the most important ecological service to all living things: air quality.  Air quality was monitored following a gradient in three distinct regions: urban, agricultural, and heavily forested areas. 

Results/Conclusions

The spatial and temporal variations in the concentrations of six gas species (CH₄, O₂, CO, H₂S, SO₄, CO₂) and aerosol concentrations were compared by statistical methods. Furthermore, negative ions were measured across the landscapes. There are more negative ions in the forest areas, especially at pine forests during the winter season.  All weather conditions are taken at each site to access variation in these gases and the abiotic factors that may contribute to the changes.  Our study may help to quantify forest ecological services and determine the forest’s impact on air quality.