Eighth-year survival and growth of planted replacement tree species in black ash (Fraxinus nigra) wetlands threatened by emerald ash borer in Minnesota, USA

Fraxinus nigra Marsh. (black ash) wetland forests in northern Minnesota, USA, are threatened by the invasive insect, emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (EAB)). A potential management option is promoting regeneration of tree species that are not EAB hosts to maintain ecosystem functions. Using an operational-scale field experiment, we examined the survival of 12 alternative tree species in response to different canopy treatments. We planted the seedlings in 1.6 ha plots assigned to four replicated canopy treatments: untreated control, group selection (0.04 ha gaps, 20% of stand), black ash girdling to emulate EAB-induced mortality, and clearcut. Fall and spring plantings were used to compare the effects of spring ponding. Control (32.9%), group selection (34.5%), and girdling (33.3%) treatments had comparable overall seedling survival. Survival in the clear-cut treatments was significantly lower (22%). Species selection, overstory treatment, and season of planting together resulted in survival rates ranging from 0.08% to 94.1%. Conifer species had low overall rates of survival (10.7%), whereas some species with native ranges not presently overlapping with northern F. nigra forests, e.g., Quercus bicolor Willd. (75.5%), had high survival rates. If growth is light-limited, group selection may be effective in promoting recruitment and supporting a larger variety of species.

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Potential Species Replacements for Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra) at the Confluence of Two Threats: Emerald Ash Borer and a Changing Climate

Ecosystems ◽

10.1007/s10021-015-9929-y ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 248-270 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Louis Iverson ◽

Kathleen S. Knight ◽

Anantha Prasad ◽

Daniel A. Herms ◽

Stephen Matthews ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Emerald Ash Borer ◽

Changing Climate ◽

Fraxinus Nigra ◽

Black Ash ◽

Species Replacements

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Methods to Improve Survival and Growth of Planted Alternative Species Seedlings in Black Ash Ecosystems Threatened by Emerald Ash Borer

Forests ◽

10.3390/f9030146 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 146 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Nicholas Bolton ◽

Joseph Shannon ◽

Joshua Davis ◽

Matthew Grinsven ◽

Nam Noh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Emerald Ash Borer ◽

Survival And Growth ◽

Alternative Species ◽

Black Ash

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Regeneration responses in black ash (Fraxinus nigra) wetlands: implications for forest diversification to address emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis)

New Forests ◽

10.1007/s11056-020-09807-0 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Marcella A. Windmuller-Campione ◽

Matthew B. Russell ◽

Robert A. Slesak ◽

Mathew Lochner

Keyword(s):

Emerald Ash Borer ◽

Agrilus Planipennis ◽

Fraxinus Nigra ◽

Black Ash

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Light Limitation Impacts Growth but Not Constitutive or Jasmonate Induced Defenses Relevant to Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) in White Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) or Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra)

Journal of Chemical Ecology ◽

10.1007/s10886-020-01223-0 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 46 (11-12) ◽

pp. 1117-1130

Author(s):

Michael S. Friedman ◽

Chad M. Rigsby ◽

Don Cipollini

Keyword(s):

Emerald Ash Borer ◽

Agrilus Planipennis ◽

Induced Defenses ◽

Light Limitation ◽

Fraxinus Nigra ◽

Black Ash

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Regeneration of Plants from Fraxinus nigra Marsh. Hypocotyls

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.48.7.887 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 48 (7) ◽

pp. 887-890 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Rochelle R. Beasley ◽

Paula M. Pijut

Keyword(s):

Casein Hydrolysate ◽

Emerald Ash Borer ◽

Adventitious Shoot ◽

Shoot Elongation ◽

Root Induction ◽

Ms Medium ◽

Eastern United States ◽

Fraxinus Nigra ◽

Black Ash

Fraxinus nigra Marsh. (black ash) is a native North American hardwood tree species that is ecologically important and has ethnobotanical significance to American Indian communities of the eastern United States. Black ash has immature embryos at seed set, combined with complex stratification requirements, making natural regeneration difficult. This, combined with the threat and devastation being caused by the emerald ash borer, makes an in vitro adventitious shoot regeneration and rooting protocol imperative for mass propagation, conservation, and genetic improvement of this species. Hypocotyls were cultured for 4 weeks on a modified Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 13.3 μM 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) and 4.5 μM thidiazuron for adventitious shoot induction. Shoots continued to regenerate when explants were then cultured on MS medium supplemented with Gamborg B5 vitamins plus 0.2 g·L−1 glycine (B5G), 6.7 μM BA, 1 μM indole-3-butryic acid (IBA), and 0.29 μM gibberellic acid (GA3) for 4 weeks, followed by transfer to MSB5G medium with 13.3 μM BA, 1 μM IBA, and 0.29 μM GA3 for shoot elongation. Once elongated, the microshoots were continuously micropropagated through nodal sectioning, and cultured on MSB5G medium supplemented with 13.3 μM BA, 1 μM IBA, 0.29 μM GA3, and 0.2 g·L−1 casein hydrolysate. Rooting of elongated microshoots was successful using woody plant medium supplemented with 4.9 μM IBA and 5.7 μM indole-3-acetic acid with a 10-day initial dark culture for root induction followed by culture under a 16-h photoperiod. Rooted plantlets were successfully acclimatized to the greenhouse with 100% survival.

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Effect of simulated emerald ash borer infestation on nitrogen cycling in black ash (Fraxinus nigra) wetlands in northern Minnesota, USA

Forest Ecology and Management ◽

10.1016/j.foreco.2019.117769 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 458 ◽

pp. 117769 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Alan J.Z. Toczydlowski ◽

Robert A. Slesak ◽

Randall K. Kolka ◽

Rodney T. Venterea ◽

Anthony W. D'Amato ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Cycling ◽

Emerald Ash Borer ◽

Fraxinus Nigra ◽

Black Ash

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Canopy treatment influences growth of replacement tree species in Fraxinus nigra forests threatened by the emerald ash borer in Minnesota, USA

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/cjfr-2016-0369 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 47 (2) ◽

pp. 183-192 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Christopher E. Looney ◽

Anthony W. D’Amato ◽

Brian J. Palik ◽

Robert A. Slesak

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Tree Species ◽

Group Selection ◽

Emerald Ash Borer ◽

Agrilus Planipennis ◽

Tree Cover ◽

Climate Zone ◽

Proactive Management ◽

The Future ◽

Fraxinus Nigra

Fraxinus nigra Marsh. (black ash), a dominant tree species of wetland forests in northern Minnesota, USA, is imperiled by the invasive insect emerald ash borer (EAB; Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, 1888). Regeneration of associated tree species is generally low in F. nigra forests and could be impacted further by climate change. Proactive management may be critical to maintaining tree cover and ecosystem function following EAB invasion. We investigated the mean height and diameter relative growth rate (RGR) of seedlings of 10 potential replacement tree species, including two from the next southern climate zone projected to be adapted to the future northern Minnesota climate. Seedlings were planted in F. nigra wetlands under four canopy treatments: unharvested control, clearcut, girdling F. nigra to emulate EAB-induced mortality, and group selection. Mean height and diameter RGR was fastest overall in the clearcut treatment, followed by the girdling, group selection, and control treatments. Depending on species, treatment significantly influenced RGR. Several species projected to be adapted to the future northern Minnesota climate had moderate to rapid mean RGR, including one from the next southern climate zone. Our results suggest that seedling plantings and overstory treatment represent an effective strategy for establishing F. nigra replacement tree species as EAB approaches, while reducing future risk from climate change.

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