Emerald ash borer intensifies harvest regimes on private land

Holt, Jonathan R.; Smetzer, Jennifer; Borsuk, Mark E.; Laflower, Danelle; Orwig, David A.; Thompson, Jonathan R.

doi:10.1002/eap.2508

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 47 publications

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“…Salvage logging is also more likely to amplify disturbance in systems in which the host tree species is less abundant. For example, Holt et al (2022) found that timber harvest intensity was greater in forests infested with the rapidly expanding borer insect Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (emerald ash borer, EAB). Further, about half of the total harvest, on average, was from species other than Fraxinu s, which is EAB's host.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Logging response alters trajectories of reorganization after loss of a foundation tree species

Barker Plotkin,

Orwig,

MacLean

et al. 2024

Ecological Applications

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Forest insect outbreaks cause large changes in ecosystem structure, composition, and function. Humans often respond to insect outbreaks by conducting salvage logging, which can amplify the immediate effects, but it is unclear whether logging will result in lasting differences in forest structure and dynamics when compared with forests affected only by insect outbreaks. We used 15 years of data from an experimental removal of Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carr. (Eastern hemlock), a foundation tree species within eastern North American forests, and contrasted the rate, magnitude, and persistence of response trajectories between girdling (emulating mortality from insect outbreak) and timber harvest treatments. Girdling and logging were equally likely to lead to large changes in forest structure and dynamics, but logging resulted in faster rates of change. Understory light increases and community composition changes were larger and more rapid in the logged plots. Tree seedling and understory vegetation abundance increased more in the girdled plots; this likely occurred because seedlings grew rapidly into the sapling‐ and tree‐size classes after logging and quickly shaded out plants on the forest floor. Downed deadwood pools increased more after logging but standing deadwood pools increased dramatically after girdling. Understory light levels remained elevated for a longer time after girdling. Perhaps because the window of opportunity for understory species to establish was longer in the girdled plots, total species richness increased more in the girdled than logged plots. Despite the potential for greater diversity in the girdled plots, Betula lenta L. (black birch) was the most abundant tree species recruited into the sapling‐ and tree‐size classes in both the girdled and logged plots and is poised to dominate the new forest canopy. The largest difference between the girdling and logging treatments—deadwood structure and quantity—will persist and continue to bolster aboveground carbon storage and structural and habitat diversity in the girdled plots. Human responses to insect outbreaks hasten forest reorganization and remove structural resources that may further alter forest response to ongoing climate stress and future disturbances.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Logging response alters trajectories of reorganization after loss of a foundation tree species

Barker Plotkin,

Orwig,

MacLean

et al. 2024

Ecological Applications

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Predictors of Landowners’ Intention to Manage Emerald Ash Borer in Kentucky

et al. 2023

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Native ash species in the central hardwood region of the United States have been threatened by infestations of emerald ash borers (EAB), which have caused significant damage to the forests’ ecological and economic value. Because private landowners own most of these forestlands, their knowledge, attitudes, and behavior are important in managing EAB effectively across the landscape. We conducted a mail survey of landowners in Kentucky, where EAB are spreading across the state and causing variable levels of damage depending upon how long they have been established, and assessed whether and how psychosocial and demographic factors help explain the landowner’s behavioral intention to manage EAB on their property. The results of an ordinal logistic regression model, grounded in a modified theory of planned behavior framework, suggested that severity of risk perception, knowledge about management options, importance of economic objectives, and perceived group efficacy were related positively to landowners’ intention to manage EAB. These findings shed light on landowners’ perspective of EAB’s effects and the role of psychosocial factors in their motivation to adopt EAB control options. Study Implications: Landowners’ active participation can be critical in managing EAB effectively in privately owned forests. This study found that landowners’ management intentions depended on their perception of EAB risks, knowledge of EAB prevention, and perceived cooperation among landowners. Raising awareness of EAB threats, educating landowners on the control options available, and promoting collaborative approaches to combat EAB at the regional scale can help increase landowners’ participation in EAB management. Taking a collaborative approach is important to address such transboundary problems as EAB infestations because such an approach ensures that relevant agencies will provide landowners with continuous legal, technical, and financial support.

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Forester and Logger Response to Emerald Ash Borer in Massachusetts and Vermont: A Secondary Disturbance

Markowski-Lindsay

Catanzaro

Robillard

et al. 2023

Journal of Forestry

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Forester and logger responses to the invasive emerald ash borer (EAB) could substantially affect regions across the United States. We analyzed forester and logger responses to EAB in Massachusetts and Vermont, exploring characteristics associated with purposeful targeting of substantial ash properties; managing forests differently because of EAB; and regeneration goals. One-third of respondents increased timber sales on ash properties, motivated by ecological, not economic, impacts of EAB. Nearly 60% said EAB changed their management activity in stands with ash; changes influenced by the ecological impact of EAB and not economic factors. Those influenced by EAB’s ecological impact to choose properties with substantial ash were more likely to have increased harvest area size, sawtimber removal, and harvest intensity. Loggers were more likely than foresters to remove small-diameter ash and low-grade trees. Both rated regenerating economically valuable species well adapted to the site as their highest essential priority. Study Implications: There is a finite window to address emerald ash borer (EAB) to sustain ash and its cultural, ecological, and economic benefits. Given the time constraint and limited resources available to address EAB, finding strategic approaches to mitigate EAB impact is critical. This survey sought to understand forester and logger response to EAB; given their impact on the landscape, informing their management strategies is one critical approach to the conservation of ash. Understanding the ecological impact of current management approaches could help optimize silvicultural strategies. Silvicultural strategies mitigating EAB ecological impacts would likely be of greatest interest to foresters and loggers.

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Emerald ash borer intensifies harvest regimes on private land

Cited by 3 publications

References 47 publications

Logging response alters trajectories of reorganization after loss of a foundation tree species

Logging response alters trajectories of reorganization after loss of a foundation tree species

Predictors of Landowners’ Intention to Manage Emerald Ash Borer in Kentucky

Forester and Logger Response to Emerald Ash Borer in Massachusetts and Vermont: A Secondary Disturbance

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