Treesearch

This study looked at the factors that facilitated the spread of Phytophthora ramorum and P. kernoviae at two locations in the west of Scotland. Spore traps, river baiting, bait plants, and soil sampling were used to both confirm the presence of, and measure the amount of, inoculum in the environment in order to quantify the relationship between inoculum levels and disease development. Phytophthora ramorum was detected in spore traps at high levels under a sporulating host, but also at sites where hosts were not present, leading to the conclusion that inocula in low-level spore traps were...

Resistance to Cryptococcus fagisuga, a primary component of the beech bark disease (BBD) complex, is heritable. Reportedly about 1-2 percent of American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) are genetically resistant to C. fagisuga. This project is designed to identify environmental factors contributing to BBD incidence and severity. Plots were established in stands with endemic BBD and a disease-free beech component. To date 1,479 beech trees have been sampled; 55 percent were scale-free or have trace infestation, and 79 percent were free of Neonectria infection. Twenty parameters were evaluated...

Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) is an invasive shrub that can suppress forest regeneration and increase the risk of exposure to Lyme disease. In 2008, we began a study in central Connecticut to examine the efficacy of treating barberry infestations during the dormant season (October-March). Techniques included basal spray (triclopyr in oil) and clearing saw cutting with a wet-blade application of triclopyr. Dormant season techniques were compared with a glyphosate foliar spray applied in September. Foliar application resulted in a greater reduction of barberry cover (94 percent)...

Social marketing tools and approaches were used to develop a Call Before You Cut campaign for six states in the Central Hardwoods Region (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio, West Virginia). The campaign was developed from research on landowner values, objectives, and behavior, based on National Woodland Owner Survey data and landowner focus groups, and discussions with natural resource professionals in the region. The result was a strategically focused set of publicity materials, a Web site, and an informational packet common to all six states and designed to attract the attention of...

Severe decline and mortality of hickory (Carya spp.) occur periodically in the eastern United States. Recently, rapidly declining crowns followed by tree mortality were found to be the predominant symptoms based on a 2 year survey in six north central and northeastern states. Stems of actively declining bitternut hickory (Carya cordiformis) exhibited numerous cankers and evidence of hickory bark beetle (Scolytus quadrispinosus) (Hbb) colonization. Main stems of three affected trees (40 to 80 percent crown decline) had 178 to 1,448 bark beetle attacks. Ceratocystis smalleyi-caused cankers...

Eighty years of data on stand development on 39 strip transects were used to elucidate the influence of disturbance on forest composition. Transects were measured at 10-year intervals between 1927 and 2007, except for 1947, and the resulting data include records of 35,953 stems. Disturbances included a wildfire in 1932, single-year defoliations (1964, 1972, 1981), and multi-year defoliations (1961-1963, 1971-1972, 1981). Wildfire reduced basal area by 46 percent. During the first defoliation period, oak basal area mortality averaged 36 (multi-year) and 12 percent (single-year). In 2007,...

Consumer preference is a fundamental focus of marketing research as it is used in developing marketing strategy and the positioning of products against competitors. This study evaluated consumer hardwood preferences of consumers from three United States geographical regions, which included six different metropolitan areas. Seven hardwood species and three laminate hardwood types were assessed. Significant statistical differences in preferences were found. Results of this study could be incorporated into marketing strategies for hardwood products.

Forest certification has gained momentum around the world over the past two decades. Although there are advantages to being certified, many forest landowners and forest products manufacturers consider forest certification of U.S. forest and forest products unnecessary. Many believe that U.S. forests are already sustainably managed, the current certification systems are not trustworthy, and certification programs, in their current state, are too costly. To promote the sustainability of U.S. forests and address issues that landowners and forest products manufacturers have with certification,...

Post-harvest inventories were performed on 90 timber harvests conducted on nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) properties in West Virginia. Each harvest was evaluated based on a combination of residual stocking level, proportion of the residual stand in acceptable growing stock, and damage to the residual trees. Four post-harvest stands representative of good or poor harvest practices were projected for 20 years into the future using the Forest Vegetation Simulator.

Using dendrochronology and growth release approaches, we analyzed the disturbance history of shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata Mich.) white oak (Quercus alba L.) forests in the Missouri Ozark Highlands. The objectives of this study were to (1) identify growth release events using living and remnant shortleaf pine and white oak, (2) analyze the temporal variation of canopy disturbances, (3) examine how topographic variation affects disturbance, and (4) note growth releases that occur during and subsequent to selected drought events. These data were used to more fully understand the contribution...