Looks like our generation is going to see another great tree species leave the landscape of TOO. Talked to Cliff he alerted me to it on his farm - yep it's on every Beech I looked at on my farm.
Beech Leaf Disease (BLD), caused by the nematode Litylenchus crenatae subsp. mccannii, leads to high mortality rates in untreated beech trees, with outcomes varying by tree size and age. Here's a summary based on available data:
Best vid I've seen on the basics of the threat and treatment options. I cleared and left Beech's around the cabin for the esthetics. Goona get the injector - learn it and use it.
Place of American Beech in the Forest
American beech, Fagus grandifolia, is one of the most widely distributed hardwoods in North America. Its range reaches from Nova Scotia to Texas, and in the north, west to the Mississippi River (Houston in USFS GTR NE-331; Beckman et al. 2021). Beech averages 2.3% of the total forest basal area within its range. Population densities are highest in a broad band of maximum abundance following the Appalachian Mountains from Kentucky to Maine. Beech constitutes 11.1% or more of basal area in this band, and up to 51% in parts of the Adirondack Mountains. While data from the Canadian range is spottier, in 2004 beech made up 17% of the forest in Quebec (Cogbill, 2004). In 2019, American beech comprised more than 50% of basal area in 17 plots and between 20-50% basal area in 16 additional plots in southwestern Ontario (Reed et al. 2022). In much of the southern and Midwestern portion of the range, beech constitute less than one percent of basal area (Cogbill in USFS GTR NE-331). Human actions even before the advent of non-native pests and pathogens had exacerbated a centuries-old reduction in beech. Population densities in the Northeast at the beginning of the 21st Century was only 30% of that at the beginning of the 19th Century. Still, despite overall reduction and regardless of past history, as of the beginning of the 21st Century, northern hardwood landscapes tended to have beech in 70 – 100% of stands; beech formed 5 – 25% of basal area (Cogbill, 2004). Even in Michigan, on the western edge of the species’ range, there were an estimated 138 million beech trees on 7.16 million acres of forest. About half of these forest areas had a beech basal area greater than 20% before arrival of beech bark disease (Heyd, 2004).
Fagus grandifolia is the only native member of the genus in North America (Beckman et al. 2021). There is a disjunct population in eastern Mexico (Beckman et al. 2021) – sometimes considered a separate subspecies, Fagus grandifolia var. mexicana (Cogbill, 2004).
Throughout its range, beech is found on most mesic sites which have escaped fire. Trees grow from sea level along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts up to 2000 m elevation in gaps of the southern Appalachian Mountains. At the northern edge of the range, beech occurs under locally moderated temperature and moisture conditions up to ~ 800 meters on mountain slopes. It is especially abundant on well drained soils in valley sides or on hardwood ridges. The western limit of the range appears to be tied to moisture availability (Cogbill, 2004). Due to its extensive distribution, the species has not been considered at risk by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature or The Nature Conservancy (Beckman et al. 2021).
Beech’s modern geographic pattern reflects the interaction of three major factors: the species’ background regional abundance, alterations due to land use changes (e.g., land clearance, regeneration of agricultural lands, forest management), and – since the mid-20th Century – the effects of beech bark disease. Past land use affects light levels. Canopy beech promote soil and forest floor conditions that favor regeneration by beech seedlings over competitors, e.g., sugar maple and hemlock (Beckman et al. 2021; Lovett et al. 2006). In some of these forests, white ash also comprised significant proportions of the forest (e.g., 5% of saplings, 16% of seedlings in plots in southwestern Ontario [Reed et al. 2023] and also present in Michigan forests [Kearney et al. 2004]) until succumbing to emerald ash borer. Still, beech seeds and sprouts are not dispersed far from the parent tree, which to some extent limits its ability to exclude other tree species availability of soil nutrients (especially nitrogen and calcium) (Canham, in USFS GTR NE-331). Soil moisture is important because beech is highly sensitive to drought stress. On moist, acidic soils, beech competes overwhelmingly in late-successional stands. Beech uninfected by beech bark disease are highly resistant to wind damage. American beech is often said to be long-lived, although Cogbill (2004) said field studies have found few trees over 250 years old. Beech foliar litter is high in lignin so it decomposes more slowly than that of its principal hardwood co-dominants, yellow birch and sugar maple. Litter quality influences the development of the forest floor and affects nutrient retention and cycling in the stands (Lovett et al. 2006).
