Sudden aspen decline in southwest Colorado: Site and stand factors and a hypothesis on etiology

Jim Worrall; Leanne Egeland; Tom Eager; Roy Mask; Erik Johnson; Phil Kemp; Wayne Shepperd

Treesearch

Sudden aspen decline in southwest Colorado: Site and stand factors and a hypothesis on etiology

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Jim Worrall, Leanne Egeland, Tom Eager, Roy Mask, Erik Johnson, Phil Kemp, Wayne Shepperd

Year:

2008

Type:

Miscellaneous Publication

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

Source:

In: McWilliams, Michael; Palacios, Patsy, comps. Proceedings of the 55th Annual Western International Forest Disease Work Conference; 2007 October 15-19; Sedona, AZ. Salem, OR: Oregon Department of Forestry. p. 63-66.

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Abstract

An initial assessment of rapid dieback and mortality of aspen in southwest Colorado suggests that it represents a decline disease incited by acute, warm drought. Predisposing factors include low elevation, south and southwest aspects, droughty soils, open stands, and physiological maturity. Contributing factors include Cytospora canker, two bark beetles, poplar borer, and bronze poplar borer. Because this is a true decline disease distinct from "aspen decline" as often discussed in the literature, we refer to it as sudden aspen decline. There has been little regeneration response to overstory loss.

Keywords

sudden aspen decline (SAD), rapid dieback, mortality

Citation

Worrall, Jim; Egeland, Leanne; Eager, Tom; Mask, Roy; Johnson, Erik; Kemp, Phil; Shepperd, Wayne. 2008. Sudden aspen decline in southwest Colorado: Site and stand factors and a hypothesis on etiology. In: McWilliams, Michael; Palacios, Patsy, comps. Proceedings of the 55th Annual Western International Forest Disease Work Conference; 2007 October 15-19; Sedona, AZ. Salem, OR: Oregon Department of Forestry. p. 63-66.