University of New Hampshire Scholars\u27 Repository
Abstract
Winter moth is a non-native invasive defoliator in New England. This thesis related host tree radial growth of individual trees in eastern Massachusetts to winter moth defoliation intensity using tree core analysis. Further, tree core analysis was used to identify winter moth defoliation events in several forest stands in eastern Massachusetts and these events were used to relate winter moth to stand level tree mortality and understory woody plant density. Quercus radial growth from 2005-2010 was negatively related to winter moth defoliation. In addition, Quercus mortality in mixed -- Quercus and Quercus - P. strobus forests in eastern Massachusetts was influenced by site productivity and winter moth defoliation, with mortality negatively associated with site index and positively associated with number of winter moth defoliation events. Understory woody plant density was positively associated with number of winter moth defoliation events
