scholarly journals The distribution and severity of beech bark disease in the Catskill Mountains, N.Y.

2003 ◽  
Vol 33 (9) ◽  
pp. 1754-1760 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob M Griffin ◽  
Gary M Lovett ◽  
Mary A Arthur ◽  
Kathleen C Weathers
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Scales ◽  
New York State ◽  
Host Density ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Fagus Grandifolia ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Forest Composition ◽  
Catskill Mountains ◽  
Beech Bark Disease ◽  
Local Conditions

The distribution and severity of beech bark disease (BBD) in the Catskill Mountains of southeastern New York state, U.S.A., were measured between 1997 and 2000. Forest composition was measured using wedge prism surveys and fixed-area plot counts of canopy species. BBD severity on individual trees was ranked from 1 (no disease) to 5 (dead) based on bark health and canopy loss. These data were analyzed at multiple spatial scales to determine possible controls of disease distribution and severity. BBD was present on almost all Fagus grandifolia Ehrh. (American beech) individuals encountered >10 cm diameter at breast height, but was most severe in larger diameter classes. Mortality due to BBD also increased with diameter class. A strong positive relationship was found between BBD severity and relative beech basal area at the tract (hundreds of hectares) and 100-m elevation band spatial scales, but not found at smaller scales. Successful long-range dispersal of the disease may therefore be dependent upon host density, while local conditions may control BBD severity within individual stands. The current status of BBD in the Catskills suggests these forests are entering the aftermath phase of the disease's progression and that BBD has become an endemic component of these forests.

Effects of an introduced pathogen on resistance to natural disturbance: beech bark disease and windthrow

2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (8) ◽  
pp. 1832-1843 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J Papaik ◽  
Charles D Canham ◽  
Erika F Latty ◽  
Kerry D Woods
Keyword(s):  
Community Dynamics ◽  
Species Coexistence ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Natural Disturbance ◽  
Fagus Grandifolia ◽  
Forest Composition ◽  
Direct Result ◽  
Betula Alleghaniensis ◽  
Beech Bark Disease ◽  
Composition And Structure

In forests of eastern North America, introduced pathogens have caused widespread declines in a number of important tree species, including dominant species such as American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.). Most studies have focused on changes in forest composition and structure as a direct result of mortality caused by a pathogen. Our field studies of windthrow resistance in forests of northern New York and northern Michigan demonstrate that resistance of beech trees to windthrow is severely reduced by beech bark disease (BBD). This reduced resistance was primarily due to the increase in the probability of stem breaks of moderately and highly infected beech trees. The severity of BBD infection on individual trees has a significant negative effect on resistance to windthrow. We tested potential consequences of this for long-term composition and structure in these forests by using a simulation model, SORTIE. We found that species such as yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britt.) and eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carr.) increased in basal area primarily because of the effect BBD had on the creation of new seedbed substrates. Our results highlight the indirect effects that host-specific pathogens can have on community dynamics and species coexistence in forests.

Growth Responses of Northern Hardwoods to Fertilization

1979 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 597-604
Author(s):  
R. Lea ◽  
W. C. Tierson ◽  
A. L. Leaf
Keyword(s):  
New York State ◽  
Volume Growth ◽  
Acer Rubrum ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Fagus Grandifolia ◽  
Betula Alleghaniensis ◽  
Growth Responses ◽  
Growth Data ◽  
Stem Form ◽  
Cross Sectional

Abstract A 70-year-old thinned Fagus-Betula-Acer stand in the Adirondack Mountains of northern New York State was fertilized with varying amounts and combinations of N, P, K, and dolomitic limestone in the spring of 1976. Betula alleghaniensis, Acer saccharum, Acer rubrum, and Fagus grandifolia growth data were obtained for two growing seasons after fertilization. Comparisons were made within species and among treatments, expressed as basal area and cross-sectional area (at 5.27 m height) growth, specific volume growth, and stem form ratio. The overall results indicate that 275 kg/ha N significantly increases radial growth with minor responses to 138 kg/ha P and lime. Potassium additions, on the whole, did not significantly alter growth rates, and individually fertilized trees grew slightly more than trees receiving entire plot applications. No changes in stem form induced by fertilization have been detected. Forest Sci. 25:597-604.

