Patterns of Coarse Woody Debris in Hardwood Forests across a Chronosequence of Ash Mortality Due to the Emerald Ash Borer (<i>Agrilus planipennis</i>)

Higham, Matt; Hoven, Brian M.; Gorchov, David L.; Knight, Kathleen S.

doi:10.3375/043.037.0313

Cited by 11 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…They did not differentiate between total volume of ash and non-ash DCWD, but ash comprised a higher proportion of the total volume of minimally decayed DCWD (decay class 1) in sites with a higher ash mortality. In forests of a similar composition [54], but much more advanced ash mortality, we observed that substantially lower percentages of dead ash had fallen, but higher volumes of total DCWD, when compared to Higham et al [31].…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 45%

“…By 2012, however, only 31% of ash snags had fallen to the forest floor, which indicates that the volume added to these forests by EAB-induced ash mortality will increase substantially in the years following this study. Higham et al [31] observed faster rates of treefall in Ohio forests during earlier stages of EAB invasion, with 60-80% of the standing dead ash falling to the forest floor within six to seven years after ash mortality had reached only 25%. In the stands we sampled, ash mortality had already reached 40% by 2004 [35,39].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Only a few studies have investigated the accumulation of DCWD from tree mortality caused by alien insects. Higham et al [31] found that the volume of DCWD in forests experiencing early stages of EAB-induced ash mortality (≥ 25%) averaged 60.3 m 3 ha −1 , and was positively correlated with ash basal area. They did not differentiate between total volume of ash and non-ash DCWD, but ash comprised a higher proportion of the total volume of minimally decayed DCWD (decay class 1) in sites with a higher ash mortality.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…All of these factors interact to alter patterns of accumulation and decomposition of CWD. Despite the major ecological consequences of non-native insects and pathogens, only a few studies have quantified the effects of alien species on patterns of CWD accumulation and subsequent impacts on ecological processes [30,31].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, Klooster et al [35] observed >99% mortality of ash with stem diameters greater than 2.5 cm and a cessation of new seedling regeneration in southeastern Michigan near the epicenter of the invasion. Many North American ash tend to be abundant canopy trees in heterogeneous landscapes, and hence a major decline of ash, waves of tree mortality, and CWD formation will continue as EAB spreads across the landscape [31].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Downed Coarse Woody Debris Dynamics in Ash (Fraxinus spp.) Stands Invaded by Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire)

Perry

Herms

Klooster

et al. 2018

Forests

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Emerald ash borer (EAB; Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire) has had major ecological impacts in forests of eastern North America. In 2008 and 2012, we characterized dynamics of downed coarse woody debris (DCWD) in southeastern Michigan, USA near the epicenter of the invasion, where the mortality of white (Fraxinus americana L.), green (F. pennsylvanica Marshall), and black (F. nigra Marshall) ash exceeded 99% by 2009. Percentage of fallen dead ash trees and volume of ash DCWD on the forest floor increased by 76% and 53%, respectively, from 2008 to 2012. Ash and non-ash fell non-randomly to the east and southeast, conforming to prevailing winds. More ash fell by snapping along the bole than by uprooting. By 2012, however, only 31% of ash snags had fallen, indicating that DCWD will increase substantially, especially if it accelerates from the rate of 3.5% per year documented during the study period. Decay of ash DCWD increased over time, with most categorized as minimally decayed (decay classes 1 and 2) in 2008 and more decayed (decay classes 2 and 3) in 2012. As the range of EAB expands, similar patterns of DCWD dynamics are expected in response to extensive ash mortality.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 45%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Downed Coarse Woody Debris Dynamics in Ash (Fraxinus spp.) Stands Invaded by Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire)

Perry

Herms

Klooster

et al. 2018

Forests

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Fourteen years of swamp forest change from the onset, during, and after invasion of emerald ash borer

Abella

Hausman

Jaeger³

et al. 2019

Biol Invasions

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Release and suppression: forest layer responses to emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis)-caused ash death

Hoven

Knight

Peters

et al. 2020

Annals of Forest Science

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& Key message Emerald ash borer-caused canopy gaps alter resource availability which affects woody plant community dynamics in eastern US forests. Our findings indicate that both canopy trees and seedlings are impacted by the disturbance. Seedlings of sugar maple and introduced woody plants benefited most from ash death, perhaps because they are adapted to ephemeral resource fluctuations. & Context Ash, Fraxinus spp., mortality caused by emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis, results in canopy gaps which could increase resource availability and profoundly affect eastern US forests. & Aims We tested two mechanisms: (1) EAB-caused ash decline releases growth of upper forest layers (non-ash canopy and subcanopy trees), constraining any release of lower forest strata; (2) EAB-caused ash decline increases canopy openness, releasing lower strata (shrub and seedling layer). & Methods Sites representing a gradient of ash mortality were sampled throughout western Ohio to investigate how forest strata relative growth rates (RGRs) relate to EAB-caused ash mortality. Models including individual and additive effects of ash mortality and upper strata effects on woody seedlings were also investigated. & Results Greater RGR of non-ash canopy trees, particularly maple (Acer spp.), was found in sites with more poor condition ash. Abundance of introduced seedlings was correlated with greater ash mortality and shrub cover. Sugar maple seedling height growth improved with ash loss and more subcanopy basal area (BA). Sites with greater subcanopy BA had greater introduced seedling recruitment and native seedling survival. & Conclusion We found evidence to support both mechanisms. Our findings indicate species best adapted to ephemeral resource fluctuations, specifically sugar maple and introduced seedlings, benefited most from ash death.

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Patterns of Coarse Woody Debris in Hardwood Forests across a Chronosequence of Ash Mortality Due to the Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis)

Cited by 11 publications

References 21 publications

Downed Coarse Woody Debris Dynamics in Ash (Fraxinus spp.) Stands Invaded by Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire)

Downed Coarse Woody Debris Dynamics in Ash (Fraxinus spp.) Stands Invaded by Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire)

Fourteen years of swamp forest change from the onset, during, and after invasion of emerald ash borer

Release and suppression: forest layer responses to emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis)-caused ash death

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