Potential Impacts on Stream Macroinvertebrates of an Influx of Woody Debris from Eastern Hemlock Demise

Pitt, Danielle B.; Batzer, Darold P.

doi:10.5849/forsci.14-069

Cited by 6 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…As hemlocks have declined along streams, canopy openness and light levels have increased [11,70], often with an increase in variability of water temperature [70] and expected increases in biomass of stream periphyton [71]. Loss of hemlock should increase inputs of woody biomass (as coarse woody debris) to streams [70,72,73] and alter both allochthonous energy inputs and the community structure of benthic detrital shredders [10,74,75,76,77].…”

Section: The Hemlock—hemlock Woolly Adelgid Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Past, Present, and Future of the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Adelges tsugae) and Its Ecological Interactions with Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) Forests

Ellison

Orwig

Fitzpatrick

et al. 2018

Insects

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The nonnative hemlock woolly adelgid is steadily killing eastern hemlock trees in many parts of eastern North America. We summarize impacts of the adelgid on these forest foundation species; review previous models and analyses of adelgid spread dynamics; and examine how previous forecasts of adelgid spread and ecosystem dynamics compare with current conditions. The adelgid has reset successional sequences, homogenized biological diversity at landscape scales, altered hydrological dynamics, and changed forest stands from carbon sinks into carbon sources. A new model better predicts spread of the adelgid in the south and west of the range of hemlock, but still under-predicts its spread in the north and east. Whether these underpredictions result from inadequately modeling accelerating climate change or accounting for people inadvertently moving the adelgid into new locales needs further study. Ecosystem models of adelgid-driven hemlock dynamics have consistently forecast that forest carbon stocks will be little affected by the shift from hemlock to early-successional mixed hardwood stands, but these forecasts have assumed that the intermediate stages will remain carbon sinks. New forecasting models of adelgid-driven hemlock decline should account for observed abrupt changes in carbon flux and ongoing and accelerating human-driven land-use and climatic changes.

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Section: The Hemlock—hemlock Woolly Adelgid Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Past, Present, and Future of the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Adelges tsugae) and Its Ecological Interactions with Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) Forests

Ellison

Orwig

Fitzpatrick

et al. 2018

Insects

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“…Eastern hemlock needles and coarse woody debris decompose slowly, resulting in low rates of nitrogen mineralization and nitrification [11][12][13]. The slowly decomposing coarse woody debris generated from eastern hemlock remains prevalent in streams longer than that of deciduous tree and shrub species, creating in-stream microhabitats and altering sedimentation rates, flow dynamics, and nutrient cycling [12,14]. Fish community diversity in streams that drain eastern hemlock riparian zones is greater than streams with hardwood riparian zones [3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Benthic Collector and Grazer Communities Are Threatened by Hemlock Woolly Adelgid-Induced Eastern Hemlock Loss

Adkins

Rieske

2015

Forests

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Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis (L.) is a foundation species in easternNorth America where it is under threat from the highly invasive, exotic hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae). Eastern hemlock is especially important in riparian areas of Central and Southern Appalachia, so we compared the spatial and temporal composition of benthic collector-gatherers, collector-filterers, and grazers in headwater streams with hemlock-dominated riparian vegetation to those with deciduous tree-dominated riparian vegetation to evaluate the extent to which adelgid-induced hemlock loss could influence composition and abundance of these two functional feeding groups. We found differences in benthic invertebrate abundance and family-level diversity based on riparian vegetation and sampling approach, and, often, riparian vegetation significantly interacted with location or season. Collector-gatherers and grazers were more abundant in eastern hemlock streams in the summer, when hemlock litter is readily available and deciduous litter is relatively sparse. Riparian eastern hemlock appears to exert considerable influence on benthic invertebrate functional feeding group composition in headwater stream communities, as expected with a foundation species. With the loss of eastern hemlock due to adelgid-induced mortality, we should expect to see alterations in spatial and temporal patterns of benthic invertebrate abundance and diversity, with potential consequences to both benthic and terrestrial ecosystem function. OPEN ACCESSForests 2015, 6 2720

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Detrital Energy and the Decomposition of Organic Matter

2021

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Potential Impacts on Stream Macroinvertebrates of an Influx of Woody Debris from Eastern Hemlock Demise

Cited by 6 publications

References 44 publications

The Past, Present, and Future of the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Adelges tsugae) and Its Ecological Interactions with Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) Forests

The Past, Present, and Future of the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Adelges tsugae) and Its Ecological Interactions with Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) Forests

Benthic Collector and Grazer Communities Are Threatened by Hemlock Woolly Adelgid-Induced Eastern Hemlock Loss

Detrital Energy and the Decomposition of Organic Matter

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