Abstract
The arrival and spread of emerald ash borer (EAB) across the western Great Lakes region has shifted considerable focus towards developing silvicultural strategies that minimize the impacts of this invasive insect on the structure and functioning of black ash (Fraxinus nigra) wetlands. Early experience with clearcutting in these forests highlighted the risks of losing ash to EAB from these ecosystems, with stands often retrogressing to marsh-like conditions with limited tree cover. Given these experiences and an urgency for increasing resilience to EAB, research efforts began in north-central Minnesota in 2009 followed by additional studies and trials in Michigan and Wisconsin to evaluate the potential for using regeneration harvests in conjunction with planting of replacement species to sustain forested wetland habitats after EAB infestations. Along with these more formal experiments, a number of field trials and demonstrations have been employed by managers across the region to determine effective ways for reducing the vulnerability of black ash forest types to EAB. This paper reviews the results from these recent experiences with managing black ash for resilience to EAB and describes the insights gained on the ecological functioning of these forests and the unique, foundational role played by black ash.
Highlights
Novel stressors, such as non-native insects and diseases, present a significant challenge to the long-term sustainable management of forest ecosystems around the globe [1]
The overall objective of this paper is to review recent research and experience managing black ash ecosystems to provide general guidance for the adaptive management of these ecosystems in the face of emerald ash borer (EAB) invasion
Given the role of ET in site hydrology, a reduction in black ash transpiration is likely to alter water table dynamics, causing the water table to rise and increase the duration of water at or near the biological influence is clearly evident in the diurnal water table signature, with pronounced drawdown during the day when trees transpire followed by slight recharge or stability during the night (Figure 3 inset)
Summary
Novel stressors, such as non-native insects and diseases, present a significant challenge to the long-term sustainable management of forest ecosystems around the globe [1]. Forest management guidelines developed in response to non-native insects and diseases have generally focused on altering host species structure and abundance to minimize spread and impacts of a given organism These approaches may include removing all potential host species from forested areas within a set distance of known infestations [6,7] or selective removal of larger host trees to reduce availability of brood trees [8,9]. The overall objective of this paper is to review recent research and experience managing black ash ecosystems to provide general guidance for the adaptive management of these ecosystems in the face of EAB invasion This includes describing the general ecological setting of these forests as a foundation for adaptive silviculture prescriptions, summarizing insights from long-term research trials evaluating the effectiveness of different silvicultural treatments at increasing the non-ash components in these forests, and discussing potential rehabilitation approaches for returning other species to these areas after EAB has eliminated black ash. At the time of writing, EAB had not been detected in the areas serving as the focus for this review (northern MI, MN, and WI) and the experiments and recommendations largely assumed EAB arrival within the 10–15 years based on location of known infestations (southern MN and WI, eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan) relative to expected rates of spread [17]
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