Evidence of damage from exotic invasive earthworm activity was highly correlated to sugar maple dieback in the Upper Great Lakes region
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-26-2017
Department
College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science
Abstract
Sugar maple (Acer sacharrum Marsh.) in the western Upper Great Lakes region has recently been reported with increased crown dieback symptoms, prompting investigation of the dieback etiology across the region. Evaluation of sugar maple dieback from 2009 to 2012 across a 120 plot network in Upper Michigan, northern Wisconsin, and eastern Minnesota has indicated that forest floor disturbance impacts from exotic invasive earthworms was significantly related to maple dieback. Other plot level variables tested showed significant relationships among dieback and increased soil carbon, decreased soil manganese, and reduced herbaceous cover, each of which was also be correlated to earthworm activity. Relationships between possible causal factors and recent growth trends and seedling counts were also examined. Maple regeneration counts were not correlated with the amount of dieback. The recent mean radial increment was significantly correlated with various soil features and nutrients. This study presents significant evidence correlating sugar maple dieback in the western Upper Great Lakes region with earthworm activity, and highlights the need for considering the impacts of non-native earthworm on soil properties when assessing sugar maple health and productivity.
Publication Title
Biological Invasions
Recommended Citation
Bal, T. L.,
Storer, A. J.,
&
Jurgensen, M. F.
(2017).
Evidence of damage from exotic invasive earthworm activity was highly correlated to sugar maple dieback in the Upper Great Lakes region.
Biological Invasions,
20(1), 151-164.
http://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-017-1523-0
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p/465
Publisher's Statement
© Springer International Publishing AG 2017. Publisher’s version of record: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-017-1523-0