Harvard Forest Symposium Abstract 2016

Title: Layering and Rejuvenation in Tsuga canadensis on Wachusett Mountain
Primary Author: Peter Del Tredici (100th EN Co)
Additional Authors: David Orwig (Harvard Forest)
Abstract:
The phenomenon of layering in trees involves the production of adventitious roots by low-growing lateral branches and their subsequent reorientation from horizontal to vertical. This study provides the first documentation of layering in natural populations of Tsuga canadensis on Wachusett Mountain in central Massachusetts. Twelve layered hemlock clumps, consisting of 5 to 20 layered branch stems originating from a parent tree, were observed on the upper slopes of the mountain. Layered hemlocks ranged from 7 to 17 m tall, and several layered branches produced second generation layers. Harsh growing conditions, slow hemlock growth, and the open habitat associated with small-statured hardwood species and exposed bedrock allowed the hemlocks to retain their lower branches for extended periods of time. Fallen branches and debris associated with past disturbances pinned these branches to the ground and set the stage for layering. The production of physiologically rejuvenated hemlock ramets through the layering process serves not only to extend the life-span of hemlock genets but also to expand their spatial dominance of the area.
Research Category: Biodiversity Studies
Physiological Ecology, Population Dynamics, and Species Interactions

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