A modelling approach to assess the long-term impact of beech bark disease in northern hardwood forest

2003 ◽  
Vol 33 (12) ◽  
pp. 2416-2425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Le Guerrier ◽  
Danielle J Marceau ◽  
André Bouchard ◽  
Jacques Brisson

This study proposes a modelling approach to assess the effect of beech bark disease on species demographic dynamics and structure of stands using SORTIE, a spatially explicit and individual-based forest succession model. The original model was modified to account for the increased mortality rate of infected Fagus grandifolia Ehrh. (American beech) and for some resistance to the disease. Two different scenarios, modeling species behaviour with and without the disease, respectively, were compared over a period of 300 years. Results reveal significant differences in species global demographic dynamics between both scenarios. Analyses of tree diameter-class distribution indicate that 50 years after the infestation, large F. grandifolia trees disappear, while the number of trees with a DBH between 11 and 50 cm considerably increases. At 300 years, the density of F. grandifolia with a DBH greater than 30 cm in the diseased scenario is superior or close to that in the nondiseased scenario, suggesting a progressive reestablishment of the species population structure. Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carrière) is the species that largely benefits from beech bark disease. The study demonstrates the potential of a modelling approach to acquire quantitative insights about the long-term ecological impact of the disease.

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (10) ◽  
pp. 643 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. D. Bradshaw ◽  
K. W. Dixon ◽  
H. Lambers ◽  
A. T. Cross ◽  
J. Bailey ◽  
...  

Wildfires are expected to increase worldwide both in frequency and intensity owing to global warming, but are likely to vary geographically. This is of particular concern in the five mediterranean regions of the world that are all biodiversity hotspots with extraordinary plant and animal diversity that may be impacted by deliberately imposed fire. Wildland managers attempt to reduce the impact and mitigate the outcomes of wildfires on human assets and biodiversity by the use of prescribed burning. The response that we must ‘fight fire with fire’ is understandable, perceived as reducing the flammability of wildlands in fire-prone regions and lessening the impact of wildfires. The long-term impact on biodiversity is, however, less clear. The practice of prescribed burning has been in place and monitored in south-western Australia for 50 years, longer and more intensively than in most other mediterranean ecosystems. The present target is for 200 000 ha burned each year in this biodiversity hotspot. Published studies on the impact of this burning on infrastructure protection and on biodiversity are here used to understand the protective capacity of the practice and to foreshadow its possible long-term ecological impact across all mediterranean ecosystems.


2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (5) ◽  
pp. 644-651
Author(s):  
Mary Ann Fajvan ◽  
Andrea Hille ◽  
Richard M Turcotte

Abstract Many Allegheny hardwood stands contain dense understories of very shade-tolerant American beech, resulting from partial disturbances that have accelerated root sucker development. The low-shade produced by these sprouts hampers silvicultural regeneration efforts to maintain species diversity in new cohorts. An increasing proportion of sprouts result from stressed trees infested with beech bark disease. The clonal sprouts also have a genetic affinity for the disease. A mixture of Accord® and Oust® herbicides, applied to understory vegetation after shelterwood establishment cuts, can significantly reduce understory beech density. Yet, retention of some overstory beech, with demonstrated disease resistance, is ecologically desirable. The root sprouts from these parent trees should also have resistance to the disease. We used broadcast herbicide application to kill understory vegetation after shelterwood harvests in three stands, and tested the effect of herbicide on beech sprouts associated with resistant trees. Eight years after treatment, plots that had received herbicide had similar densities of beech to no-herbicide plots. However, there were significant differences in seedling densities among stands (P = .0303) and species (P = .0014). Our results indicate that there is much temporal variability in regeneration dynamics after treatment. Resistant beech sprouts are still competitive in the long term, even after herbicide application.


Crisis ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 220-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Stack

Abstract. Background: There has been no systematic work on the short- or long-term impact of the installation of crisis phones on suicides from bridges. The present study addresses this issue. Method: Data refer to 219 suicides from 1954 through 2013 on the Skyway Bridge in St. Petersburg, Florida. Six crisis phones with signs were installed in July 1999. Results: In the first decade after installation, the phones were used by 27 suicidal persons and credited with preventing 26 or 2.6 suicides a year. However, the net suicide count increased from 48 in the 13 years before installation of phones to 106 the following 13 years or by 4.5 additional suicides/year (t =3.512, p < .001). Conclusion: Although the phones prevented some suicides, there was a net increase after installation. The findings are interpreted with reference to suggestion/contagion effects including the emergence of a controversial bridge suicide blog.


2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenna L. Claes ◽  
Sean S. Hankins ◽  
J. K. Ford
Keyword(s):  

Diabetes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 68 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 966-P
Author(s):  
ATSUSHI FUJIYA ◽  
TOSHIKI KIYOSE ◽  
TAIGA SHIBATA ◽  
HIROSHI SOBAJIMA

Author(s):  
Xun Yuan ◽  
Andreas Mitsis ◽  
Thomas Semple ◽  
Michael Rubens ◽  
Christoph A. Nienaber

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiayue Jiao

 Economic vitality is an important indicator of regional competitiveness. The demand for talents and the vitality of enterprises in different regions are obvious to all and have practical significance. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a survey data model and conduct in-depth study on improving regional economic vitality from the perspective of policy.Based on a variety of forecasting methods, this paper analyzes the short-term and long-term impact of economic policies in Northeast China, and finally puts forward the factors that affect the economic vitality of northeast policies. Finally, the paper puts forward the feasibility and targeted suggestions of strengthening regional economic vitality, obtaining long-term development and building a more competitive city in the new era. 


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