Study Number: 

1103

Project Title

 Predicting the Effects of Sudden Oak Death on Mesic Oak Forests in the Southern Appalachians.

Investigator(s):

Dr. Ronald Hendrick | Biographical Sketch | E-Mail | Tel. 706.542.1385 | Fax 706.542.8356
Dr. James Vose | Biographical Sketch | E-Mail | Tel. 828.524.2128 x 114 | Fax 828.369.6768
Dr. Michael Wimberly | E-Mail | Tel. 706.583.8097 | Fax 706.542.8356
Affiliated Institution(s): University of Georgia
USDA Forest Service
Address: USDA Forest Service
320 Green Street
Athens, Georgia
30602-2044
Study Type: Terrestrial
Project Type: Type 1
Study Period:

08/2004 to 12/2006.
Status/Notes:

 
Funding Sources:

USDA Forest Service.
Abstract: It is probable that Phytophthora ramoru, the fungus responsible for sudden oak death, will become established in the southern Appalachians. Two susceptible taxa are of particular concern: red oaks (especially northern red oak, Quercus rubra) and rosebay rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum). Northern red oak is highly valued for its timber, and is an important mast source. In the forested environment, rhododendron has little economic value, but plays a significant role in regulating forest community dynamics. It restricts understory development and forest regeneration through the dense shade it casts and its recalcitrant litter. Because sudden oak death can kill not only canopy trees, but also may eliminate or reduce a "keystone" understory species that strongly regulates forest regeneration, its effects on ecological functions are likely to be quite significant.
Resources for students about terms used in this abstract:
Northern Red Oak - Source: USDA Plants Database
Rosebay Rhododendron - Source: USDA Plants Database
Location(s), Described: Nine temporary plots are located in an un-numbered watershed of North Fork Cold Springs Cove, between Reynolds Gap and Devil's Ball Alley Cliff, along Road 421-2.
Location(s):
Elevation
Decimal Degrees
UTM, Zone 17, NAD83		 GPS points requested from Brian Kloeppel, February 2006.
Location(s), Download GPS: ArcView Shape Files (shp.):   UTM, NAD83, Zone 17 |  Lat/Lon
Location(s), Online Maps: Online Map
Methods/Experimental Design: Nine study plots will be randomly located within the Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory in stands containing at least 15% northern red oak basal area and with rhododendron patches covering at least 15% of plot area. The experiment consists of 3 treatments, each replicated in three 25 m square plots: control; northern red oak and rhododendron mortality; and northern red oak and rhododendron mortality plus rhododendron stem and foliage removal. The oak and rhododendron mortality treatment will emulate the loss of both species to sudden oak death. Plants will be killed by girdling and left standing, replicating the short-term effects of sudden oak death. The combined mortality and stem/folige removal treatment will emulate, on an accelerated time scale, the longer term effects resulting from the eventual decomposition of RM litter. Tree will be tagged and species and DBH of all overstory trees recorded. Subcanopy stems will be tallied by species and DBH class. Percent cover of understory vegetation will be measured within six 2X2 m subplots. Environmental measuremenst will be taken at 9 sampling points within each plot; 3 under rhododendron, 3 under red oak and 3 under other tree species. Soil respiration and moisture will be measured bi-weekly during the growing season. Samples will also be collected within 2 m of those sampling points to measure soil pH, C and N (NH4+ and NO3-). Understory light will be quantified using hemispherical photographs taken at each sampling point, and litterfall will be measured. All environmental and understory measurements will be repeated one year after treatment, and annually thereafter. Overstory measurements will be repeated three years after treatment. We will evaluate the suitability of existing computer simulation models for projecting the effects of sudden oak death and make preliminary projections of long-term community and ecosystem responses.
Sampling Frequency: See above.
Data Columns: Not applicable.
Publications: None.
Data Restrictions: Users must adhere to the Coweeta LTER Data Policy.
Metadata: EML Format (XML Schema) | Information about EML
Data Downloads: No data has been submitted by researchers.