John Witter Jennifer Stoyenoff Erin Thompson Holly Petrillo Julie Yocum

1. Effects of Beech Bark Disease and Silvicultural Management in Northern Hardwood Ecosystems: Tree Growth, Tree Regeneration, and Invertebrate Biodiversity John Witter Jennifer Stoyenoff Erin Thompson Holly Petrillo Julie Yocum

2. Beech Bark Disease Monitoring in Michigan • Causal Agents: • Beech scale • 2 species Nectria Exotic pest

3. Objective: Temporally and spatially monitor the impact of beech bark disease (BBD) on beech trees and northern hardwood ecosystems • Cooperative Project between U of M, MDNR, USDA Forest Service, MSU and MTU • Monitoring plot system • Intensive (40) and Extensive (140) • Measuring numerous variables that together create a picture of the health of the forest

6. McIntire-Stennis Project 2002-2004 • The monitoring study will continue during the next three years and that study is completely funded by MDNR • However, MDNR funds cover the monitoring aspect (temporal and spatial change) of BBD in MI forests. It does not cover any funding for research. • With this McIntire-Stennis project we are going to address 3 research areas: tree growth, tree regeneration, and invertebrate biodiversity

7. Research Questions • What effects do the presence of BBD and silvicultural treatments in northern hardwood stands have on the growth of existing American beech trees? • What effects do the presence of BBD and silvicultural treatments in northern hardwood stands have on tree regeneration? • What effects do the presence of BBD and silvicultural treatments have on biodiversity of key invertebrate groups present in northern hardwood ecosystems?

8. Treatment Types: Three Factors Involved • Geographic location (2) • Lower Peninsula, Upper Peninsula • Presence of exotic scale (2) • No scale and heavy scale • Silvicultural treatment (3) • No silvicultural treatment • Recent selection cut (past 2 years) • Old selection cut (past 10-14 years) • 2 x 2 x 3 x 5 (replicates/treatment) = 60 stands

9. Growth of American beech

11. Tree Regeneration • Size distribution and origin (seed or sprout) • Looking at seedlings by height class • Overall beech seedling density for each plot

12. Biodiversity and Invertebrate Groups • Pitfall traps • Collected organisms will be counted and grouped by major taxa • 2 groups (ground beetles and isopods) will be identified to the species level • In future years we will form partnerships to bring on additional cooperators that will work with groups such as springtails, ants, spiders and centipedes

14. Expected Outcomes • How will BBD and management actions affect key processes in the northern hardwood forest (tree growth and regeneration) • How will BBD and management actions affect the biodiversity of various invertebrate groups in northern hardwood forests • It will increase our knowledge of ground beetles and isopods and will give us new knowledge on using these groups as indicators of ecosystem functioning and change in temperate hardwood forests