An occurrence of boron deficiency in the deciduous forest of the Quebec Appalachians and the St. Lawrence Lowlands

1988 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 1652-1655 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Bernier ◽  
M. Brazeau

In mid-June 1985, visual symptoms of boron deficiency were observed on the seedlings of several tree species in the understory of the deciduous forest of the Quebec Appalachians and the St. Lawrence Lowlands. Symptoms observed on sugar maple (Acersaccharum Marsh.) and red maple (Acerrubrum L.) are described and illustrated. Although symptoms were most abundant in stands on sandy soils, they were present throughout a vast area. Symptoms were most developed on fast-growing regeneration, while on overstory trees they were seen in only one of the nine sites visited. This temporary boron deficiency is thought to be related to the low temperatures that prevailed during the 2nd week of June 1985, together with the heavy rainfall in the first 2 weeks of that month.

1990 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 1479-1484 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. A. Bazzaz ◽  
J. S. Coleman ◽  
S. R. Morse

We examined how elevated CO2 affected the growth of seven co-occurring tree species: American beech (Fagusgrandifolia Ehrh.), paper birch (Betulapapyrifera Marsh.), black cherry (Prunusserotina Ehrh.), white pine (Pinusstrobus L.), red maple (Acerrubrum L.), sugar maple (Acersaccharum Marsh.), and eastern hemlock (Tsugacanadensis (L.) Carr). We also tested whether the degree of shade tolerance of species and the age of seedlings affected plant responses to enhanced CO2 levels. Seedlings that were at least 1 year old, for all species except beech, were removed while dormant from Harvard Forest, Petersham, Massachusetts. Seeds of red maple and paper birch were obtained from parent trees at Harvard Forest, and seeds of American beech were obtained from a population of beeches in Nova Scotia. Seedlings and transplants were grown in one of four plant growth chambers for 60 d (beech, paper birch, red maple, black cherry) or 100 d (white pine, hemlock, sugar maple) under CO2 levels of 400 or 700 μL•L−1. Plants were then harvested for biomass and growth determinations. The results showed that the biomass of beech, paper birch, black cherry, sugar maple, and hemlock significantly increased in elevated CO2, but the biomass of red maple and white pine only marginally increased in these conditions. Furthermore, there were large differences in the magnitude of growth enhancement by increased levels of CO2 between species, so it seems reasonable to predict that one consequence of rising levels of CO2 may be to increase the competitive ability of some species relative to others. Additionally, the three species exhibiting the largest increase in growth with increased CO2 concentrations were the shade-tolerant species (i.e., beech, sugar maple, and hemlock). Thus, elevated CO2 levels may enhance the growth of relatively shade-tolerant forest trees to a greater extent than growth of shade-intolerant trees, at least under the light and nutrient conditions of this experiment. We found no evidence to suggest that the age of tree seedlings greatly affected their response to elevated CO2 concentrations.


1995 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 115-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
David B. Kittredge ◽  
P. Mark S. Ashton

Abstract Browsing preferences by white-tailed deer were evaluated for 6 tree species in northeastern Connecticut. Deer density averaged 23/mile². Deer exhibited no species-specific preferences for seedlings greater than 19 in. For seedlings less than 19 in., hemlock and black birch were preferred. Red maple, sugar maple, and white pine seedlings were avoided. Red oak seedlings were neither preferred nor avoided. A much higher proportion of seedlings greater than 19.7 in. in height was browsed, regardless of species. Browsing preferences for species in the smaller seedling class, combined with a lack of preference for species in the larger class may result in future stands with less diverse tree species composition. Deer densities in excess of 23/mile² may be incompatible with regeneration of diverse forests in southern New England. North. J. Appl. For. 12(3):115-120.


2013 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 517-527 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Baah-Acheamfour ◽  
Charles P.-A. Bourque ◽  
Fan-Rui Meng ◽  
D. Edwin Swift

Forestland classification is central to the sustainable management of forests. In this paper, we explore the possibility of classifying forestland from species–habitat–suitability indices and a hybrid classification of modeled data. Raster-based calculations of species–habitat–suitability were derived as a function of landscape-level descriptions of incident photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), soil water content (SWC), and growing degree-days (GDD) for southwestern Nova Scotia, Canada. PAR and SWC were both generated with the LanDSET model and GDD from thermal data captured with the space-borne MODIS sensor. We compared the distribution of predicted forestland types with the natural range of target species as found in the provincial permanent sample plots (PSPs). Reasonable agreement (≥50% accuracy) existed between some forestland types (e.g., red maple – white birch – red oak and balsam fir – red maple) and PSP-based assessments of species presence–absence. Agreement was noticeably lower for other forestland types, such as sugar maple – beech – yellow birch (<50% accuracy). This discrepancy is attributed to forest-forming factors not directly addressed by the model, e.g., forest succession, stand interventions, and disturbance. Their addition in the model could change the dynamics of tree-species preference in southwest Nova Scotia and is worth examining. True model inaccuracies accounted for about 0.3%–15.0% of the total reported error.


