Growth-trend declines of spruce and fir in Mid-appalachian subalpine forests

Adams, Harold S.; Stephenson, Steven L.; Blasing, T. J.; Duvick, Donald N.

doi:10.1016/0098-8472(85)90029-2

Cited by 66 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Although balsam fir may be infested by BWA, this species has suffered lower mortality rates than the Fraser fir. Although Adams et al (16) reported that no records of BWA were present on balsam fir in West Virginia, we recently have observed BWA activity in this area as recently as March 1996, although currently there is no evidence of decline from the infestation. However, increased mortality of balsam fir may be expected in the future, based on patterns at locations in the northeast.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 81%

Determination of Aluminum, Calcium, and Magnesium in Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir, and Red Spruce Foliage and Soil from the Southern and Middle Appalachians

Bryant

Fowlkes

Mustafa

et al. 1997

Microchemical Journal

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 81%

Determination of Aluminum, Calcium, and Magnesium in Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir, and Red Spruce Foliage and Soil from the Southern and Middle Appalachians

Bryant

Fowlkes

Mustafa

et al. 1997

Microchemical Journal

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“…The relatively advanced mean age (157 + 9.6yr) of the subdominant trees clearly indicates that they have been suppressed for a considerable period of time. In fact, the mean age of these subdominant trees equals or exceeds that of codominant or dominant trees reported for spruce forests in a number of other studies (e.g., Adams et al 1985;Hornbeck & Smith 1985;McLaughlin etal. 1987).…”

Section: Growth Patterns Of Red Sprucementioning

confidence: 91%

Old-growth red spruce communities in the mid-Appalachians

Adams

Stephenson

1989

Vegetatio

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Old-growth stands of red spruce (Picea rubens) were sampled at the only four localities in the mountains of southwestern Virginia and central West Virginia where examples of such are known to exist. Based upon mean ages (+ SE) of cored trees, sampled stands ranged in age from 164 + 18 to 201 + 10 yr. Dendro-ecological (tree-ring) analysis showed a marked decline in growth of trees at three localities during the late 1800s, followed by recovery to previous levels of growth within two decades. This growth-trend decline generally coincides with a period of extensive mortality of red spruce reported to have occurred in central West Virginia. Basal area of trees > 2.5 cm DBH ranged from 35.4 to 46.1 mZ/ha. These figures are considerably lower than those recorded at earlier dates for similar old-growth stands in the Appalachians, which suggests that a general decline has occurred over the last half-century.

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“…forests in the northeastern USA have been declining for several decades (Adams et al, 1985;Vogelman et al, 1985). The symptoms associated with decreasing rates of growth and high mortality of trees are premature abscission of needles and loss of branches (Siccama et al, 1982;Johnson & Siccama, 1983).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Phenology and cold tolerance ofPicea rubenssarg. Seedlings exposed to sulfuric and nitric acid mist

Jacobson

Heller

L’Hirondelle

et al. 1992

Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research

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Phenology and cold tolerance of Picea rubens Sarg. seedlings exposed to sulfuric and nitric acid mist. Accepted Dec. 8, 1991. Scand. J. For. Res. 7: 331-344, 1992 During the growing seasons of 1985-88, red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) seedlings were exposed repeatedly in field chambers to sulfuric and/or nitric acid mist in the range of pH 2.5 to 4.5. Hydrogen ion, sulfate, and nitrate concentrations in mist were within the range found in cloudwater of the northeastern USA where high-elevation spruce forests are declining. After the period of exposures, seedlings remained outdoors and buds were sampled in the autumn to determine effects of mist treatments on the number of developing needle primordia. Current-year foliage was sampled from autumn to spring for measurement of cold tolerance by freeze-induced electrolyte leakage (FIEL) and buds were scored for degree of bud break in the early spring. In the 1985-87 experiments when 16-hour overnight mist events were continuous, there were few statistically significant effects of acidic mist on needle primodia development, foliar FIEL, and bud-break. However, in the 1988 experiment when 16-hour overnight mist events were intermittent rather than continuous and acidities fluctuated among events, sulfuric acid mist decreased the number of needle primordia in September and October relative to the other treatments. Acidity of mist increased FIEL in October. Sulfate and nitrate content of mist appeared to influence these effects of acidity on FIEL differently depending on level of cold tolerance and duration of time since the period of exposures to mist. Bud-break in May was not significantly affected by prior mist treatments. Responses to acidic mist were similar among provenances that were obtained from different locations in the northeastern USA, although provenances differed in phenological development and FIEL. Mist deposition to the soil medium was minimized or avoided in these experiments; therefore, we conclude that foliar FIEL of red spruce seedlings is vulnerable to effects of direct contact of acidic mist with foliage. To relate results of these controlled experiments to cloudwater and decline of red spruce trees in the northern Appalachian mountains, the following information is needed: the frequency of wet-dry cycles in the forest; fluctuations in acidity and sulfate and nitrate concentrations among and within cloudwater events; the specific patterns of temperature changes that lead to winter injury; and the relationship between FIEL and freezing damage to foliage for both seedlings and mature trees.

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Growth-trend declines of spruce and fir in Mid-appalachian subalpine forests

Cited by 66 publications

References 9 publications

Determination of Aluminum, Calcium, and Magnesium in Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir, and Red Spruce Foliage and Soil from the Southern and Middle Appalachians

Determination of Aluminum, Calcium, and Magnesium in Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir, and Red Spruce Foliage and Soil from the Southern and Middle Appalachians

Old-growth red spruce communities in the mid-Appalachians

Phenology and cold tolerance ofPicea rubenssarg. Seedlings exposed to sulfuric and nitric acid mist

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