December 27, 2007--Report: Amonium finding its way into Rocky Mountain region parks (Denver Post)
A nitrogen compound associated with fertilizer and other agricultural activity is finding its way into national parks in the Rocky Mountain region. Ammonium can subtly change the ecosystems of lakes, ponds and alpine meadows. Ammonia is made of nitrogen and hydrogen. When it mixes with water, it becomes ammonium. A National Park Service report found that airborne ammonium rose significantly in parks in Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Arizona and Idaho between 1996 and 2005. In Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, scientists studying ammonium levels have begun noticing shifts in alpine ecosystems, where wildflowers are giving way to grasses. Wildflowers are one of the park's main attractions. Their decline also could be harmful to pollinating insects. Scientists also are monitoring how ammonium could affect forests and the microscopic life in high-elevation lakes.
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