Publication Details
Subcontinental impacts of an invasive tree disease on forest structure and dynamics
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Year Published
2011
Publication
Journal of Ecology. 99: 532-541.
Abstract
Introduced pests and pathogens are a major source of disturbance to ecosystems world-wide. The famous examples have produced dramatic reductions in host abundance, including virtual extirpation, but most introductions have more subtle impacts that are hard to quantify but are potentially at least as important due to the pathogens' effects on host reproduction, competitive ability and stress tolerance. A general outcome could be reduced host abundance with concomitant increases in the abundance of competitors. Beech bark disease (BBD) is a widespread, fatal affliction of American beech (Fagus grandifolia), currently present in c. 50% of beech's distribution in eastern North America. Despite high adult mortality, beech remains a dominant component of the forest community.
Keywords
beech bark disease; Cryptococcus fagisuga; disease impacts; Fagus grandifolia; forest ecology; Forest Inventory and Analysis; insect–fungal interactions; invasion ecology; Neonectria ditissima; Neonectria faginataCitation
Garnas, Jeffrey R.; Ayres, Matthew P.; Liebhold, Andrew M.; Evans, Celia. 2011. Subcontinental impacts of an invasive tree disease on forest structure and dynamics. Journal of Ecology. 99: 532-541. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2745.2010.01791.x.