Assessing small-stem density in northern hardwood selection system stands

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 237-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph D. Nyland ◽  
Lindsay Nystrom ◽  
Diane H. Kiernan ◽  
Eddie Bevilacqua
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
New York State ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Peak Level ◽  
Fagus Grandifolia ◽  
Stem Density ◽  
Selection System ◽  
American Beech ◽  
Threshold Size ◽  
Northern Hardwood

Data from three uneven-aged northern hardwood stands in New York State were analyzed to assess the effects of understory American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) density on changes of small stems within the 2.54 to 5.08 cm diameter class during the first cutting cycle under single-tree selection system. Findings show that the amount of understory American beech on a regeneration plot, quantified using a species index value (SIV), affects the abundance of other species. Results reveal the future plot-level stocking of these small trees for (i) all species (including American beech) as related to time since cutting and residual basal area or (ii) non-beech species as influenced by beech interference (SIV), time since cutting, and residual basal area. Findings indicate that for plots with limited understory beech, small-stem stem density will increase from postcut levels to a peak at 8–12 years after selection system cutting and then decrease. The higher the residual basal area is, the sooner the numbers of small trees reach a peak level and the fewer are present of that threshold size. Findings confirm that no or only minimal numbers of small non-beech trees develop on plots with high levels of understory American beech (SIV ≥ 0.5).

scholarly journals Deriving Tree Size Distributions of Tropical Forests from Lidar

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 131
Author(s):  
Franziska Taubert ◽  
Rico Fischer ◽  
Nikolai Knapp ◽  
Andreas Huth
Keyword(s):  
Size Distribution ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Tree Size ◽  
Diameter Distribution ◽  
Forest Inventories ◽  
Allometric Relations ◽  
Lidar Measurements ◽  
Derived Data

Remote sensing is an important tool to monitor forests to rapidly detect changes due to global change and other threats. Here, we present a novel methodology to infer the tree size distribution from light detection and ranging (lidar) measurements. Our approach is based on a theoretical leaf–tree matrix derived from allometric relations of trees. Using the leaf–tree matrix, we compute the tree size distribution that fit to the observed leaf area density profile via lidar. To validate our approach, we analyzed the stem diameter distribution of a tropical forest in Panama and compared lidar-derived data with data from forest inventories at different spatial scales (0.04 ha to 50 ha). Our estimates had a high accuracy at scales above 1 ha (1 ha: root mean square error (RMSE) 67.6 trees ha−1/normalized RMSE 18.8%/R² 0.76; 50 ha: 22.8 trees ha−1/6.2%/0.89). Estimates for smaller scales (1-ha to 0.04-ha) were reliably for forests with low height, dense canopy or low tree height heterogeneity. Estimates for the basal area were accurate at the 1-ha scale (RMSE 4.7 tree ha−1, bias 0.8 m² ha−1) but less accurate at smaller scales. Our methodology, further tested at additional sites, provides a useful approach to determine the tree size distribution of forests by integrating information on tree allometries.

Present-day expansion of American beech in northeastern hardwood forests: Does soil base status matter?

2009 ◽  
Vol 39 (12) ◽  
pp. 2273-2282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis Duchesne ◽  
Rock Ouimet
Keyword(s):  
Acer Saccharum ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Base Cation ◽  
Hardwood Forests ◽  
Fagus Grandifolia ◽  
Soil Base ◽  
Large Area ◽  
American Beech ◽  
Permanent Sample Plots

Recently, sugar maple ( Acer saccharum Marsh.) decline in northeastern North America has been regarded as a major factor structuring hardwood forests by favouring American beech ( Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) in the understory of maple-dominated stands. To determine whether soil fertility differences associated with sugar maple decline may have promoted the expansion of American beech, we explored the relationships between the soil base status and the sapling and tree strata density and composition, using data from 426 permanent sample plots distributed throughout Quebec. Our results indicate that American beech is currently expanding in the sugar maple range of Quebec. The abundance and proportion of American beech in the sapling stratum are mainly associated with the proportion of American beech in the tree stratum, the relative basal area of dead sugar maple trees, and the base status of soils. In accordance with the many studies reporting on the high sensitivity of sugar maple to the acid–base status of soils and the decline of the sugar maple population, this study supports the hypothesis that soil base cation depletion, caused in part by atmospheric acid deposition, is among the main factors involved in the present-day expansion of American beech over a large area in Quebec.

