Evaluation of sugar maple dieback in the Upper Great Lakes region and development of a forest health youth education program

Acer saccharum Marsh., is one of the most valuable trees in the northern hardwood forests. Severe dieback was recently reported by area foresters in the western Upper Great Lakes Region. Sugar Maple has had a history of dieback over the last 100 years throughout its range and different variables have been identified as being the predisposing and inciting factors in different regions at different times. Some of the most common factors attributed to previous maple dieback episodes were insect defoliation outbreaks, inadequate precipitation, poor soils, atmospheric deposition, fungal pathogens, poor management, or a combination of these. The current sugar maple dieback was evaluated to determine the etiology, severity, and change in dieback on both industry and public lands. A network of 120 sugar maple health evaluation plots was established in the Upper Peninsula, Michigan, northern Wisconsin, and eastern Minnesota and evaluated annually from 2009-2012. Mean sugar maple crown dieback between 2009-2012 was 12.4% (ranging from 0.8-75.5%) across the region. Overall, during the sampling period, mean dieback decreased by 5% but individual plots and trees continued to decline. Relationships were examined between sugar maple dieback and growth, habitat conditions, ownership, climate, soil, foliage nutrients, and the maple pathogen sapstreak. The only statistically significant factor was found to be a high level of forest floor impacts due to exotic earthworm activity. Sugar maple on soils with lower pH had less earthworm impacts, less dieback, and higher growth rates than those on soils more favorable to earthworms. Nutritional status of foliage and soil was correlated with dieback and growth suggesting perturbation of nutrient cycling may be predisposing or contributing to dieback. The previous winter\u27s snowfall totals, length of stay on the ground, and number of days with freezing temperatures had a significant positive relationship to sugar maple growth rates. Sapstreak disease, Ceratocystis virescens, may be contributing to dieback in some stands but was not related to the amount of dieback in the region. The ultimate goal of this research is to help forest managers in the Great Lakes Region prevent, anticipate, reduce, and/or salvage stands with dieback and loss in the future. An improved understanding of the complex etiology associated with sugar maple dieback in the Upper Great Lakes Region is necessary to make appropriate silvicultural decisions. Forest Health education helps increase awareness and proactive forest management in the face of changing forest ecosystems. Lessons are included to assist educators in incorporating forest health into standard biological disciplines at the secondary school curricula

A Pilot Study of Transplanting Methods for Wilding American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)

American beech is facing pressure from a number of emergent health issues including beech bark disease, beech leaf disease, beech leaf mining weevil, and climate and habitat change. Interest has increased in the propagation of American beech in response to the demand for more disease-resistant American beech for use in restoration. This study describes the first steps towards publishing methods for transplanting beech in order to supplement commercially available beech seedlings in an area with multiple agencies depleting the existing stock of slow growing species. American beech seedlings were purchased from a nursery in northern Michigan and were excavated from natural stands in the Hiawatha National Forest. Survival rates for these cohorts were compared after a growing season and by the relative amounts of fine roots present on the trees. Generally, the wildling seedlings had a higher survivability than the purchased bare root seedlings. Future work is proposed that could clarify the conditions leading to the higher survival in these wildling seedlings, including the potential for handling the time or age of the seedlings to influence survival

Web content analysis of university forestry and related natural resources landing webpages in the United States in relation to student and faculty diversity

Under-representation of minorities and women in natural resources (NR)-related fields is common, both as students and as professionals. The perception of a predominantly white, male student body and workforce is a potential barrier to recruiting women and minorities to Forestry and related-NR fields. The images of “forestry” and “natural resources-related” fields were examined as they would be from a potential student’s perspective looking at university and college websites with these degree program majors at the 80 National Association of University Forest Resource Programs member institutions during in 2016. Results suggest the percentage of women and minorities enrolled explains little variation in a program’s website image content, whereas there is significant image under-representation of minorities in all NR fields and of women on forestry-major webpages. In addition, women and minorities are more likely to be portrayed in a passive image, such as posing on campus, rather than in an active image, such as measuring a tree. Potential students are also less likely to see diverse faculty online. A lack of diversity image inclusion in Forestry and related NR will not help students see themselves in these fields or enhance society’s view of these critical fields for future employment and economic growth

Grafting Jig for Small-Diameter American Beech: Proof of Concept and First Print File

This tool may be useful for grafting other small diameter woody plant species. This jig can be used by non-experts to simplify and standardize the initial cuts necessary for side grafting small-diameter American beech. The initial file which is suitable for 3D printing is available here, whereas we have the intention of undergoing iterative revisions to refine the tool, considering different sizes and modifications. Future versions will be added through the same avenue as advancements are made.https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/mtu-3d-designs/1001/thumbnail.jp

