Transcript Emerald Ash Borer Project Presentation

Getting ahead of the front
Evaluating impacts of emerald ash borer (Agrilus
planipennis) on forest vegetation in eastern North America
Jason S. Kilgore, Washington & Jefferson College
Benjamin J. Dolan, The University of Findlay
Introduction to North America
Introduction to North America
Current distribution of EAB
Impacts thus far
● Altered light regime
o Increases PAR and sapling growth (Burr & McCullough 2014)
● Altered nutrient cycling & carbon storage
o Increase in non-ash productivity, particularly maples and elms
o Productivity does not offset loss of regional ash productivity
(Flower et al. 2013)
● Inconsistent response by species
o Blue ash has higher survival rates than green ash
(Tanis & McCullogh 2012)
EAB Impacts Study: hypotheses
1) Rate of ash decline (from EAB detection to mortality) is positively related to water stress via low
precipitation and soil particle size across a continental-scale gradient.
1) Loss of ash from the overstory will allow more light to penetrate to the forest floor, resulting in an
increase in density of seedlings and growth rate of saplings.
1) Light availability in high ash plots is sufficient to shift understory composition from shade-tolerant to
more shade-intolerant tree species (Dolan et al., in prep; but see Flower et al. 2013).
1) Loss of ash will lead to increases in non-native invasive herbaceous and shrub species and cover
(Hausman et al. 2010).
1) The presence and abundance of certain invasive plants (e.g., Alliaria petiolata, non-native Lonicera sp.,
Rosa multiflora, Rhamnus cathartica, and Ailanthus altissima) have a disproportionate effect on postinvasion diversity, growth rate of native trees, and time to canopy closure.
PFPP variables (Plot)
Trees:
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≥2.5 cm DBH at 1.37 m
Tags, species
Inventory status
DBH, soundness, crown
class (opt), height (opt)
● Tree damage
20 m
20 m
PFPP variables (Subplot)
Small Stems:
● >1.37 m tall, <2.5 cm DBH
● Species, tally
20 m
20 m
EAB variables (Plot)
EAB Indicators:
● Ash rating
● Ash tree breakup
● EAB exit holes
http://labs.russell.wisc.edu/eab/files/2011/06/D-shaped-exit-holes.jpeg
http://vil.carpentersville.il.us/images/EAB/Canopy%20Dieback%20of%20an%20
Ash%20Tree.jpg
Understory variables (Subplot)
Understory Community:
● Canopy cover
● Shrub/saplings (0.3-1.37 m tall)
o Species, tally
Understory variables (Miniplot)
Understory Community:
● Woody seedlings and
herbaceous plants
o Species, tally, cover class
Distribution vectors (GIS)
Distances to:
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Major roads and expressways
Streams and rivers
Railroads
Shipping ports
Distribution centers and manufacturers receiving goods
on foreign pallets
Data collection
Undergraduate students
● Upper-level ecology or
research courses
● General ecology, field
biology, etc.
Initial results: mature ash
UF (Ohio) and W&J (Pennsylvania)
● Similar mature ash density (67-71 trees/ha) and
overstory (22%)
● EAB documented in Hancock County (2005) and
Washington County (2009)
● Ash mortality higher at UF (100%) than W&J (0%, but
23% with EAB symptoms)
Initial results: understory
Curriculum and collaboration
● Labs
● Independent studies
● Cross-institutional
collaboration
● Presentations
o colleges
o conferences
o abstracts
Questions?
Ben Dolan - [email protected]
Jason Kilgore - [email protected]
http://erenweb.org/new-page/emerald-ash-borer-project/
emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis)