Phoebe 

Beech leaf disease (BLD) is caused by the parasitic nematode (a microscopic worm) Litylenchus crenatae sp. mccannii. This invasive species is rapidly spreading throughout beech trees in the northeastern United States. The nematodes infect leaf buds, preventing photosynthesis and leading to leaf loss and tree mortality within five to seven years of initial infection. Due to the ecological importance of beech trees in supporting forest structure and protecting undergrowth, the spread of BLD poses a significant threat to the ecosystem.  Beech trees can survive in low light environments, thereby maintaining ecosystem stability and providing consistent food and habitat to other organisms in the ecosystem and their large canopies protect fungi and other organisms living underneath them. This study aims to track the progression and spread of BLD and its effects on the soil belowground across sites in both New York City and the Catskills. 35 plots were established in ten different parks in New York State. About 3 soil samples from each of these plots are extracted approximately every three years and are separated into four categories: debris, coarse roots (over 2mm in diameter), fine roots (under 2mm in diameter), and rocks. All of these samples are then sent to an external lab where nutrient availability, decomposition rates, soil health and organic matter are quantified through chemical and statistical analysis. The study is ongoing, and therefore the results of these analyses are still being processed. This work will provide insights into the belowground ecosystem of BLD impacted trees. It will also assist forest managers in creating more targeted management strategies in order to mitigate the spread of this disease.