Growth loss and recovery following defoliation by the balsam fir sawfly in young, spaced balsam fir stands

2001 ◽  
Vol 133 (5) ◽  
pp. 675-686 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harald Piene ◽  
Don P. Ostaff ◽  
Eldon S. Eveleigh
Keyword(s):  
Volume Growth ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Recovery Rates ◽  
Wood Supply ◽  
Growth Recovery ◽  
Neodiprion Abietis ◽  
Volume Increment ◽  
Growth Loss ◽  
Intensively Managed

AbstractTwo stands of intensively managed balsam fir [Abies balsamea (L.) Mill. (Pinaceae)] in western Newfoundland, located within an area infested by the balsam fir sawfly, Neodiprion abietis (Harr.) (Hymenoptera: Diprionidae) complex, were selected to study growth loss and recovery following severe defoliation by the balsam fir sawfly in the early 1990s. Four years after the start of the outbreak, volume increments were reduced by 78–81%. The decreased volume increment and recovery coincided well with the balsam fir sawfly outbreak and decline. The growth recovery rates following severe balsam fir sawfly defoliation were slow due to the absence of bud destruction, which triggers the release of suppressed buds, and thus increases foliage production. It is imperative that the severe losses in volume growth caused by balsam fir sawfly defoliation are incorporated into wood supply analyses so that future annual allowable cuts may be adjusted. In addition, to ensure maximum recovery rates at the end of an outbreak, future populations must be kept at a minimum to avoid additional foliage loss.

Spruce budworm defoliation and growth loss in young balsam fir: recovery of growth in spaced stands

1989 ◽  
Vol 19 (12) ◽  
pp. 1616-1624 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harald Piene
Keyword(s):  
Volume Growth ◽  
Spruce Budworm ◽  
Complete Recovery ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Growth Recovery ◽  
Shoot Production ◽  
Volume Increment ◽  
Growth Loss ◽  
Major Factors ◽  
Foliar Biomass

Trees defoliated by the spruce budworm (Choristoneurafumiferana (Clem.)) for 1 to 4 years and subsequently protected rapidly regained foliar biomass. Three plots of 25- to 30-year-old balsam fir (Abiesbalsamga (L.) Mill.) trees, on the Cape Breton Highlands of Nova Scotia, were studied. Two major factors contributed to the rapid growth recovery rates: the ability to produce epicormic shoots, combined with increased retention of older age-classes of needles, and the development of new foliage at the expense of volume growth. A complete recovery of volume increment occurred after 2 years of extreme defoliation, but not after 4 years of severe defoliation. Epicormic shoot production was only associated with shoot and bud destruction and therefore, growth recovery was slow after partial defoliation of only current foliage. In all plots studied, there was a lag of 2 to 3 years between increased foliar biomass and significant increases in volume increment.

Réduction de croissance en volume occasionnée au sapin baumier, suite à la défoliation par la tordeuse des bourgeons de l'épinette

1985 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis Archambault ◽  
Jean Beaulieu
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Choristoneura Fumiferana ◽  
Volume Growth ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Spruce Budworm ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Diameter Growth ◽  
Ottawa River ◽  
Epidemic Period ◽  
Growth Loss

A method was developed to determine the growth losses in volume in surviving balsam fir following a spruce budworm outbreak that occurred in the Ottawa River Valley in Quebec. Equations expressing the diameter growth rate had there been no infestation were developed. These equations were applied to balsam fir surviving the epidemic so as to determine what their diameters would have been without defoliation. Subsequently, the theoretical volumes were assessed using these diameters. The method was validated for the pre-epidemic period and precision was superior to 90%. Analyses revealed the outbreak caused a 49% volume growth loss to balsam fir for a period of approximately 10 years. Key words: Spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.)), balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.), growth losses.

