Beech Bark Disease: A Comparison of the Disease in North America, Great Britain, France, and Germany

Houston, David R.; Parker, E. J.; Perrin, R.; Lang, Klaus

doi:10.1111/j.1439-0329.1979.tb00679.x

Cited by 39 publications

(20 citation statements)

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“…Based on an extensive comparative study of BBD in North America, Great Britain, France and Germany, "there is relatively little consistent or conclusive evidence to link environmental factors to population trends of C. fagi or to the cause of beech bark disease" [88]. A recent study in Germany focused on European beech management has shown no correlation between management practices and the infestation rate of the beech scale [41].…”

Section: Possible Mechanisms Of Resistance Environmental Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of Beech Bark Disease and Climate Change on American Beech

Stephanson

Coe

2017

Forests

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American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) is a dominant component of forest tree cover over a large portion of eastern North America and this deciduous, mast-bearing tree species plays a key role in these forest ecosystems. Beech bark disease (BBD) is a scale insect-fungus complex that has caused the decline and death of afflicted beech trees. This disease has become a common feature in North American forest landscapes. Resistance to BBD is at the level of the beech scale (Cryptococcus fagisuga Lind.). Beech scale attack predisposes the tree to subsequent infection by Neonectria fungi. The impact of this tree disease has been shown to be significant, particularly in beech dominated forests. Scale-free trees (resistant to BBD) have been reported to range from only 1% to 3% in infested stands, with estimates ranging from 80-95% for overall infestation (for all beech within the current North American range). In addition to BBD, overall beech health will be directly impacted by climate change, if one specifically considers the expected fluctuations in precipitation leading to both drought periods and flooding. Beech is particularly sensitive to both extremes and is less resilient than other broad leaf tree species. Although the increase in global temperatures will likely shift the current range of the American beech, milder winters and less snowpack will favor propagation and survival of the beech scale. This review aims to present the current outlook for American beech in light of climate change. The natural history of the American beech and the onslaught of BBD during the last century will be covered, followed by the potential effects of a changing climate on BBD-infested forests. Evidence from models of European beech (Fagus sylvatica) and other host-pathogen systems will supplement data directly gathered to evaluate BBD in American beech. We present the case that although climate change is likely to be a confounding factor in the continued loss of American beech, increasing our understanding of possible mechanisms of resistance and environmental factors that may influence susceptibility of American beech to BBD can inform proactive management strategies.

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Section: Possible Mechanisms Of Resistance Environmental Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of Beech Bark Disease and Climate Change on American Beech

Stephanson

Coe

2017

Forests

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“…Beech bark disease was introduced from Europe through the port of Halifax in the late 19th century and has swept through all of the region except the northern third of New Brunswick, where the climate is apparently too cold for survival of the scale insect-fungus complex that causes the disease. In areas of New England, up to 85% of the trees died in the first wave of the disease (Houston et al 1979). Comparable statistics are not available for the Acadian Forest Region but it is likely that the mortality rate was similar.…”

Section: Major Forest Types and Human Impactsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Three human-introduced diseases have had, or probably soon will have, significant impacts on tree species in the tolerant hardwood forest types: beech bark disease (Houston et al 1979) and Dutch elm disease (Magasi et al 1981), which have spread through much of the Acadian forest, and butternut canker (Harrison et al 1998), which is just entering the region. Beech was once a major component of tolerant hardwood and mixedwood forest types.…”

Section: Major Forest Types and Human Impactsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In 1806, John Stewart commented that beech probably covered about one-half of Prince Edward Island, with stands consisting of up to 90% beech (McAskill 1987). Although still common, it has been drastically reduced in number by beech bark disease and most remaining trees are deformed (Houston et al 1979, Gaudet 1973. Beech bark disease was introduced from Europe through the port of Halifax in the late 19th century and has swept through all of the region except the northern third of New Brunswick, where the climate is apparently too cold for survival of the scale insect-fungus complex that causes the disease.…”

Section: Major Forest Types and Human Impactsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Acadian forest: Historical condition and human impacts

Loo¹,

Ives²

2003

The Forestry Chronicle

112

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The Acadian Forest Region comprises the three Maritime Provinces of Canada, each of which has a distinct history resulting in different patterns of land ownership, land use, and impacts on the forest. The region encompasses a high degree of physiographic and biological diversity, being situated where the warm, moist influence of the Gulf Stream from the south collides with the cold Labrador Current and the boreal forest gradually gives way to mostly deciduous forest. Natural forest types in the Acadian Forest Region include rich tolerant hardwood, similar to the deciduous forests to the south; spruce-fir forest, similar to boreal forest to the north; and an array of coniferous, deciduous, and mixed intermediate types. Red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.), yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britt.), sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) are considered characteristic of the Acadian Forest Region. Except for one quantitative study in one county of New Brunswick, and another study on Prince Edward Island, most knowledge of the historical forest condition has been gleaned from early descriptions by explorers, surveyors, and settlers of the Maritimes region. Although some regions have been affected much more than others, little, if any forested area has escaped human influence over the past four centuries. A general result of human activities has been a shift in successional status and age distribution, with increased frequency of relatively young, often even-aged, early successional forest types including balsam fir, white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss), red maple (Acer rubrum L.), white birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.), and trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.). Both the abundance and age of late-successional species such as sugar maple, red spruce, eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis L. Carrière), yellow birch, cedar (Thuja occidentalis L.), and beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) have declined.Key words: pre-European forest, Maritime Provinces, historical ecology, witness trees, Acadian forest types, natural disturbance La région forestière acadienne est constituée des trois provinces maritimes, chacune ayant une histoire distincte qui est à l'origine de modes de propriété et d'utilisations des terres ainsi que des répercussions sur les forêts qui lui sont propres. Située au point de rencontre de l'influence chaude et humide du Gulf Stream et du courant du Labrador froid et où la forêt boréale laisse graduellement la place à une forêt en grande partie décidue, cette région comprend une grande diversité physiographique et biologique. La région forestière acadienne comprend les types de forêts naturelles suivantes : forêt productive de feuillus tolérants, semblable aux forêts décidues du sud; forêt d'épinettes et de sapins, semblable à la forêt boréale plus au nord; divers types de forêts conifériennes, décidues et mixtes.

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“…We know that feeding by C. fagisuga results in reduced growth and some bark necrosis. While some of us feel that C. fagisuga can cause extensive bark necrosis (Braun, 1977), most of us feel that under normal growth conditions, death of bark attributable to the insect alone is relatively limited (Boodle and Dallimore 1911 ;Ehrlich, 1934 ;Hartig, 1878 ;Parker, 1974 ;Shigo, 1964 ;Thomsen et al, 1949 (Braun, 1977), the majority of us believe that they are primarily responsible for bark necrosis, and ultimately for tree mortality (Houston et al, 1979a).…”

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confidence: 99%