Image content analysis of US natural resources-related professional society websites with respect to gender and racial/ethnic diversity

In 2018, a web image content analysis was conducted to assess the perceived gender and race/ethnicity diversity and representativeness of 11 natural resources-related, professional society websites. Results highlight the lack of inclusivity of women and minorities in images most frequently seen at the top of these organizations’ home webpages. More gender and race/ethnicity diversity is present on the main landing page or home page for these organizations, but much less diversity is found on other webpages within the websites. Women and minorities are also less likely to be portrayed in images in the field, or actively engaging with natural resources (more likely to be included in posed, passive images indoors). Representative diversity in images is important to influence the perceived fit and consequential decisionmaking for potential students and professionals entering natural resource-related fields

Living with emerald ash borer: ash reduction models as silvicultural tools

he exotic emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis)(Coleoptera: Buprestidae) is established in a number of states, including Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio, and in one Canadian province, Ontario. At high population densities, all green, black, and white ash trees are apparently susceptible to attack and can be expected to die. Emerald ash borer larvae develop in the phloem of ash trees in stems and branches above approximately 2.5 cm in diameter. Removal of ash from high priority areas such as those stands in close proximity to outlier populations will reduce the population density of this insect

Influence of Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) treatment of wood in decay tests

An aqueous suspension made with ground sterile sclerotium of the fungus Inonotus obliquus, commonly called chaga, was used as a pressure treatment to pine and birch wood blocks. Pine blocks were exposed to three brown rot fungi and birch blocks were exposed to three white rot fungi using a standard soil block decay test. In most cases chaga treatment significantly stimulated decay of wood blocks (measured as percent weight loss) compared to untreated blocks. This was mainly true for white rot fungi, however chaga-treated blocks also significantly inhibited decay by two brown rot fungi. Different metabolic or nutritional needs of decay fungi may explain why the chaga treatment had varying effects. Although many biologically active natural compounds isolated from I. obliquus have been studied, this report marks the first to our knowledge regarding potential antifungal properties in wood decay tests

Ash phloem reduction models vary among species and growing conditions

The exotic insect, emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis), is responsible for the death of millions of ash trees. Removal of ash from areas in close proximity to outlier populations will reduce the potential population density of emerald ash borer (EAB)

Evidence of damage from exotic invasive earthworm activity was highly correlated to sugar maple dieback in the Upper Great Lakes region

Sugar maple (Acer sacharrum Marsh.) in the western Upper Great Lakes region has recently been reported with increased crown dieback symptoms, prompting investigation of the dieback etiology across the region. Evaluation of sugar maple dieback from 2009 to 2012 across a 120 plot network in Upper Michigan, northern Wisconsin, and eastern Minnesota has indicated that forest floor disturbance impacts from exotic invasive earthworms was significantly related to maple dieback. Other plot level variables tested showed significant relationships among dieback and increased soil carbon, decreased soil manganese, and reduced herbaceous cover, each of which was also be correlated to earthworm activity. Relationships between possible causal factors and recent growth trends and seedling counts were also examined. Maple regeneration counts were not correlated with the amount of dieback. The recent mean radial increment was significantly correlated with various soil features and nutrients. This study presents significant evidence correlating sugar maple dieback in the western Upper Great Lakes region with earthworm activity, and highlights the need for considering the impacts of non-native earthworm on soil properties when assessing sugar maple health and productivity

DECAY OF BIRDSEYE SUGAR MAPLE (ACER SACCHARUM) AND CURLY RED MAPLE (ACER RUBRUM) FIGURED WOODS

Two figured woods, commonly known as birdseye maple (Acer saccharum, sugar maple) and curly maple (Acer rubrum, red maple), were exposed to brown rot and white rot fungi in a standard laboratory decay test and compared with unfigured wood of each species, respectively. For the birdseye maple, two levels of figure intensity were used: wood with heavy figure and wood with light figure. Heavily figured birdseye maple wood was decayed significantly less by the brown rot fungus Rhodonia placenta than unfigured maple wood or lightly figured maple wood. However, heavily figured birdseye maple wood was decayed significantly more by two white rot fungi, Trametes versicolor and Irpex lacteus, than unfigured maple wood but was not decayed significantly more than lightly figured wood. For both brown rot and white rot fungi, lightly figured birdseye maple wood did not decay significantly differently compared with unfigured wood. Likewise, there was no significant difference in decay between curly red maple wood and unfigured red maple wood for either brown rot or white rot fungi. Results suggest chemical or anatomical differences in the heavily figured birdseye sugar maple wood affect decay by brown rot and white rot fungi. These findings may be useful to hobbyists and woodworkers needing to protect wood or who partially decay wood to produce spalted wood for decorative purposes