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National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior

Acid Sensitive Species in
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park (ABLI)

This is a list of tree species identified to have negative responses to acid deposition (sulfur and nitrogen) across their range. The responses are classified as reduced growth when increased deposition leads to a decline in the growth rate of a species and reduced survival when increased deposition leads to a reduced likelihood of survival of a species. The presence of an acid sensitive species alone does not predict damage in the park, but must be paired with the corresponding level of deposition. The amount of acid deposition that causes the response, as well as the intensity of the response, varies among species (Horn et al. 2018). Local environmental conditions, soil properties, and community composition may alter the species responses across parks, but when the critical load of a species is exceeded, a change in growth/survival is expected.

The responses to deposition were calculated by evaluating changes in Forest Inventory and Analysis plot data from 2000 to 2015 along with temperature, precipitation, and modeled deposition data. The manuscript identified 66 species with a negative response which were compared to ITIS taxonomic synonyms, subspecies, and varieties to compose the list below. For a key matching the original species to the extended list, and identify associated critical loads, please go here .

Key considerations to note:

The presence of a species at a park does not necessarily mean that acid injury to that species has been documented in the park.
The acid sensitive species list is linked to known taxonomic synonyms identified by the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (www.ITIS.gov). This link ensures that sensitive species on a park’s list are identified even if they come from historic records or have regional name differences.
Duplicate records may result when a known acid sensitive species has been split into varieties. In those cases, both the original name (e.g., Pinus ponderosa) and the subdivided autonym (e.g., Pinus ponderosa var. ponderosa) may appear in the list.
Park-specific acid sensitive species lists are a work in progress. Lists build on information currently in the NPSpecies data system where records are continually being added or updated by National Park Service staff. To report an error or make a suggestion, go to https://irma.nps.gov/npspecies/suggest.


Scientific Name	Common Names	Occur-rence	Abund-ance	Native-ness	Acid Sensitive	Reduced Survival	Reduced Growth

Altingiaceae
Liquidambar styraciflua	sweetgum	Present	Uncommon	Native	Yes	Yes	Yes

Betulaceae
Carpinus caroliniana	American hornbeam	Present	Rare	Native	Yes	Yes	Yes
- Carpinus caroliniana ssp. caroliniana
Ostrya virginiana	hophornbeam	Present	Unknown	Native	Yes	Yes	No

Cannabaceae
Celtis occidentalis	common hackberry	Present	Common	Native	Yes	Yes	No

Cupressaceae
Juniperus virginiana	eastern redcedar, eastern red-cedar, red cedar juniper	Present	Common	Native	Yes	Yes	Yes
- Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana
Fabaceae
Gleditsia triacanthos	honeylocust	Present	Unknown	Native	Yes	No	Yes

Robinia pseudoacacia	black locust	Present	Uncommon	Native	Yes	Yes	Yes

Fagaceae
Fagus grandifolia	American beech	Present	Uncommon	Native	Yes	Yes	Yes

Quercus alba	white oak	Present	Common	Native	Yes	Yes	No

Quercus coccinea	scarlet oak	Present	Unknown	Native	Yes	Yes	No
- Quercus coccinea var. coccinea
Quercus velutina	black oak	Present	Common	Native	Yes	Yes	No

Juglandaceae
Carya glabra	pignut hickory	Present	Rare	Native	Yes	Yes	No

Carya ovalis	pignut hickory, red hickory	Present		Native	Yes	Yes	No

Juglans nigra	black walnut	Present	Rare	Native	Yes	No	Yes

Lauraceae
Sassafras albidum	sassafras	Present	Abundant	Native	Yes	Yes	No

Magnoliaceae
Liriodendron tulipifera	tuliptree	Present	Common	Native	Yes	Yes	No

Malvaceae
Tilia americana	American basswood	Present	Unknown	Native	Yes	Yes	Yes
- Tilia americana var. americana
Oleaceae
Fraxinus pennsylvanica	green ash	Present	Unknown	Native	Yes	Yes	Yes

Pinaceae
Pinus strobus	eastern white pine	Present	Rare	Native	Yes	Yes	Yes

Pinus virginiana	Virginia pine	Present	Unknown	Native	Yes	Yes	No

Salicaceae
Populus grandidentata	bigtooth aspen	Present		Native	Yes	Yes	Yes

Sapindaceae
Acer negundo	boxelder	Present	Uncommon	Native	Yes	Yes	Yes

Acer rubrum	red maple	Present	Occasional	Native	Yes	Yes	Yes

Acer saccharinum	silver maple	Present	Unknown	Native	Yes	No	Yes

Acer saccharum	sugar maple	Present	Common	Native	Yes	Yes	No

Ulmaceae
Ulmus americana	American elm	Present	Uncommon	Native	Yes	Yes	Yes

Ulmus rubra	slippery elm	Present	Rare	Native	Yes	Yes	Yes

Report Species Count: 27

NPSpecies - The National Park Service biodiversity database. IRMA Portal version. https://irma.nps.gov/npspecies. Accessed 4/5/2026 8:42:18 PM

Go to List of Acid Sensitive Species report

Definitions


Term	Definition	Comments
Present	Species occurrence in park is documented and assumed to be extant.	Extremely high confidence that the species occurs in the park for all or part of the year. Evidence, in the form of a current, verifiable reference, voucher or observation, readily available.
Probably Present	Documented occurrences of the species in the park and/or in the adjoining region of the park give reason to suspect that it probably occurs within the park.	Very high confidence that the species occurs in the park. Evidence may exist in NPSpecies, but may not be considered current or reliable enough to elevate the status to Present in Park. Efforts should be made to obtain current, verifiable evidence to elevate the status to “Present in Park.” If reasonable efforts to obtain current, verifiable evidence are unsuccessful, then the Occurrence should be changed to Unconfirmed or Not in Park, as applicable.
Species in Review	These species records are provisional and are undergoing additional review.

Acid-sensitive Species in a Park

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