What's up, Forsyth?

What’s Up, Forsyth? In our last post, we dug into how ozone affects plants and why some are more susceptible than others. Today, we're putting that knowledge to use by introducing you to a way to monitor air quality right in your own backyard! We are also sharing tips and preliminary findings from our very own ozone garden in Kernersville— a recent collaboration between the Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden and Triad Air Awareness . Figure 1. Air Awareness Coordinator, Sarah Coffey, standing next to the newly installed Ozone Garden sign at the Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden in Kernersville, NC. What’s an Ozone Garden? An ozone garden is a specially designed garden filled with plants that are sensitive to ozone. In addition to beautifying any space and serving as a hub for native pollinators, these plants are bioindicators — living organisms that help scientists and citizen scientists monitor environmental health. When ground-level ozone interacts with the cells inside leav...

What’s Up, Forsyth? In our next two blog posts, we will discuss how ozone ( O₃)   affects plants and how studying certain “ozone sensitive” plants can inform us of local air quality issues. In this first blog, we will delve into the physiological effects of  O₃   exposure on plants and the subsequent ecosystem and economic effects. In our following blog, we will explain how “ozone gardens”—areas planted with species that physically show ozone damage on their leaves—can help raise air quality awareness in our communities. We will also highlight a recent partnership between Triad Air Awareness and the Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden to plant Kernersville’s first public ozone garden . Let’s begin by defining ground-level ozone. What is Ground-Level Ozone? Stratospheric ozone, commonly called the ozone layer, is naturally occurring in the Earth’s upper atmosphere and protects us from the Sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. However, this same gas is an air pollutant ...

What's Up, Forsyth? For this next post, we’re not just thinking about what's “up,” but what's all around us! Have you ever seen one of these before?  …or one of these? …or, perhaps, something like this? These specimens may look a little like a plant (think moss) or a fungus (think mushroom), but they're something different altogether—they’re lichens! A lichen is an organism that forms when a fungus, alga, and/or cyanobacterium enter into a special relationship called a symbiosis . The photosynthetic partner (photobiont) in the relationship—either a type of algae or cyanobacteria—produces food for the entire organism. The fungal partner (mycobiont) provides a structure/home for the photobiont (and sometimes microorganisms like  tardigrades ), which protects it from harsh conditions. Because the mycobiont relies on the photobiont for food, lichenologist Trevor Goward has described lichens as  "fungi that have discovered agriculture." Lichens can grow almost any...

What's up, Forsyth? Remember—what's "up" must also come down, which is fitting for this blog post on the links between air and water quality.  What Goes Up Must Come Down: How Today’s Air Pollution Becomes Tomorrow's Water Pollution When we burn fossil fuels in our vehicles, gas-powered equipment, power plants, or factories, they emit nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sometimes (depending on the type of fuel used)  sulfur dioxide (SO2) . These gases pollute the air and cause problems for human health, and they also harm our environment. Specifically, many of our water quality issues, including freshwater acidification  and eutrophication , can result from emissions of air pollutants. Essentially,  the air pollution we create today can become a major source of water quality issues tomorrow. In North Carolina, on-road mobile sources (cars and trucks) are t he biggest contributors to NOx ; whereas, electric generating units (EGUs), more commonly known as power plants, are ...

What’s Up, Forsyth? We are excited to share with you a new initiative within the City of Winston-Salem and in Forsyth County that will protect pollinators, reduce water consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, and improve air quality in our communities! For the first time ever, we are participating in “No Mow March”—an adaptation of “No Mow May,” which began in the United Kingdom where the growing season starts later than in North Carolina. What is “No Mow March”? As the name suggests, Winston-Salem residents are encouraged to let their yards grow through March 31 and will not be cited for not mowing their lawns. However, to avoid fines, residents should resume compliance with the city code on high grass and weeds in April. Participants in No Mow March are encouraged to take the pledge on the City of Winston-Salem’s Sustainability webpage . Also, yard signs are available for purchase for only $14! These signs will help raise awareness of the initiative and increase adoption of ...