A comparison of vegetative cover and tree community structure in three forested Adirondack watersheds

1985 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 881-889 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher S. Cronan ◽  
Marc R. DesMeules
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
New York State ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Red Maple ◽  
Vegetative Cover ◽  
Cover Type ◽  
Tree Community ◽  
Standing Dead ◽  
Annual Biomass

The Integrated Lake–Watershed Acidification Study (ILWAS) was conducted using three forested watersheds (Panther, Sagamore, and Woods) in the central Adirondack Park of New York State. By comparing the biogeochemical behavior of these watersheds, the ILWAS investigators hoped to elucidate the major ecosystem parameters controlling the fate of strong acids introduced from the atmosphere to lake–watershed systems. The ILWAS vegetation research program was designed to compare the quantitative patterns of forest structure in these midelevation watersheds. Results showed that the ILWAS catchments contain closely related variants of the northern hardwood – spruce – fir complex of the Adirondack region. The dominant tree species in these watersheds are beech (Fagusgrandifolia Ehrh.), red spruce (Picearubens Sarg.), sugar maple (Acersaccharum Marsh.), red maple (Acerrubrum L.), and yellow birch (Betulaalleghaniensis Britt.). On an areal basis, the watersheds contain 57–88% hardwood cover type and 5–29% spruce–fir cover type. Mean live basal area values range from 22 to 30 m2 ha−1 between catchments, while standing dead basal area values range from 4 to 8 m2 ha−1. Mean live stem densities range from 1400 to 1700 stems ha−1. Mean aboveground biomass projections for the tree stratum in the three watersheds range from 143 to 199 Mt ha−1, while estimated aboveground annual biomass increments range from 4.1 to 5.3% of standing biomass.

Ice damage impacts on the health of the northern New York State forest

2001 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
pp. 619-625 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul D. Manion ◽  
David H. Griffin ◽  
Benjamin D. Rubin
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
New York State ◽  
Forest Health ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Ice Storm ◽  
Red Maple ◽  
Severe Damage ◽  
Crown Condition ◽  
White Pine ◽  
York State

Detailed crown condition information, including numbers of broken branches ≥ 5 cm diameter, broken tops, and healthy branches, were recorded for 5434 living trees > 9 cm dbh from 603 ten-basal-area-factor prism plots (three per forest stand) at 201 random points (stands) throughout the ice damage region of northern New York State. Twenty five percent of the sample stands had ≥ 20% branch breakage. Bigtooth aspen, red oak, red maple, and white pine had the most breakage. Comparison of potential mortality of trees associated with ≥ 75% ice damage (severe damage) to baseline (predicted) mortality to maintain the existing forest structure suggests that ice damage may alter the health of 18% of the forest stands but this is not sufficient to alter the health (sustainability) of the larger forest system. Key words: ice storm, forest health, sustainability, growth, mortality, dbh classes

scholarly journals Herbicide Hardwood Crop Tree Release in Central West Virginia

2001 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 46-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey D. Kochenderfer ◽  
Shepard M. Zedaker ◽  
James E. Johnson ◽  
David Wm. Smith ◽  
Gary W. Miller
Keyword(s):  
West Virginia ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Stem Bark ◽  
Fagus Grandifolia ◽  
Black Cherry ◽  
Complete Control ◽  
Tree Damage ◽  
Stem Injection ◽  
The Future ◽  
Low Volume

