Forest Health on Monhegan Island: Past, Present and FuturePresent, and Future

William H LivingstonWilliam H. Livingston

School of Forest ResourcesSchool of Forest Resources Orono, Maine USA

Definitions for Studies

• Healthy and Naturaly– Species are adapted to

each otherF i bl• Forms recognizable communities

• Set of species that have l d t thevolved together

– Responding to environment as adaptedp

• Forest succession• Regenerate new forest after

disturbancedisturbance

What Disrupts Health

• Land use history changes forest community from what has evolved– Fire exclusion

• Different species regenerate that can’t tolerate dry conditionsStands too dense• Stands too dense

– Old Fields• Trees regenerate that would not• Trees regenerate that would not

otherwise dominate the site• White pine in southern Mainep• White spruce on islands

What Disrupts Health

• Non-native invasiveNon native invasive species– Insects: Kill treesInsects: Kill trees– Fungi and other

microorganisms:microorganisms: Kill trees

– Plants: Prevent regeneration of native species

The Land-Use History And Stand Dynamics Of Monhegan Island

Richard W Dyer

Dynamics Of Monhegan Island

Richard W. Dyer William H. LivingstonSchool of Forest ResourcesSchool of Forest Resources

University of Maine

Longest Period in

Fields

White Spruce

Fields

Mortality

Healthy Red

Spruce Stands

White Spruce and Mortality

USGS May 1996

StandsyAssociated with

Old Fields

White Spruce Die-off 1995-2000

• Dwarf

• Spruce Mistletoe

Beetle

Darren Blackford, USDADarren Blackford, USDA Forest Service,

www.forestryimages.org

Red Spruce Dominates Continually Forested Sites and Its RegenerationForested Sites and Its Regeneration

• Red spruce 74% of stems, balsam fir 10%, hardwoods 16%M lti d t d 27 185• Multi-aged stands: 27-185 yr (avg = 90)H b t ti t i l• Herbaceous vegetation typical of coastal spruce-fir forests: Canada mayflower wildCanada mayflower, wild raisin, starflower

• Red spruce regenerationRed spruce regeneration favored, 76%

White Spruce Dominated Abandoned Field Sites, But Regeneration is DiverseBut Regeneration is Diverse

• Still 40% of trees, 18-87yr old (avg = 47)

• Regenerating species g g p(saplings) include:– Red spruce: 46%p– White spruce: 33%– Hardwoods: 21%Hardwoods: 21%

• Plants include grasses, raspberry goldenrodraspberry, goldenrod

What’s growing in 2008

• White spruce• Red spruce• Balsam fir• Mountain Ash• Aspen

A New Forest Is Coming Back

• A lot of white spruce – will get dwarf mistletoe• Some balsam fir – will get balsam woolly g y

adelgid• Some red spruceSome red spruce• A lot of mountain ash

Japanese Barberry Problem- Jenifer D’Appollonio M.S. ThesisJenifer D Appollonio M.S. Thesis

• Deciduous shrub 3-8 2’ hi h8.2’ high

• Introduced to Boston i 1875 t li din 1875, naturalized by 1910

• Spreads from• Spreads from disturbed sites into intact forestsintact forests

• Remains a popular ornamentalornamental shrub

Distribution of Japanese barberry in the Northeast pre 1910-1999 (Silander and Klepeis 1999).

Competitive Advantages

• Deer avoid browsing• Extended growing

season compared to native speciesnative species

• Can grow under a closed canopy – canclosed canopy – can grow with 3% light

• Dense canopies formDense canopies form and shade out native speciesp

A Healthy Forest Has the Capacity to Regenerate a New ForestRegenerate a New Forest

Summaryy• Forest health problems involve factors to

hi h th ti i t d t dwhich the native species are not adapted.• Land use history is involved in predisposing

f t t h lth blforests to health problems – Field abandonment: White pine, island spruce

declinesdeclines– Fire suppression in west since 1900 –

catastrophic fires todaycatastrophic fires today• Invasive species

– Insects and fungi kill treesInsects and fungi kill trees– Invasive plants prevent native plant regeneration

Barberry Removal

• Monhegan Associates organized effort starting 2003

• Cut barberry at ybase of stem

• Spray stump withSpray stump with glyphosate (RoundUp)(RoundUp)

Locations of Barberry Removalsy

• Ball Field 2004Ball Field 2004• Maple Trail

20052005• Alder Trail 2006• Under Hill Trail

2007• Whitehead Trail

2008

Barberry under spruce forest: Alder TrailTrail

Barberry cleared 2006: Alder Trail2006: Alder Trail

• Little vegetation present on pground

• What will comeWhat will come in?

Barberry Cleared From Bushy Area in 2006: Alder Tail2006: Alder Tail

• See a variety of species pinvading

• Natural andNatural and exotic

• Probably• Probably will stay bush-likebush-like

More Plant Species Because No Deer?

Barberry Cleared From Open Area 2006: Alder TrailAlder Trail

Black Swallow-wort

• Replacing barberryReplacing barberry when cleared from sunny areay

• Can exclude other speciesspecies

• Not reported to be able to form high densitiesto form high densities under shade –primarily a problem in p y popen areas.

Barberry Cleared from Bushy Area 2007: Under Hill Trail2007: Under Hill Trail

• MixedMixed regeneration, includingincluding trees

• See barberry• See barberry sprouts

Barberry at Lobster Cove, Green Point

• Mixed withMixed with other species

• Barberry not• Barberry not likely to replace othersreplace others– Full sun

N d– No deer

Barberry on Whitehead Trail

Barberry cleared from spruce forest 2008: Whitehead TrailWhitehead Trail

Natural Regeneration on Whitehead Trail

Barberry Along Maple TrailMaple Trail

• Cut in 2005• Some new

sproutsp• A lot of native

vegetationvegetation– Sensitive fern

Raspberry– Raspberry– Strawberry

Star flower– Star flower• No new trees

Recommendations

• Highest priority on f t d it l tforested sites, lowest where full sunM it t t d it ith h d• Monitor treated sites with shade – Kill barberry sprouts

Document regeneration of trees– Document regeneration of trees• Monitor infested areas – is status stable or worsening?• Chop up cut branches on site• Chop-up cut branches on-site

– If close to soil, will remain moist– Will not be a fire threat will decompose faster (how fast?)Will not be a fire threat, will decompose faster (how fast?)– Unknown affect on soil (berberine, >pH, >N)

Monitor SitesObservations always better

than opinions• Locate areas using GPS;

l tlocate on map– Barberry present

Barberry removed– Barberry removed• Take picture at that point; use

compass to indicate in whichcompass to indicate in which direction the picture was taken

• Revisit locations periodically toRevisit locations periodically to evaluate changes (3 yr?)– Is barberry intensifying– Status of tree regeneration

References• Focus Species Forestry (Maine Audubon):• http://www.maineaudubon.org/conserve/forest/focusspecies.shtmlhttp://www.maineaudubon.org/conserve/forest/focusspecies.shtml

• Forest Trees of Maine (Maine Forest Service)• http://www.state.me.us/doc/mfs/pubs/ftm/ftm.htm

• Forests Through Time (FTY 111/112): forest umaine edu (web links forForests Through Time (FTY 111/112): forest.umaine.edu (web links for students)

• http://www.forest.umaine.edu/education/livingston/fty111/WelcomeFTY111.html

• Invasive Plant Atlas of New England (IPANE)Invasive Plant Atlas of New England (IPANE)• http://nbii-nin.ciesin.columbia.edu/ipane/

Conclusion

“Preserve for posterity the natural wild beauty, biotic communities, and desirable natural, artificial, and historic features of the so-called “wild-lands” portions of Monhegan Island….”