Stochastic simulation of growth loss in thinned balsam fir stands defoliated by the spruce budworm in Newfoundland

1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 703-710 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erhard John Dobesberger
Keyword(s):  
Stochastic Simulation ◽  
Larval Density ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Spruce Budworm ◽  
Damage Function ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Negative Exponential Function ◽  
Attack Pattern ◽  
Growth Loss ◽  
The Impact

A stochastic simulation model was developed to derive a damage function for the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana Clem. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), and balsam fir, Abies balsamea (L.) Mill., herbivore interaction at the stand level for open-grown trees. Both aggregated and uniform models of attack pattern by late-instar larvae based on k of the negative binomial were evaluated to determine the impact of larval density and attack pattern on the loss in stemwood volume increment of young, thinned balsam fir stands in Newfoundland. Percentage loss in stemwood increment was a nonlinear, negative exponential function of initial larval density. Implementation of control measures to prevent 50% defoliation that is caused by about 14 larvae/branch tip would result in saving 24% of the annual stemwood increment after 1 year of defoliation and about 32% after 2 years of cumulative defoliation. Aggregation of spruce budworm larvae among trees within a forest stand results in less growth loss compared with a uniform pattern of attack. The nonlinear damage function may suggest tolerance and possibly compensatory growth after herbivory by low population levels of the spruce budworm.

Estimating forest vulnerability to the next spruce budworm outbreak: will past silvicultural efforts pay dividends?

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 314-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillaume B. Sainte-Marie ◽  
Daniel D. Kneeshaw ◽  
David A. MacLean ◽  
Chris R. Hennigar
Keyword(s):  
Choristoneura Fumiferana ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Spruce Budworm ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Stand Age ◽  
Disturbance History ◽  
Timber Supply ◽  
Silvicultural Treatments ◽  
Combined Use ◽  
Intensively Managed

Silvicultural treatments recommended to reduce damage by spruce budworm (SBW; Choristoneura fumiferana Clemens) include reducing balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) abundance and age and increasing spruce (Picea spp.) and hardwood content. To evaluate the effect of these measures on forest timber supply, we assessed stand characteristics, disturbance history, and timber supply for an intensively managed eastern Quebec forest from 1985 to 2004, encompassing a major SBW outbreak. During this time, mean stand age declined from 55 to 51 years, and proportions of areas in balsam fir stands declined (42% to 27%), spruce–fir stabilized (12% to 11%), and mixedwoods increased (32% to 52%). We estimated forest vulnerability using softwood volume reductions following simulated outbreak scenarios of different severity (low, moderate, and high) and different effects of hardwood content in reducing spruce–fir defoliation. Volume reductions for outbreaks simulated to begin in either 1985 or 2004 were similar, ranging from 15%–46% (no hardwood effect in reducing defoliation) to 13%–39% (given a maximum hardwood content effect) for light and severe outbreaks, respectively. Considering the net detrimental effect of increased hardwood content on softwood timber supply, we question the dividends of promoting hardwoods and recommend increasing the combined use of plantations and weeding treatments to increase spruce content.

Host–tree oviposition preference of balsam fir sawfly, Neodiprion abietis (Hymenoptera: Diprionidae), in New Brunswick, Canada

2013 ◽  
Vol 145 (4) ◽  
pp. 430-434
Author(s):  
Rob C. Johns ◽  
J. Fidgen ◽  
Don P. Ostaff
Keyword(s):  
New Brunswick ◽  
Host Plant ◽  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Oviposition Preference ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Neodiprion Abietis ◽  
Plant Foliage ◽  
Female Longevity

AbstractLaboratory experiments using field-collected females were carried out to determine the oviposition preference of the balsam fir sawfly, Neodiprion abietis (Harris) (Hymenoptera: Diprionidae) in New Brunswick, Canada. Unmated adult females given no choice among host–plant foliage laid ∼98% of available eggs on balsam fir (Abies balsamea (Linnaeus) Miller; Pinaceae), but only 8% and 10%, respectively, on white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss; Pinaceae) and black spruce (Picea mariana (Miller) Britton, Sterns, and Poggenburg). Given a choice among shoots from all three hosts in the same chamber, unmated females laid all but one egg in balsam fir. Host plant had no effect on female longevity, although there were nearly four- to eightfold more empty egg slits on balsam fir needles, owing presumably to the greater activity of females on this preferred host foliage.

