Spodic Shale Upland Conifer Forest

Description

This state represents the natural range of variability that dominates the dynamics of this site. The canopy typically has strong dominance by Picea rubens (red spruce), with Tsuga canadensis (eastern hemlock) next in importance. Shrub cover is sparse or absent; herbs are sparse or absent. The plant community is maintained by an absence of fire and major disturbance. Pre-European settlement disturbance consisted of single tree disturbance associated with wind, snow and or/ice damage.

Submodel

Description

This state occurs after logging, with an absence of fire or with the occurencce of very light fire. Remaining beech trees contribute seed rain to the site and/or beech seeds remain in the soil seedbank.

Beech bark disease (BBD), an non-native invasive disease from Europe, has altered the plant community. This disease, a complex affecting American beech, includes both insect and fungal components. The disease passes through three phases: the initial scale front phase, the second killing front phase, and the final aftermath forest phase. During the initial phase, the exotic scale insect disperses through the forest, causing scale-induced alterations to patches of bark. The killing front phase begins 1 to 19 years after the arrival of the scale. Throughout this phase, the scale-modified bark is killed and colonized by species of Neonectria, rendering the dead tissues vulnerable to additional decaying fungi. The resulting beech snap and mortality levels may reach 50 percent in 5 years. The final aftermath forest phase results in an ecological accommodation to the disease, resulting in either a change in species composition or the death of re-emergent beech. The genetically identical stump sprouts and root suckers (beech brush), which appear following the initial BBD deaths die in a second wave of BBD.

A majority of these sites have red spruce regeneration. A minority of these sites have an absence of red spruce regeneration.

Submodel

Description

This state occurs after logging and with an absence of fire or occurrence of very light fire. Residual cherry trees remain to contribute seed rain and/or seed remains in soil seedbank. The majority of this phase contains spruce regeneration; a minority does not.

Submodel

Description

Restoration requires variable density thinning (cutting, ringing or herbicide application) to create structural diversity and release spruce. Planting red spruce when seedlings are absent will establish red spruce at the site

Submodel