Despite the decline of American beech historically (see above) and 100 years of impacts from beech bark disease, the species is expanding in regenerating forests across many parts of the Eastern Deciduous Forest (Ducey et al. 2023; Miller et al. 2023; Payne and Peet, 2023). One factor might be that deer browse beech leaves and twigs only when other food sources are scarce [see National Deer Association article here]. Deer are documented as playing a significant, if not always dominant, role in regeneration of forest tree species (Miller et al. 2023; Blossey et al. 2024). Deer do feed on the nuts, apparently heavily (Storer et al. 2004).
American beech has limited value as timber, but it is recognized as very important to wildlife. The tree’s large nuts are high in both protein (20% dry matter) and fat (50% dry matter) [see National Deer Association article here ], making them an important food source for at least 20 wildlife species, (perhaps as many as 40) including rodents, certain passerine birds, turkey, and bear among others (McNulty and Masters, 2004). The nuts’ importance is greatest in those parts of the northern hardwood forest where oaks are rare; there, beeches are the only species producing hard mast (Lovett et al. 2006). However, mast resources are apparently not as “reliable” as has often been said. In Maine and New York – after arrival of beech bark disease – large mast crops are produced on alternate years (Jakubas et al. 2004; McNulty and Masters, 2004). In Michigan, before arrival of beech bark disease, less than 10% of beech nuts examined were sound (Storer et al. 2004).
Beech Leaf Disease (BLD), caused by the nematode Litylenchus crenatae subsp. mccannii, leads to high mortality rates in untreated beech trees, with outcomes varying by tree size and age. Here's a summary based on available data:
- Mortality Rates (Untreated):
- Saplings and Young Trees: Near 100% mortality in areas where BLD is established, with death typically occurring within 1–5 years of infection. Studies report sapling mortality as high as 14% in a single year in heavily affected areas.
- Mature Trees: Mortality is slower but still significant, with studies indicating 30% of American beech trees died within a decade of BLD detection in northeastern Ohio, near the disease's epicenter. Larger trees often experience canopy thinning and branch dieback, leading to death within 6–10 years.Average Time from First Infection to Mortality.
- Average Time from First Infection to Mortality:
- Saplings: 1–5 years, with some dying as early as 1–2 years in severe cases.
- Mature Trees: 6–10 years, though this can be accelerated by secondary stressors like Beech Bark Disease or drought.
Best vid I've seen on the basics of the threat and treatment options. I cleared and left Beech's around the cabin for the esthetics. Goona get the injector - learn it and use it.
Place of American Beech in the Forest
American beech, Fagus grandifolia, is one of the most widely distributed hardwoods in North America. Its range reaches from Nova Scotia to Texas, and in the north, west to the Mississippi River (Houston in USFS GTR NE-331; Beckman et al. 2021). Beech averages 2.3% of the total forest basal area within its range. Population densities are highest in a broad band of maximum abundance following the Appalachian Mountains from Kentucky to Maine. Beech constitutes 11.1% or more of basal area in this band, and up to 51% in parts of the Adirondack Mountains. While data from the Canadian range is spottier, in 2004 beech made up 17% of the forest in Quebec (Cogbill, 2004). In 2019, American beech comprised more than 50% of basal area in 17 plots and between 20-50% basal area in 16 additional plots in southwestern Ontario (Reed et al. 2022). In much of the southern and Midwestern portion of the range, beech constitute less than one percent of basal area (Cogbill in USFS GTR NE-331). Human actions even before the advent of non-native pests and pathogens had exacerbated a centuries-old reduction in beech. Population densities in the Northeast at the beginning of the 21st Century was only 30% of that at the beginning of the 19th Century. Still, despite overall reduction and regardless of past history, as of the beginning of the 21st Century, northern hardwood landscapes tended to have beech in 70 – 100% of stands; beech formed 5 – 25% of basal area (Cogbill, 2004). Even in Michigan, on the western edge of the species’ range, there were an estimated 138 million beech trees on 7.16 million acres of forest. About half of these forest areas had a beech basal area greater than 20% before arrival of beech bark disease (Heyd, 2004).