ACCUMULATION AND PERSISTENCE OF FENITROTHION IN NEEDLES OF BALSAM FIR AND POSSIBLE EFFECTS ON ABUNDANCE OF NEODIPRION ABIETIS (HARRIS) (HYMENOPTERA: DIPRIONIDAE)

1986 ◽  
Vol 118 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.C. Eidt ◽  
V.N. Mallet
Keyword(s):  
New Brunswick ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Neodiprion Abietis ◽  
Forest Insects ◽  
The Family

AbstractFenitrothion accumulates in foliage tissue of balsam fir, Abies balsamea (L.) Mill., in the forest, but only until about 1.5 μg/g is reached. The balsam fir sawfly, Neodiprion abietis (Harris), which belongs to the family of forest insects known to be most sensitive to fenitrothion, has become rare but persists in New Brunswick in spite of the use of fenitrothion for control of spruce bud worm, Choristoneura fumerifana (Clemens).

scholarly journals Spruce Budworm Defoliation and Growth Loss in Young Balsam Fir: Estimation of Volume Growth Based on Stem Analysis and Increment Cores at Breast Height

1996 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 73-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harald Piene ◽  
Janine D'Amours ◽  
Alan A. Bray
Keyword(s):  
Volume Growth ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Spruce Budworm ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Stem Analysis ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Breast Height ◽  
Individual Tree Growth ◽  
Growth Loss ◽  
Changes Over Time

Abstract Comparisons of estimates of volume and volume increment, based on increment cores sampled at breast height and on stem analysis, were made in a young balsam fir stand that had been defoliated by spruce budworm. Use of increment cores is not recommended to estimate individual tree growth, because large errors, ranging from 20.9 to 57.2%, and error variability can be expected. The inability, when using increment cores, to estimate basal area is the major source of this variation. Although large uncertainties are associated with future growth predictions, on a per ha basis, changes over time based on increment cores may in some instances give comparable results to those based on stem analysis due to the canceling effect of trees being approximately equally overestimated and underestimated. However, a prerequisite is that the defoliation history and the year of individual tree death are known in detail to aid in the correct dating of ring widths. North. J. Appl. For. 13(2):73-78.

New synonymy and new sawfly host records for Cirrospilus vittatus (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) in North America

2003 ◽  
Vol 135 (5) ◽  
pp. 669-676 ◽  
Author(s):  
John T. Huber ◽  
Gaétan Moreau
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
New Brunswick ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Egg Parasitoid ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Neodiprion Abietis ◽  
New Synonymy

AbstractCirrospilus flavoviridis Crawford, syn. nov., is synonymized under C. vittatus Walker. It is newly recorded as a solitary egg parasitoid from eggs of Neodiprion abietis Harris (Hymenoptera: Diprionidae) on balsam fir, Abies balsamea (L.) Mill. (Pinaceace), in New Brunswick and Newfoundland and from eggs of Neodiprion nanulus nanulus Schedl in Wisconsin.

The relation of balsam fir volume increment to cumulative spruce budworm defoliation

1996 ◽  
Vol 72 (5) ◽  
pp. 533-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A. MacLean ◽  
Eldon S. Eveleigh ◽  
Tony L. Hunt ◽  
Mervyn G. Morgan
Keyword(s):  
Specific Volume ◽  
Choristoneura Fumiferana ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Spruce Budworm ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Regression Equations ◽  
Growth Reduction ◽  
Stem Analysis ◽  
Volume Increment ◽  
Mill Stand

The effect of cumulative defoliation caused by spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana [Clem.]) from 1981 to 1987 on tree growth was assessed in a 35-year-old balsam fir (Abies balsamea [L.] Mill.) stand. After six years of moderate to severe defoliation, specific volume increment was reduced by an average of 11, 55, 83, 70, and 83% for trees with visual cumulative defoliation ratings, in 1987, of 1–25%, 26–50%, 51–75%, 76–90%, and 91–100%, respectively. Following defoliation, mean specific volume increment ranged from 0.02 cm3 cm−2 year−1 for trees with >90% cumulative defoliation to 0.16 cm3 cm−2 year for trees with <25% defoliation. Specific volume increment and percentage growth reduction were significantly related to the cumulative defoliation rating, with regression equations explaining 72 and 64%, respectively, of the variability among trees. It was concluded that onetime visual ratings of cumulative defoliation caused by spruce budworm can be used in assessing balsam fir growth rates and growth reduction. Key words: growth reduction, specific volume increment, stem analysis, Choristoneura fumiferana, Abies balsamea

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