Participation Type
Paper
Session Title
Session 4.10 Environment and Ecology
Presentation #1 Title
Dead Tree Walking: The Past, Present, and Future of Hemlock Forests in Central Appalachia
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
Hemlock forests function as important ecological and cultural components of the Appalachian region, including the provision of critical wildlife habitat and, for many people, are the embodiment of mist shrouded Appalachian forest landscapes. Paleoecological evidence suggests that climate (i.e. drought) was the major driver of rapid hemlock decline during the mid Holocene. More recently, however, hemlock forests have experienced rapid decline due to the hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), an invasive forest pest that feeds on the sap of hemlock twigs. Alterations in forest composition, structure, and function have been documented as a result of HWA-induced hemlock mortality. Currently, there are no proven methods for the eradication or control of HWA for large forested areas. Therefore, long-term monitoring over the entire geographic range is required to assess the impacts of HWA at various temporal and spatial scales. Presented here are baseline conditions of hemlock forests within three state managed land units spanning the ‘western front’ of HWA infestation in southern West Virginia. Hemlock vigor, overstory composition, seedling regeneration, and stand age were assessed at Pipestem and Twin Falls State Parks and Cabwaylingo State Forest. Results indicate increased rates of hemlock decline and mortality moving from east to west and minimal hemlock regeneration across all sites. Hemlock forests will be replaced by Beech/Oak/Maple and Tulip Poplar/Maple forests depending on topographic position. These results highlight HWA-induced hemlock decline and mortality across an infestation gradient and in doing so, provide valuable information for future science-based conservation and management efforts.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Tom Saladyga is an Assistant Professor of Geography at Concord University in Athens, West Virginia where he teaches courses in physical geography, sustainability studies, and Geographic Information Systems. His research has focused on forest ecosystem stability and resilience in the context of changing climate, land use and/or management strategies.
Dead Tree Walking: The Past, Present, and Future of Hemlock Forests in Central Appalachia
Corbly Hall 464
Hemlock forests function as important ecological and cultural components of the Appalachian region, including the provision of critical wildlife habitat and, for many people, are the embodiment of mist shrouded Appalachian forest landscapes. Paleoecological evidence suggests that climate (i.e. drought) was the major driver of rapid hemlock decline during the mid Holocene. More recently, however, hemlock forests have experienced rapid decline due to the hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), an invasive forest pest that feeds on the sap of hemlock twigs. Alterations in forest composition, structure, and function have been documented as a result of HWA-induced hemlock mortality. Currently, there are no proven methods for the eradication or control of HWA for large forested areas. Therefore, long-term monitoring over the entire geographic range is required to assess the impacts of HWA at various temporal and spatial scales. Presented here are baseline conditions of hemlock forests within three state managed land units spanning the ‘western front’ of HWA infestation in southern West Virginia. Hemlock vigor, overstory composition, seedling regeneration, and stand age were assessed at Pipestem and Twin Falls State Parks and Cabwaylingo State Forest. Results indicate increased rates of hemlock decline and mortality moving from east to west and minimal hemlock regeneration across all sites. Hemlock forests will be replaced by Beech/Oak/Maple and Tulip Poplar/Maple forests depending on topographic position. These results highlight HWA-induced hemlock decline and mortality across an infestation gradient and in doing so, provide valuable information for future science-based conservation and management efforts.
