scholarly journals An Assessment Of Tree Banding Techniques To Capture Cankerworm Defoliators Of Elm And Ash Trees In Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

2006 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-17
Author(s):  
Kerienne La France ◽  
A. Richard Westwood

Fall cankerworm (Alsophila pometaria L.) and spring cankerworm (Paleacrita vernata Peck) are widely distributed across North America. The larvae feed on the leaves of several species of urban street trees, and repeated severe defoliation can cause a reduction in growth and may contribute to tree mortality. This study examined the effectiveness of Tanglefoot-covered tree bands and the Bug Barrier Tree Band in preventing the upward movement of female cankerworms on the trunk by comparing capture rates of adult moths. There were no significant differences among tree species in the number of A. pometaria adults caught, while P. vernata showed a preference for elm (Ulmus spp.) over ash (Fraxinus spp.). Up to 25% of female moths crossed the Bug Barrier Tree Band, and up to 20% of females crossed the Tanglefoot-covered bands in three experiments in 2002 and 2003. There was no significant difference between the two band types in the proportion of females crossing bands. Larval populations were not large enough to determine the effect of the bands on reducing tree defoliation. The Bug Barrier Tree Band was easier to install and remove than the Tanglefoot-covered bands and required considerably less clean-up afterward.

1954 ◽  
Vol 86 (10) ◽  
pp. 433-438 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. F. Morris ◽  
W. A. Reeks

The winter moth, Operophtera brumata (Linn.), was not known to occur in North America until 1949, when it was first reported from the south shore of Nova Scotia by Hawholdt and Cuming (2) and Smith (4). By that time this introduced species was well established. It is suspected that the winter moth in association with the fall cankerworm, Alsophila pometaria (Harr.), has been causing considerable defoliation of deciduous tree species in the region since the early 1930's (2). The habits and stages of the winter moth have been described briefly by Smith (S), who also has indicated the important differences between the winter moth and the fall cankerworm (4).


Author(s):  
Maame Esi Hammond ◽  
Radek Pokorný ◽  
Daniel Okae-Anti ◽  
Augustine Gyedu ◽  
Irene Otwuwa Obeng

AbstractThe positive ecological interaction between gap formation and natural regeneration has been examined but little research has been carried out on the effects of gaps on natural regeneration in forests under different intensities of disturbance. This study evaluates the composition, diversity, regeneration density and abundance of natural regeneration of tree species in gaps in undisturbed, intermittently disturbed, and disturbed forest sites. Bia Tano Forest Reserve in Ghana was the study area and three gaps each were selected in the three forest site categories. Ten circular subsampling areas of 1 m2 were delineated at 2 m spacing along north, south, east, and west transects within individual gaps. Data on natural regeneration < 350 cm height were gathered. The results show that the intensity of disturbance was disproportional to gap size. Species diversity differed significantly between undisturbed and disturbed sites and, also between intermittently disturbed and disturbed sites for Simpson’s (1-D), Equitability (J), and Berger–Parker (B–P) indices. However, there was no significant difference among forest sites for Shannon diversity (H) and Margalef richness (MI) indices. Tree species composition on the sites differed. Regeneration density on the disturbed site was significantly higher than on the two other sites. Greater abundance and density of shade-dependent species on all sites identified them as opportunistic replacements of gap-dependent pioneers. Pioneer species giving way to shade tolerant species is a natural process, thus make them worst variant in gap regeneration.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hunter Stanke ◽  
Andrew O. Finley ◽  
Grant M. Domke ◽  
Aaron S. Weed ◽  
David W. MacFarlane

AbstractChanging forest disturbance regimes and climate are driving accelerated tree mortality across temperate forests. However, it remains unknown if elevated mortality has induced decline of tree populations and the ecological, economic, and social benefits they provide. Here, we develop a standardized forest demographic index and use it to quantify trends in tree population dynamics over the last two decades in the western United States. The rate and pattern of change we observe across species and tree size-distributions is alarming and often undesirable. We observe significant population decline in a majority of species examined, show decline was particularly severe, albeit size-dependent, among subalpine tree species, and provide evidence of widespread shifts in the size-structure of montane forests. Our findings offer a stark warning of changing forest composition and structure across the western US, and suggest that sustained anthropogenic and natural stress will likely result in broad-scale transformation of temperate forests globally.


2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 324-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Koricheva ◽  
Harri Vehviläinen ◽  
Janne Riihimäki ◽  
Kai Ruohomäki ◽  
Pekka Kaitaniemi ◽  
...  

Pure forest stands are widely believed to be more prone to pest outbreaks and disease epidemics than mixed stands, leading to recommendations of using stand diversification as a means of controlling forest pests and pathogens. We review the existing evidence concerning the effects of stand tree-species diversity on pests and pathogens in forests of the boreal zone. Experimental data from published studies provide no overall support for the hypothesis that diversification of tree stands can prevent pest outbreaks and disease epidemics. Although beneficial effects of tree-species diversity on stand vulnerability are observed in some cases, in terms of reductions in damage, these effects are not consistent over time and space and seem to depend more on tree-species composition than on tree-species diversity per se. In addition, while mixed stands may reduce the densities of some specialized herbivores, they may be more attractive to generalist herbivores. Given that generalist mammalian herbivores cause considerable tree mortality during the early stages of stand establishment in boreal forests, the net effect of stand diversification on stand damage is unlikely to be positive.


