Emsweller & Dolan 2012

Impacts of Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) on Forest Vegetation of Hancock County, Ohio

Lauren N. Emsweller and Benjamin J. Dolan, Ph.D.

The University of Findlay, College of Sciences

Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) is an Asian beetle that was first discovered in Detroit, Michigan, in 2002. Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) was most likely transported in ash (Fraxinus) wood that is used for stabilizing cargo in ships. The beetle has been spreading throughout the Central Hardwood Region since its introduction, and the ash population has been declining in response. EAB larvae feed on ash phloem and leave feeding grooves that impede nutrient and water transport, leading to mortality. EAB was identified in Hancock County, Ohio in 2007, and the succession of vegetation that will occur after the disappearance of ash is unknown. It is hypothesized that vegetation diversity will decrease, sugar maple (Acer saccharum) will become dominant, and invasive plant species abundance will increase as a result of gaps created by ash tree mortality. Sites selected for this study include mature forests typical of Northwest Ohio and are characterized by beech-maple and elm-ash forests. Vegetation sampling began in May 2010, prior to EAB-induced mortality, and will continue annually as ash succumbs to the invasive insect. Models predicting the potential change in vegetation indicate that sugar maple will become dominant immediately following ash death, and will remain dominant over time in all but riparian and drier locations. Preliminary results indicate that green ash (F. pennsylvanica) is a generalist that binds divergent communities which become more distinct upon removal of ash. Future composition of forest vegetation in Northwest Ohio will be predicted with community succession models.

Copyright 2012, Benjamin J. Dolan. You must ask permission to cite, copy, or use this information.

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Figure 1. Density of Fraxinus pennsylvanica seedlings.

Figure 2. Percent cover of garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata).

Figure 3. Diversity of plant communities, disaggregated by strata, and indexed with the Probability of Interspecific Encounter (PIE).

Figure 4. Rank abundance diagram illustrating species richness and abundance for overstory data collected in 14 10th-acre fixed plots, from two sites in Hancock County, Ohio.

Figure 5. Rank abundance diagram illustrating 2010 species richness and abundance for overstory data collected in 63 variable prism plots from 5 sites in Hancock County, Ohio.

Figure 6. Rank abundance diagram illustrating 2011 species richness and abundance for overstory data collected in 80 variable prism plots from 5 sites in Hancock County, Ohio.