Beech bark disease in North America: Over a century of research revisited

Cale, Jonathan A.; Garrison-Johnston, Mariann T.; Teale, Stephen A.; Castello, John D.

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2017.03.031

Cited by 75 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 132 publications

(345 reference statements)

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“…The consequences of such interactions between different stressors are difficult to predict. For example, for the sugar maple-American beech ecosystem, sugar maple decline co-occurs with the arrival of beech bark disease (Cale et al 2017) which kills most mature beech trees. The co-occurrence of stressors that affects bigger stems of both species could lead to the development of dense, recalcitrant understory layers (Royo and Carson 2006), and the loss of forests with old-growth attributes that society frequently wishes to promote (Keeton 2006).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extreme events and subtle ecological effects: lessons from a long‐term sugar maple–American beech comparison

Nolet

Kneeshaw

2018

Ecosphere

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Increasing extreme events that are related to global change are expected to affect the dynamics of forest ecosystems. If disruptive stressors (e.g., insects, drought) affect tree vigor without causing mortality, the ecological effects may be subtle, making subsequent ecosystem dynamics more difficult to predict than in the case of disturbances causing death. Based on the literature and our personal observations, we expected that such a subtle change could have occurred in the dynamics between sugar maple and American beech. We implemented a targeted paired‐sampling design (1) to verify whether a change occurred (gradual or abrupt, recovered or not) in the growth dynamics between the two species over a 57‐yr period, (2) to identify the likely causes of this change, and (3) to investigate whether such changes could trigger other long‐time ecological consequences. We found that sugar maple growth was negatively affected by an extreme event (or a few events) between 1986 and 1989, while American beech was not affected. Twenty years after the 1986–1989 abrupt growth decrease, sugar maple (1) had a slower growth than American beech, although it was previously similar, (2) did not respond to monthly climatic variations as it did prior to the abrupt growth decrease, and (3) had lower resilience when faced with a new stress event. Overall, our study, besides showing that extreme events with subtle effects may change the dynamics of an ecosystem, also illustrates that these events may accelerate ecosystem misadaptation to climate. Fine‐scale targeted monitoring is essential to complement broad‐scale monitoring to detect such misadaptations in a global change context.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extreme events and subtle ecological effects: lessons from a long‐term sugar maple–American beech comparison

Nolet

Kneeshaw

2018

Ecosphere

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“…For example, beech, unlike maple, is able to reproduce vegetatively through root suckering that produces more resistant and vigorous individuals than natural seedlings [29]. The expansion of the beech bark disease has increased mature beech mortality and its susceptibility to windthrow, resulting in a high beech sapling density [30] that negatively affects maple regeneration through shading [12]. Fourth, preferential browsing of maple by animals (e.g., deer) and insects has also been observed, thus lowering its competitive ability relative to beech [31,32].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Low Light Availability Associated with American Beech Is the Main Factor for Reduced Sugar Maple Seedling Survival and Growth Rates in a Hardwood Forest of Southern Quebec

Collin

Messier

Kembel

et al. 2017

Forests

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Several recent studies have reported a marked increase in American beech dominance (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) relative to sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) in late successional forests of North America. However, many factors have been proposed to explain this sudden shift in tree species composition. We investigated the microsite factors responsible for maple regeneration failure under maple-beech stands, focusing on both light availability and soil conditions. The survival and growth of maple seedlings planted in the natural soil and in pots with enriched soil were monitored for two years, as well as foliar nutrition and herbivory damages of natural seedlings. The results indicate that low light availability associated with the presence of beech is the primary factor leading to maple regeneration failures. Soil nutrient availability and foliar nutrition of natural seedlings did not differ between forest types. Yet, the results indicate that factors such as allelopathy and preferential herbivory on maple seedlings under beech could be superimposed effects that hinder maple regeneration. Under similar forests, a control of beech sapling abundance in the understory followed by selection cutting could be one way to promote and maintain maple populations in the longer term.

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“…American beech currently is less abundant than both eastern redcedar and pines, probably due to a combination of forestry practices and land use that remove trees, consequently allowing faster-growing tree species to be more competitive than beech, and disease. Beech bark disease, which is a slow-spreading disease consisting of insect and fungal components, produces cankers that over time result in mortality through girdling or bole-breaking (Cale et al 2017). The future for remaining American beech in the eastern US may be persistence in a shrub state, after re-sprouting.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trajectory from beech and oak forests to eastern broadleaf forests in Indiana, USA

Hanberry

2019

Ecol Process

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Background: Historical forests (circa 1799 to 1846) of Indiana were predominantly composed of American beech (25% of all trees) and upland oaks (27% of all trees). I compared historical forest composition, using studies of smaller areas to approximate composition for uncommon species or genera (< 4.5% of all trees) and forest types, to current forest composition and forest types in Indiana. I also compiled published historical density estimates from small studies and estimated current density for the state. Results: Current forests are diverse with an even composition of many eastern broadleaf species. In addition to upland oaks, which decreased to 13% of all trees, only sugar maple currently comprises greater than 10% of all trees. Other increasing species were yellow-poplar, red maple, black cherry, and eastern redcedar. Eastern redcedar increased from no presence to one of the most abundant ten species (≥ 3.5% of composition), similarly to the pine genus, becoming more common currently than American beech. Beech or oak or beech-oak forest types (≥ 24% of all trees) became eastern broadleaf forests, with no dominant species, and black cherry, red maple, and eastern redcedar forest types now occurred. Estimates of historical oak or beech forests ranged from 28 trees per hectare to 175 trees per hectare, which probably represent savannas and woodlands. Current mean density of Indiana forests is 385 trees per hectare, ranging from 180 trees per hectare to 450 trees per hectare. These forests likely contain dense layers of woody vegetation, filling the midstory and replacing herbaceous vegetation in the ground layer. Conclusion: Historically dominant beech and oak forests in the eastern United States have transitioned to an alternative state of closed eastern broadleaf forests due to uncontrolled establishment of many tree species.

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Beech bark disease in North America: Over a century of research revisited

Cited by 75 publications

References 132 publications

Extreme events and subtle ecological effects: lessons from a long‐term sugar maple–American beech comparison

Extreme events and subtle ecological effects: lessons from a long‐term sugar maple–American beech comparison

Low Light Availability Associated with American Beech Is the Main Factor for Reduced Sugar Maple Seedling Survival and Growth Rates in a Hardwood Forest of Southern Quebec

Trajectory from beech and oak forests to eastern broadleaf forests in Indiana, USA

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