Connecticut entomologists warn of southern pine beetle invasion

Connecticut entomologists warn of southern pine beetle invasion



Populations of Southern Pine Beetle have been found in Connecticut.  This is a species that is native to the southern portions of United States and throughout Central America.  Southern Pine Beetle favor "hard" pine species which likely include Pitch Pine, Scotch Pine, and Red Pine that inhabit Connecticut.



More information can be found at this website:



http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsbdev2_042840.pdf

Forest Vegetation Strongly Related to the Earthworm Biomass

Vegetation and earthworm biomass scatterplot.

I investigated the relationship between vegetation and introduced earthworms on the property.  Several important relationships were observed.  Herbaceous vegetation data was collected at 25 randomly selected points on the property within one square meter quadrats.  Native vegetation including tree seedlings in the herbacous layer were negatively correlated with the amount of earthworms in the soil.  Invasive plants were positively correlated with earthworm biomass.  The relative strength of each of these relationships varied.  Invasive plants and  total native plants were the strongests correlations, while native tree seedlings were not as strong.  Tree seedling cover can be influenced by several factors including herbivory, seed production, acid precipitation, as well as many other disturbances.  Neverthess, this data suggests that introduced earthworms are one more important factor that influences our forest ecosystems.

Earthworm Species Inventory and Forest Cover Type Associations

A totalof the 14 earthworm species were detected during the 2014 survey at White Memorial Foundation.  We randomly selected 82 plots throughout the property and collected 993 specimens.  Juvenile or non-clitellate individuals for Megascolecidae family and certain Lumbricid genus are impossible to identify to species using external and internal characters with currently developed keys.  Some cover types were sampled more than others, nevertheless random sampling insured that the frequency distribution reflects the actual proportion of cover type at White Memorial.  The native species Eisenoides lonnbergi was found in only two cover types, oak and mixed conifer, specifically in plots located near wetlands.  The remaining species have exotic origins and were detected in many cover types.  Intially, it appears that the hardwood cover types more species of earthworms than the conifer stands.  Conifer stands tend to have lower soil pH than hardwood cover types, which could influence the species that inhabit the stands.

Forest Cover Types Included in Blog Map

Check out the map at the bottom of this weblog!  The vegetative cover types have been incorporated into the map.  Click on each cover type to observe other information, as well.

White Memorial's Notable Trees

Of the 2.5 million trees that can be found living on the White Memorial Foundation, there are a few that stand out above the rest.  A systematic and repeatable method has been developed to measure and rate whether certain trees of the same species can be classified as a Notable Tree.  

(l to r) Eddie Matthews, Lukas Hyder, and Nicole Morin measure the spread of this tree's canopy.  

Lukas Hyder, Assistant Property Superintendent, has been reviewing the trees found on the property.  Eddie Matthews, Wamogo Region #6 H.S. Agricultural Science Education student, has been helping him with this procedure.   White Memorial conserves several trees that are recognized as some of the largest trees for certain species in the state and New England!

The circumference of the tree bole at a specific height up the trunk is measured.  

The height of the tree is measured using a clinometer at a specified distance from the tree.

The tree is geo-referenced so that it can be mapped and found later.

The tree is tagged so that everyone knows the tree is part of the project.

The data is recorded and a score is calculated.

Finally, a photo is taken of the tree with a person in the picture
to serve as a scale to size the tree

White Memorial's 15 Year Forest Management Plan

Let it snow!
Roger Johnson skillfully operates a chainsaw
to harvest timber on White Memorial Foundation.
Photo by Gerri Griswold

Lukas Hyder, White Memorial Foundation's Assistant Superintendant, has announced the completion of the property-wide Forest Management Plan (2011 - 2025).  The Forest Management Plan reviews the standing timber and prescribes management treatments for every forest stand on the 4000 acres that White Memorial conserves.  The Plan also examines the wide variety of alternative uses of the property including recreation, wildlife habitat management, and invasive species management.

Photo by Gerri Griswold