Managing Sugar Maple Decline in the Mid Atlantic Presented by Sam Mathes SFR 557 December 10, 2013

Transcription

1 Managing Sugar Maple Decline in the Mid Atlantic Presented by Sam Mathes SFR 557 December 10,

2 Presentation Overview Introduction Forest Management Objectives Sugar Maple Adaptations Sugar Maple Decline Symptoms Predisposing Factors Inciting Factors Contributing Factors Health Management Plan Conclusion

3 Introduction Sugar maple is important Economically Ecologically It grows on 31 million acres Net volume of 130 million cubic meters Largest volumes Michigan, New York, Maine, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania Maple syrup/sugar Huge economic contribution the bend.com/slabs.html

4 Natural Range of Sugar Maple

5 Occurrence Sugar Maple Decline Occurs over the entire natural range of Sugar maple Largest intensity of Decline Mid Atlantic Region Region of Study Pennsylvania s Allegheny forest

6 Forest Management Primary Objectives Maple Syrup Production Saw Timber Production &area=65

7 Secondary Objective Providing Wildlife Habitat gardens.com/wordpress/category/wildlife/page/5/

8 Sugar Maple Adaptations Preferred Soil Characteristics Deep, well drained loams Rich in nutrients (base cations Ca, Mg) Unfavorable Soils Characterisitics dry, shallow swampy Acidic Sugar maples become more selective regarding soils the farther south in its range

9 Sugar Maple Adaptations Associate Species other maples, yellow birch, black cherry, spruce, poplar, or oak Very Shade tolerant (Striped maple is one of the few species that exceeds sugar maple in shade tolerance) Seedling stage Can survive in 90% shade

10 Sugar Maple Adaptations Exceptionally long lived (up to 400 years) Will dominate stands that go long periods without major disturbance Highly valuable Economic Wildlife

11 Sugar Maple Decline Decline caused by an abiotic stress Soil Acidification major predisposing factor Signs of decline Atmospheric Deposition drop in soil ph Risk of Decline ph >5 = low risk ph <4.5 = high risk book/acidrain.html

12 Coal Power Plant Distribution Factor Influencing Acid Rain Distribution of power plants Type of Power Plant 14 of the 18 waste coal power plants are in Pennsylvania Concentration of Emissions High in Pennsylvania coalfired emissions.html

13 Healthy Maple Sugar Maple Decline Symptoms Initial symptoms discolored foliage dead twigs Declining Maple More severe symptoms whole branches die. demics/mapleresearch.html Tree attempts to recover Epicormic Branching New flush of leaves mics/mapleresearch.html

14 Cause of Soil Acidification Coal power plant emissions Soil Acidification The Predisposing Factor Major Acidification Constituents Sulfur dioxide Nitric oxide Solid Particulates Oxidize into Strong Acids In the atmosphere In soil

15 Acids Disrupt Soil Chemistry Shortage of Ca and Mg Ca and Mg base cations coveted by sugar maples Over abundance of Mn Obstructs other ions Disrupts Photosynthetic Process Soil Acidification (continued)

16 Sugar Maple Decline Inciting and Contributing Factors Inciting Factors Soil Acidification Insect defoliation Drought Trees frequently succumb to decline in a piecemeal pattern

17 Site Selection Glaciated Soils = Good Unglaciated Soils = Bad Forest Management Plan Managing Sugar Maple Decline Unglaciated soils Less abundant base cations Larger impact from acid rain Reversing Effect of Soil Acidification Very difficult on large Scale Only practical at small, select sites moratorium drilling forests

18 Forest Management Plan For High Value Stands on Unglaciated Soils Available Treatment Options Liming Dolomite limestone rich in base cations CaMg(CO3) poorly soluble Temporarily reverses the affects of acid rain

19 Glaciated Soils Chemically Intact Nutrient Rich Best Pre emptive Option: Site Selection Sites where management objectives can be Optimized Objectives Maximize economic productivity Syrup Saw Timber Create Wildlife Habitat

20 Forest Management Optimize Economic Productivity Tapping Specifications Trees 10 inches and larger will be leased for tapping All large Trees With Poor Form Saw Logs Specifications Free of Major Defects 16 inches DBH or larger

21 Economics of Management Plan

22 Conclusion Sugar Maple Major component of the Eastern forest Soil Acidification Major predisposing factor to sugar maple decline Vulnerable Areas Unglaciated Soils Chemically Weathered Soils Symptoms of Decline Discoloration of foliage Necrosis of fine twigs and branches Effective treatment Selection of less Vulnerable Sites Liming with dolomite Optimal Forest Management Lease smaller or poor form trees for tapping Cut larger better formed trees for sawtimber Leave large, poor formed trees for tapping and wildlife habitat

23 References Burton, A. J., Pregitzer, K. S., Zogg, G. P., Zak, D. R. Drought Reduces Root Respiration in Sugar Maple Forests Ecological Applications 8.3 (1998): DeForest, J. L., McCarthy, B. C. Diminished Soil Quality in an Old Growth, Mixed Mesophytic Forest Following Chronic Acid Deposition. Northeastern Naturalist 18.2 (2011): Drohan, P. J., S. L. Stout, and G. W. Petersen. "Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) Decline during in Northern Pennsylvania." Forest Ecology and Management 170 (2002): Farrell, Michael L. "The Economics of Managing Maple Trees for Syrup or Sawtimber Production." Northern Journal of Applied Forestry 29.4 (2012): Horsley, Stephen B., Robert P. Long, Scott W. Bailey, Richard A. Hallett, and Thomas J. Hall. "Factors Associated with the Decline Disease of Sugar Maple on the Allegheny Plateau." Canadian Journal of Forest Research 30.9 (2000): Kiernan, Diane H., Ralph D. Nyland, and Eddie Bevilacqua. "Predicting Sugar Maple Mortality in Managed Uneven Aged Norther Hardwood Stands." Northern Journal of Applied Forestry 29.1 (2012): Kogelmann, Wilhelm J., and William E. Sharpe. "Soil Acidity and Manganese in Declining and Nondeclining Sugar Maple Stands in Pennsylvania." Journal of Enviromental Quality 35.2 (2006): McWilliams, W. H., White, R., Arner, S. L., Nowak, C. A., Stout, S. Characteristics of Declining Forest Stands on the Allegheny National Forest. L.Northeastern Forest Experiment Station, USDA Forest Service, Radnor, USA, Research Note Northeastern Forest Experiment Station, USDA Forest Service. NE 360 (1996): 9. Payette, S., Fortin, M. J., Morneau, C. The Recent Sugar Maple Decline in Southern Quebec: Probable Causes Deduced From Tree Rings. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 26.6 (1996): St. Clair, S. B., Carlson, J. E., Lynch, J. P., Springer Verlag. Evidence for Oxidative Stess in Sugar Maple Stands Growing on Acidic, Nutrient Imbalanced Forest Soils. Oecologia (2005) Watmough, Shaun A. "Assessment of the Potential Role of Metals in Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum Marsh) Decline in Ontario, Canada." Plant and Soil 332 (2010): Wargo, P. M., Minocha, R., Wong, B. L., Long, R. P., Horsley, S. B., Hall, T. J. Measuring changes in stress and vitality indicators in limed sugar maple on the Allegheny Plateau in northcentral Pennsylvania. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 32.4 (2002): Godman, R., M., Yawney H., W., Tubbs, C., W. Acer saccharum Marsh.United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service, Agriculture Handbook