Fagus grandifolia is the only native member of the genus in North America (Beckman et al. 2021). There is a disjunct population in eastern Mexico (Beckman et al. 2021) – sometimes considered a separate subspecies, Fagus grandifolia var. mexicana (Cogbill, 2004).
Throughout its range, beech is found on most mesic sites which have escaped fire. Trees grow from sea level along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts up to 2000 m elevation in gaps of the southern Appalachian Mountains. At the northern edge of the range, beech occurs under locally moderated temperature and moisture conditions up to ~ 800 meters on mountain slopes. It is especially abundant on well drained soils in valley sides or on hardwood ridges. The western limit of the range appears to be tied to moisture availability (Cogbill, 2004). Due to its extensive distribution, the species has not been considered at risk by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature or The Nature Conservancy (Beckman et al. 2021).
Beech’s modern geographic pattern reflects the interaction of three major factors: the species’ background regional abundance, alterations due to land use changes (e.g., land clearance, regeneration of agricultural lands, forest management), and – since the mid-20th Century – the effects of beech bark disease. Past land use affects light levels. Canopy beech promote soil and forest floor conditions that favor regeneration by beech seedlings over competitors, e.g., sugar maple and hemlock (Beckman et al. 2021; Lovett et al. 2006). In some of these forests, white ash also comprised significant proportions of the forest (e.g., 5% of saplings, 16% of seedlings in plots in southwestern Ontario [Reed et al. 2023] and also present in Michigan forests [Kearney et al. 2004]) until succumbing to emerald ash borer. Still, beech seeds and sprouts are not dispersed far from the parent tree, which to some extent limits its ability to exclude other tree species availability of soil nutrients (especially nitrogen and calcium) (Canham, in USFS GTR NE-331). Soil moisture is important because beech is highly sensitive to drought stress. On moist, acidic soils, beech competes overwhelmingly in late-successional stands. Beech uninfected by beech bark disease are highly resistant to wind damage. American beech is often said to be long-lived, although Cogbill (2004) said field studies have found few trees over 250 years old. Beech foliar litter is high in lignin so it decomposes more slowly than that of its principal hardwood co-dominants, yellow birch and sugar maple. Litter quality influences the development of the forest floor and affects nutrient retention and cycling in the stands (Lovett et al. 2006).
Despite the decline of American beech historically (see above) and 100 years of impacts from beech bark disease, the species is expanding in regenerating forests across many parts of the Eastern Deciduous Forest (Ducey et al. 2023; Miller et al. 2023; Payne and Peet, 2023). One factor might be that deer browse beech leaves and twigs only when other food sources are scarce [see National Deer Association article here]. Deer are documented as playing a significant, if not always dominant, role in regeneration of forest tree species (Miller et al. 2023; Blossey et al. 2024). Deer do feed on the nuts, apparently heavily (Storer et al. 2004).
American beech has limited value as timber, but it is recognized as very important to wildlife. The tree’s large nuts are high in both protein (20% dry matter) and fat (50% dry matter) [see National Deer Association article here ], making them an important food source for at least 20 wildlife species, (perhaps as many as 40) including rodents, certain passerine birds, turkey, and bear among others (McNulty and Masters, 2004). The nuts’ importance is greatest in those parts of the northern hardwood forest where oaks are rare; there, beeches are the only species producing hard mast (Lovett et al. 2006). However, mast resources are apparently not as “reliable” as has often been said. In Maine and New York – after arrival of beech bark disease – large mast crops are produced on alternate years (Jakubas et al. 2004; McNulty and Masters, 2004). In Michigan, before arrival of beech bark disease, less than 10% of beech nuts examined were sound (Storer et al. 2004).
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