AMERICAN BEECH a Tree in Trouble
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Hiawatha National Forest WARNING! While there are no pure beech stands on the AMERICAN Hiawatha National Forest (HNF), many of Wind in the Trees the hardwood stands include a significant BEECH component of beech. HNF has included The Forest Service is making every effort A Tree in Trouble these areas in the BBD Project Environmen- to identify and remove hazardous trees tal Analysis. These stands are within the ad- vancing front of the BBD and many of the from developed areas as quickly as possi- stands already have the beech scale present, ble. However, all visitors - but particularly particularly in the north and east portions of hikers and overnight backcountry campers the project area. Areas that have not yet been - should be alert for trees that are weak- infested will likely be infested within 1-3 ened, have large dead limbs or are com- years. Safety is the number one concern. Dy- ing beech trees will need to be removed in all pletely dead, especially in windy condi- high use public areas to prevent them from tions. becoming a safety hazard. The recreation Be alert. Look up. Choose your team on the HNF is assessing these areas campsites carefully. (including parking areas, campsites, trails, and The American beech (Fagus grandifolia) is a day use areas) to determine what the poten- tall, stately tree with smooth grey bark and tial hazards will be and the best way to deal Hiawatha National Forest a graceful arching crown. Its dark green, with them. Munising Ranger District shiny leaves, tapered at both ends, turn 400 East Munising Avenue golden in the fall and cling to its branches throughout the winter. Visitors to the Forest need to be prepared Munising Michigan 49862 that the landscape of the Forest will be (906) 387-2512 or changing. This may be very difficult for many The eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan (906) 387-3700 lies at the northwestern edge of the range users who are very familiar with the Forest, TDD (906) 387-3371 of the beech and in some areas beech trees and who have favorite spots to camp, hike, are a significant component of northern bike, fish, hunt, etc. In some extreme cases, hardwood stands. In these forests, beech- there will be sites that will be permanently "The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) nuts are an important food source for closed and/or moved to another area. Forest prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activi- wildlife, including black bear, squirrels, users will also need to develop a heightened ties on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, porcupines, whitetailed deer and various religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orien- awareness of their surroundings. Although tation, or marital or familial status. (Not all prohibited birds, such as ruffed grouse. Beech trees the majority of hazardous trees will be re- bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities also provide homes for cavity dwellers like who require alternative means for communication of flying squirrels, pine martin, fisher, and moved, due to the sheer volume of beech program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, trees, there may be some that are missed. etc.) should contact the USDA's TARGET Center at some species of nesting birds. Whether you are camping or just spending (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). the day in the Forest, identify the beech trees in the area and avoid placing yourself in the path that the trees might fall. Use extreme 3/2012 caution in the woods on windy days. Beech Bark Disease Effects of BBD on the Forest The beech is in trouble. Since its introduction To recognize beech trees As BBD spreads through the forest, beech trees will from Europe to Nova Scotia around 1890, affected by the disease, look begin to die. The dead and dying trees often suffer beech bark disease (BBD) has spread at a rela- at the bark which may have a from a condition called beech snap, where part of the tively slow, but steady, rate. BBD was first dis- waxy-white appearance, can- beech tree will snap off and fall to the ground, espe- cially in high wind events. Beech snap poses a safety covered in the U.S. in Maine in 1932 and was kers or breaks in the bark Joseph O'Brien discovered in Michigan in 2000. may be evident. Some trees may have small fuzzy white hazard to forest visitors. Anyone entering or camping bumps that look much like a piece of a cotton ball stuck in a forest should be aware of their surroundings and BBD results from an to the bark. Upon be cautious around infected beech trees. interaction between closer inspection, you three or more organ- may even see the isms (the tree, an in- small scale insects. sect, and a fungus). Trees may also have The non-native insect, reduced leaf size, called beech scale, discolored foliage, causes a small wound dieback, reduced on the tree. Scales have growth and reduced sucking mouthparts Joseph O'Brien beechnut production. which are used to Joseph OBrian pierce the bark of the beech tree and suck out sap. These wounds weaken the tree and provide entrance ports for one or Joseph O'Brien more of three fungal (Nectria) species which When a tree is either removed or falls over a light gap is created. These gaps give other trees a chance to receive light and grow. In the case of the northern hardwoods forests, beech mortality cre- ates a light gap, with the fastest growing saplings of a given tree species being the ones to replace the downed tree. Depending on management practices, the trees growing in these gaps may be any number of northern hardwood species, with sugar and red maple often the most common. It is not desirable to totally Joseph O'Brien eliminate beech from forest as trees that appear re- cause bark cankers. Infection with the fungus sistant to the scale would be identified and saved in usually happens about three to six years after hope that someday they would repopulate the forest. infestation with beech scales. The fungus kills Although the future sounds bleak for this magnificent areas of woody tissue. If enough is killed, the tree, some will survive. These survivors may have been tree may be girdled and die. Some trees linger lucky enough to escape the BBD or they may be re- for several years, then eventually succumb to sistant trees. The offspring of resistant trees may help the fungus or another disease. Infested trees us restore beech to the forests someday. However, it are often attacked by other insects or diseases will likely not be in the lifetime of any reader of this USDA Forest Service - North Central Research Station Archive which hastens tree mortality. article. .