Abstract Chemical crop tree release treatments were applied to young hardwood stands at three sites in central West Virginia to evaluate the effectiveness of glyphosate as Accord (41.5% SL), imazapyr as Arsenal AC (53.1% SL) and Chopper (27.6% EC), and triclopyr as Garlon 3A (44.4% triethylamine salt SL), and Garlon 4 (61.6% butoxyethyl ester EC) using hack-and-squirt injection and low volume stem bark band application methods. American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) was a major competitor to black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) crop trees at each site. The treatments were applied in June and evaluated 12 months after treatment. A numerical rating system ranging from 1 to 7 (0–100% crown affected), which utilized visual symptoms, was used to evaluate the efficacy of each treatment. Trees receiving a rating of 5 (75% crown control) or greater were considered controlled.After 12 months, almost complete control (99+%) was achieved with the Accord, Garlon 3A, and Arsenal AC injection treatments across all study sites. The low volume stem bark band treatments used in this study were not effective. The imazapyr treatments adversely affected several crop trees and are not recommended for hardwood crop tree release. Some crop tree damage was inflicted by the Accord treatments, but when suggested guidelines are followed, Accord is recommended for crop tree release treatments. No crop tree damage was observed in the Garlon 3A treatments. The costs of the injection treatments expressed in dollars/ft2 of basal area controlled were as follows: Accord ($0.91), Garlon 3A ($1.04), and Arsenal AC ($0.84). The Northeast Decision Model Stand Inventory Processor using the NE-TWIGS growth simulator was used to predict the future composition and value of projected stands. The stem injection treatments more than doubled projected growth of black cherry basal area. Real rates of return for investment in weed tree control averaged 8.77% for stem injection treatments. This study indicates that chemical crop tree release treatments using stem injection with label recommended solutions of Accord or Garlon 3A are an effective way to increase the future value of Appalachian hardwood stands. North. J. Appl. For. 18(2):46–54.

scholarly journals Forest Compositional Changes after a Decade of Emerald Ash Borer

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 949
Author(s):  
Jordan M. Marshall
Keyword(s):  
Emerald Ash Borer ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Plant Succession ◽  
Invasive Pest ◽  
Forest Composition ◽  
Green Ash ◽  
Insect Communities ◽  
Compositional Changes ◽  
Understory Trees

Emerald ash borer is an invasive pest in North American forests. Ecological impacts of ash mortality from emerald ash borer are wide-ranging, including shifts in insect communities and wildlife behavior. Additionally, loss of ash from forests may have important implications regarding plant succession. Surveys of overstory, midstory, and understory trees within forests in northeastern Indiana, Lower Peninsula of Michigan, and northwestern Ohio were conducted to quantify the change in forest composition over a 10 year period. Interpolation of ash dominance illustrated inversion of live and dead ash values between 2007 and 2017. Even though more than 83% of overstory live ash basal area was lost across the study area, green ash was the most abundant midstory and understory species representing regeneration. Additionally, loss of ash from many of the sites resulted in compositional changes that were greater than merely the subtraction of ash. Due to the relatively large number of forest types with which ash species are associated, loss of ash will have broad ecological consequences, including on community composition.

Structure and composition of unmanaged riparian forests in the coastal mountains of Oregon, U.S.A.

1999 ◽  
Vol 29 (10) ◽  
pp. 1557-1573 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J Pabst ◽  
Thomas A Spies
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Tree Regeneration ◽  
Riparian Forests ◽  
Stream Order ◽  
Third Order ◽  
First Order ◽  
Hardwood Tree ◽  
Stand Attributes

We characterized the structure and composition of unmanaged riparian forests in three river basins in Oregon's coastal mountains. Our objective was to evaluate stand attributes at three spatial scales: streamside (site), drainage network (stream order), and basin (subregion). Data on basal area, species composition, snag density, canopy cover, and tree regeneration were collected along transects at 124 sites. Conifer basal area increased with distance from stream, a trend similar among subregions, and was highest at sites along first-order streams. Hardwood basal area was relatively constant with distance from stream and was proportionally higher at sites along second- and third-order streams than at sites along first-order streams. Conifer and hardwood tree regeneration occurred infrequently and varied by topographic position, stream order, and subregion. Conifer regeneration was associated with basal area of shade-tolerant conifers and appeared to be limited by shrub competition. The unmanaged forests we studied were characterized by a patchy mosaic of structure and composition. Hardwoods and shrubs were major components of the near-stream environment in these forests, whereas dominance of conifers was limited to hillslopes. It appears that fine-scale patterns associated with proximity to the stream are influenced by coarser scale factors such as valley-floor width and climate.

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