1958 ◽  
Vol 90 (9) ◽  
pp. 538-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. C. Smith

The fall cankerworm, Alsophila pometaria (Harr.), and the winter moth, Operophtera brumata (Linn.), both feed to a great extent on the same tree species and prefer apple, Malus spp., red oak, Quercus rubra L., basswood, Tilia spp., white elm, Ulmus americana L., and Norway maple, Acer platanoides L. They also have similar life-histories and habits (Smith 1950 and 1953). Both lay their eggs on the trees in the fall and overwinter in this stage. The eggs hatch about the same time and the larvae of (both species mature about the third week in June. They drop to the ground and form cocoons at a depth of about an inch. The adults emerge about the same time, commencing usually during the last week in October and continuing until early December or until the ground freezes.


Author(s):  
Andrew V. Gougherty

In the northern hemisphere, many species have been reported to have greater genetic diversity in southern populations than northern populations - ostensibly due to migration northward following the last glacial maximum (LGM). The generality of this pattern, while well-established for some taxa, remains unclear for North American trees. To address this issue, I collected published population genetics data for 73 North American tree species, and tested whether genetic diversity was associated with latitude or longitude and whether geographic trends were associated with dispersal traits, range or study characteristics. I found there were no general geographic patterns in genetic diversity, and the strength of the geographic gradients were not associated with any species or study characteristics. Species in the northern and western regions of North America tended to have more species with genetic diversity that declined with latitude, but most species had no significant trend. This work shows that North American trees have complex, individualistic, patterns of genetic diversity that may negate explanation by any particular dispersal trait or range characteristic.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
vivek pandi ◽  
Kanda Naveen Babu

Abstract The present study was carried out to analyse the leaf functional traits of co-occurring evergreen and deciduous tree species in a tropical dry scrub forest. This study also intended to check whether the species with contrasting leaf habits differ in their leaf trait plasticity, responding to the canopy-infestation by lianas. A total of 12 leaf functional traits were studied for eight tree species with contrasting leaf habits (evergreen and deciduous) and liana-colonization status (Liana+ and Liana−). In the liana-free environment (L−), evergreen trees had significantly higher specific leaf mass (LMA) and leaf dry matter content (LDMC) than the deciduous species. Whereas, the deciduous trees had higher specific leaf area (SLA) and mass-based leaf nitrogen concentration (Nmass). The leaf trait-pair relationship in the present study agreed to the well-established global trait-pair relationships (SLA Vs Nmass, Lth Vs SLA, Nmass Vs Lth, Nmass Vs LDMC, LDMC Vs SLA). There was no significant difference between L+ and L− individuals in any leaf functional traits studied in the deciduous species. However, evergreen species showed marked differences in the total chlorophyll content (Chlt), chlorophyll b (Chlb), SLA, and LMA between L+ and L− individuals of the same species. Deciduous species with the acquisitive strategy can have a competitive advantage over evergreen species in the exposed environment (L−) whereas, evergreen species with shade-tolerant properties were better acclimated to the shaded environments (L+). The result revealed the patterns of convergence and divergence in some of the leaf functional traits between evergreen and deciduous species. The results also showed the differential impact of liana colonization on the host trees with contrasting leaf habits. Therefore, liana colonization can significantly impact the C-fixation strategies of the host trees by altering their light environment. Further, the magnitude of such impact may vary among species of different leaf habits. The increased proliferation of lianas in the tropical forest canopies may pose a severe threat to the whole forest carbon assimilation rates.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 322-330
Author(s):  
Rong Sun ◽  
Xiaojie Luo ◽  
Xiangyu Meng ◽  
Yan Wang

Abstract The streams in a watershed form a hierarchical network system. From the perspective of the river continuum, this classification system is the result of gradual increase in traffic. This study analyzed the riparian species richness, diversity and environmental factors along a six-order hierarchical mountain river in the Donghe watershed, China. A total of 34 sampling sites were sampled to study the spatial distribution of riparian plants among different stream orders. The results showed: Environmental factors among stream orders had significant differences. Among stream order, species richness showed remarkable differences. The species richness rose firstly and dropped afterwards except for tree species richness; tree species richness decreased while stream order increased. The same is true for shrub quadrat species richness. Shannon-Wiener diversity, Simpson dominance and Pielou uniformity showed significant difference among stream orders; Shannon-Wiener diversity rose firstly then dropped afterwards. For integrated environmental factors and community characteristics, we found the changes of stream orders had a significant impact on riparian habitats and riparian vegetation. Further analysis showed that riparian vegetation experienced different types and degrees of disturbance in different stream orders. This meant that a hierarchical management strategy should be applied to riparian vegetation management.


2016 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
pp. 352-357
Author(s):  
Dominik Kulakowski

Abstract Forests in Europe and North America are being affected by large and severe outbreaks of bark beetles, which have caused widespread concern about forest health and have led to proposals for tree removal in affected or susceptible forests. Any such intervention, as well as broader decisions of whether any active interventions are appropriate, should be based on the best scientific data. This is true for all forests, including those whose purposes include timber production, watershed protection, biogeochemical function and recreation, and especially protected and conservation areas as the latter often provide particularly unique and important cultural, social, scientific and other ecosystem services. Here, I summarize peer-reviewed literature on the effects of bark beetle outbreaks and on silvicultural treatments aimed at mitigating beetle-induced tree mortality. From an objective scientific perspective, beetle outbreaks do not destroy forests. Instead, in many cases they play an important role in promoting wildlife, biodiversity and other ecological services. The best available data indicate that logging in conservation areas is unlikely to stop ongoing bark beetle outbreaks and instead may be more ecologically detrimental to the forests than the outbreaks themselves. If the purpose of a forest is timber production, then logging is desirable and can be planned based on appropriate analyses of timber yield and economic profit. However, in areas in which conservation is the determined goal, it is recommended that cutting trees be limited to removing hazards, such as trees that might fall in areas of high human activity in order to limit property damage and personal injury. Based on extensive research in Europe and North America, logging beetle-affected forests is inconsistent with most conservation goals.


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