2011 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 157-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Fast ◽  
Mark J. Ducey

Abstract Height-diameter equations are important in modeling forest structure and yield. Twenty-seven height-diameter equations were evaluated for eight tree species occurring in the northern hardwood forest of New Hampshire using permanent plot data from the Bartlett Experimental Forest. Selected models with associated coefficients are presented for American beech, eastern hemlock, paper birch, red maple, red spruce, sugar maple, white ash, yellow birch, and all 16 species combined.


2009 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 330-341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric S. Fabio ◽  
Mary A. Arthur ◽  
Charles C. Rhoades

Understanding how natural factors interact across the landscape to influence nitrogen (N) cycling is an important focus in temperate forests because of the great inherent variability in these forests. Site-specific attributes, including local topography, soils, and vegetation, can exert important controls on N processes and retention. Seasonal monitoring of N cycling dynamics was carried out for 2 years in deciduous forest stands that differed in soil moisture status and geologic substrate, and thus, in tree species composition to determine the effects of tree species composition, mediated by moisture and soil chemistry, on N cycling. Geologic substrate influenced soil and soil leachate chemistry but did not appear to affect N cycling in the upper 10 cm. Moisture status was strongly correlated with tree species composition, which was significantly related to N cycling parameters. Sugar maple was associated with high net nitrification rates and soil solution NO3 concentrations, whereas in oak stands nitrification was low and soil solution NO3 was at or near detection limits. Tree species composition in the understory suggests that sugar maple may be increasing in mesic sites and that oak regeneration in all sites is very limited, and a shift in species composition could result in changes to N retention and export.


Plant Disease ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 93 (11) ◽  
pp. 1158-1162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark J. Schall ◽  
Donald D. Davis

Verticillium albo-atrum causes unprecedented wilt and mortality of the invasive tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima) within forests of south-central Pennsylvania. Stem inoculation of potted Ailanthus seedlings in the greenhouse and canopy Ailanthus trees in the field with V. albo-atrum resulted in 100% mortality. Stem inoculation of understory striped maple saplings in the field also resulted in 100% mortality. However, the high susceptibility of striped maple was not observed in naturally infected stands, where only 1% of striped maple saplings exhibited Verticillium wilt. Inoculation of chestnut oak, northern red oak, red maple, sugar maple, white ash, and yellow-poplar seedlings or canopy trees with V. albo-atrum did not induce wilt symptoms. Non-Ailanthus tree species growing adjacent to dead and dying Ailanthus trees in the field were asymptomatic. Pending further studies, V. albo-atrum should be considered as a potential biocontrol agent for invasive Ailanthus.


1994 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 192-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benoît Côté ◽  
James W. Fyles

Leaf litter of 15 tree species characteristic of the deciduous and mixed forest of southern Quebec were analyzed for pH, directly titrable acids and bases in water extracts, ash bases, excess bases, excess ash bases, and for levels of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg. We hypothesized that many tree species typical of the climax of sugar maple (Acersaccharum Marsh.) dominated forest have leaf litter with a higher base status than sugar maple and red maple (Acerrubrum L.) leaf litter, and that the base status of leaf litter would be lower on wet sites. Mean differences among species were highly significant (p < 0.0001) for all variables related to acidity or bases, but the effect of drainage was not. Red and sugar maple leaf litter was very acid and low in N concentration. American beech (Fagusgrandifolia Ehrh.) and red oak (Quercusrubra L.) leaf litter was not very acidic but was low in nutrient concentrations. White pine (Pinusstrobus L.) was lowest in all nutrients and ash bases but was low in titrable acidity. Directly titrable bases in leaf litter extracts were correlated positively with leaf litter N and Mg, and ash bases were positively correlated with leaf litter Ca and Mg. Many species typical of the sugar maple climax may have better soil ameliorating potential than sugar and red maple.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sherry Leis

Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial celebrates the lives of the Lincoln family including the final resting place of Abraham’s mother, Nancy Hanks Lincoln. Lincoln’s childhood in Indiana was a formative time in the life our 16th president. When the Lincoln family arrived in Indiana, the property was covered in the oak-hickory forest type. They cleared land to create their homestead and farm. Later, designers of the memorial felt that it was important to restore woodlands to the site. The woodlands would help visitors visualize the challenges the Lincoln family faced in establishing and maintaining their homestead. Some stands of woodland may have remained, but significant restoration efforts included extensive tree planting. The Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network began monitoring the woodland in 2011 with repeat visits every four years. These monitoring efforts provide a window into the composition and structure of the wood-lands. We measure both overstory trees and the ground flora within four permanently located plots. At these permanent plots, we record each species, foliar cover estimates of ground flora, diameter at breast height of midstory and overstory trees, and tree regeneration frequency (tree seedlings and saplings). The forest species composition was relatively consistent over the three monitoring events. Climatic conditions measured by the Palmer Drought Severity Index indicated mild to wet conditions over the monitoring record. Canopy closure continued to indicate a forest structure with a closed canopy. Large trees (>45 cm DBH) comprised the greatest amount of tree basal area. Sugar maple was observed to have the greatest basal area and density of the 23 tree species observed. The oaks characteristic of the early woodlands were present, but less dominant. Although one hickory species was present, it was in very low abundance. Of the 17 tree species recorded in the regeneration layer, three species were most abundant through time: sugar maple (Acer saccharum), red bud (Cercis canadensis), and ash (Fraxinus sp.). Ash recruitment seemed to increase over prior years and maple saplings transitioned to larger size classes. Ground flora diversity was similar through time, but alpha and gamma diversity were slightly greater in 2019. Percent cover by plant guild varied through time with native woody plants and forbs having the greatest abundance. Nonnative plants were also an important part of the ground flora composition. Common periwinkle (Vinca minor) and Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) continued to be the most abundant nonnative species, but these two species were less abundant in 2019 than 2011. Unvegetated ground cover was high (mean = 95%) and increased by 17% since 2011. Bare ground increased from less than 1% in 2011 to 9% in 2019, but other ground cover elements were similar to prior years. In 2019, we quantified observer error by double sampling two plots within three of the monitoring sites. We found total pseudoturnover to be about 29% (i.e., 29% of the species records differed between observers due to observer error). This 29% pseudoturnover rate was almost 50% greater than our goal of 20% pseudoturnover. The majority of the error was attributed to observers overlooking species. Plot frame relocation error likely contributed as well but we were unable to separate it from overlooking error with our design.


1986 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 1192-1195 ◽  
Author(s):  
France Goulet ◽  
Pierre Bellefleur

Sun leaves of five deciduous tree species were shaded, while shade leaves of the same species were exposed to direct rays of the sun prior to budbreak and during leaf expansion. Thickness, area, and density thickness (fresh weight per unit area) were measured and compared with sun and shade leaves that were used as a control. These parameters showed a considerable differentiation in leaf structure both for the control and treated leaves, particularly with very tolerant (American beech and sugar maple) and intermediate (yellow birch) species; this was apparently associated with the prevailing light conditions around a particular leaf from budbreak and during its development. Intermediate (red maple) and very intolerant (trembling aspen) species did not show true sun and shade leaves. The impact of these leaf adaptations on forest succession is also discussed.


2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 743-754 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra M. Kosiba ◽  
Paul G. Schaberg ◽  
Shelly A. Rayback ◽  
Gary J. Hawley

In the northeastern United States, tree declines associated with acid deposition induced calcium depletion have been documented, notably for red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) and sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.). There is conflicting evidence concerning whether co-occurring tree species capitalized on these declines or suffered similar growth reductions and on how growth has fluctuated relative to environmental variables. We examined five species along three elevational transects on Mt. Mansfield, Vermont: sugar maple, red spruce, red maple (Acer rubrum L.), yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britton), and balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.). We found baseline differences in growth. Red maple and yellow birch had the highest growth, sugar maple and red spruce had intermediate growth, and balsam fir had the lowest growth. While some year-to-year declines were associated with specific stress events, protracted patterns such as recent increases in red spruce and red maple growth were correlated with increased temperature and cooling degree days (heat index). For most species and elevations, there was a positive association between temperature and growth but a negative association with growth in the following year. Based on our comparisons, for some species, growth at Mt. Mansfield aligns with regional trends and suggests that patterns assessed here may be indicative of the broader region.


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