Beatle Trap to catch possibly dangerous bugs

White Pine Blister

            White pine blister has had a devastating effect on the white pine population throughout the northeast. The white pine blister is actually a fungus, known by the name Cronartium ribicola, and is an invasive alien species brought from Europe. The fungus is also carried by and infects currants and gooseberries, which aid in its reproduction by providing a host from which spores can be produced. The spores then infect the white pines’ needles and grow, infecting the branches and eventually the trunk, which will kill the tree. It does this by cutting off the flow of sap through the branches, causing them to die. The spores can then spread from the white pines to the gooseberry and currant plants, which allows the cycle to continue. White pine blister can, over a period of years, destroy a healthy white pine grove.

http://www.extension.umn.edu/projects/yardandgarden/ygbriefs/P442whtpineblstrst.html

Invasive Species

            Forests are also susceptible to invasive species, especially when first being reestablished. These scrubby invaders can quickly overrun an abandoned field. Two common alien species in this area are the honeysuckle bush, and the multiflora rose. They grow very quickly and can choke out native species. Multiflora roses are dense, thorny brambles that can grow very tall and quickly become impenetrable. They can fill in active pastures and limit the grazing of cattle. This leads to a downturn in agricultural productivity, as well as choking out indigenous species, preventing the growth of new forest. Honeysuckle is a dense bush that starts small, but like the multiflora rose can grow to almost tree like proportions. Honeysuckle also love retired fields, but they can even grow throughout an established forest. These bushes cut off all light to the ground and eliminate all undergrowth. When removed the honeysuckle leave only bare ground, as the bushes have choked out all other plants. These invasive species continue to plague living forests and also hinder the reestablishment of new forests, as well as hurt agricultural production in still active areas.

http://www.ipaw.org/invaders/honeysuckle/

http://www.invasive.org/eastern/biocontrol/22MultifloraRose.html

Reforestation

            Reforestation is a long process that passes through several stages before a healthy forest is formed. After an area has been cleared, either from logging, or fire, or it is abandoned as farmland the process begins. It starts with the growth of small brush and other leafy plants. This time is a good time to aid forest growth by planting desirable trees. In the second stage, large brush grows as well as fast growing hardwood, the grasses and small vegetation are generally choked out. After this stage, a hardwood forest will dominate the area, keeping it moist and shady while allowing small ground growth. If evergreens are present they will continue to grow and eventually obtain their niche in the ecosystem. The softwoods over time can eventually take over, resulting in a dark forest with no undergrowth, but a soft blanket of needles and dead broken branches. Much of what Phil Viereck planted has grown into these pinewoods, however, when planted with pines, softwoods generally do not have a chance to establish themselves. This process is generally self-maintaining, unless invasive species have a chance to disrupt the cycle.

http://wwwshs1.bham.wednet.edu/curric/socst/wa/REGROWTH.HTM

Dutch Elm Disease

            Dutch elm disease caused the death of millions of elm trees throughout America. It is a fungus known as Ophiostoma ulmi, and is carried by bark boring beetles. When infected, tree’s leaves yellow and wilt and the tree dies. This is caused by the fungus traveling through water conducting vessels, which causes the tree to create gum in response to the fungus. This can then be spread from tree to tree via the bark-boring beetle or through root grafts between trees underground. This method of transmission is very fast and kills the trees within the year, which is the reason that so many elm lined streets lost all of their elms. It has been less of a problem here in Vermont, since the trees are scattered throughout forest and it is more difficult for the fungus to reach each tree.

http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/plantsci/trees/pp324w.htm