Breton Wilderness Area AQRV's
Breton Wilderness comprises a number of sandy islands with many ponds, inlets, and saltwater marshes, bordered by shallow coastal waters. These diverse aquatic resources are considered to be air quality related values (AQRVs) that may be sensitive to atmospheric deposition of nitrogen (from onshore power plants, automobiles, and other sources, offshore oil and gas development, and marine vessels). Excess nitrogen may contribute to eutrophication, characterized by algae blooms, loss of seagrass beds, and deterioration of fish and wildlife habitat.
Fauna/Wildlife
Breton Wilderness was established to provide sanctuary for nesting and wintering seabirds, and other wildlife and their habitats. These organisms are considered sensitive air quality related values (AQRVs), that is, they may be affected by air pollution. Air pollution may indirectly affect these AQRVs by causing habitat degradation. In addition, they may be directly affected by atmospheric deposition of pollutants such as mercury and other toxics. The Environmental Protection Agency reports that certain fish in the northern Gulf of Mexico have elevated levels of mercury in their tissues.
Soils
The sensitivity of Breton soils to either acidic or nutrient deposition has not been investigated.
Vegetation
The effects of air pollution on vegetation at Breton has not been investigated. However, nitrogen deposition has the potential to affect both terrestrial and aquatic plant species. Nitrogen deposition has been shown to favor certain species, allowing them to outcompete other species that evolved under conditions of lower nitrogen levels. In some terrestrial ecosystems, nitrogen deposition has allowed non-native and invasive species to proliferate. Nitrogen fertilization is undesirable in a wilderness ecosystem. Nitrogen deposition can also induce eutrophication, resulting in algae blooms that rob submerged aquatic vegetation of light and nutrients, causing diebacks of important forage and habitat plants.
- Ozone Sensitive Plant Species on NPS and U.S. FWS Lands
- Ozone Bioindicators on NPS and U.S. FWS Lands
Visibility
Visibility is a sensitive AQRV at Breton WA. Visibility impairment due to fine particle pollution has been documented at Breton WA.