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Getting ahead of the front Evaluating impacts of emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) on forest vegetation in eastern North America Jason S. Kilgore, Washington & Jefferson College Benjamin J. Dolan, The University of Findlay Slide 2 Slide 3 Introduction to North America Slide 4 Slide 5 Current distribution of EAB Slide 6 Impacts thus far Altered light regime o Increases PAR and sapling growth (Burr & McCullough 2014) Altered nutrient cycling & carbon storage o Increase in non-ash productivity, particularly maples and elms o Productivity does not offset loss of regional ash productivity (Flower et al. 2013) Inconsistent response by species o Blue ash has higher survival rates than green ash (Tanis & McCullogh 2012) Slide 7 EAB Impacts Study: hypotheses 1)Rate of ash decline (from EAB detection to mortality) is positively related to water stress via low precipitation and soil particle size across a continental-scale gradient. 1)Loss of ash from the overstory will allow more light to penetrate to the forest floor, resulting in an increase in density of seedlings and growth rate of saplings. 1)Light availability in high ash plots is sufficient to shift understory composition from shade-tolerant to more shade-intolerant tree species (Dolan et al., in prep; but see Flower et al. 2013). 1)Loss of ash will lead to increases in non-native invasive herbaceous and shrub species and cover (Hausman et al. 2010). 1)The presence and abundance of certain invasive plants (e.g., Alliaria petiolata, non-native Lonicera sp., Rosa multiflora, Rhamnus cathartica, and Ailanthus altissima) have a disproportionate effect on post- invasion diversity, growth rate of native trees, and time to canopy closure. Slide 8 Slide 9 Slide 10 Trees: 2.5 cm DBH at 1.37 m Tags, species Inventory status DBH, soundness, crown class (opt), height (opt) Tree damage PFPP variables (Plot) 20 m Slide 11 Small Stems: >1.37 m tall,