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Harvard Forest Symposium Abstract 2006
- Title: Examination of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem linkages at Harvard Forest
- Primary Author: William Sobczak (College of the Holy Cross)
- Additional Authors: Emery Boose (Harvard Forest); Betsy Colburn (Harvard Forest); Julian Hadley (Harvard Forest)
- Abstract:
New England forests are being invaded by the hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae), an exotic forest herbivore that decimates eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis). Eastern hemlock is the dominant species in many of New England’s upland forests and stream riparian zones, hence hemlock mortality functions as a regional landscape disturbance. Terrestrial ecosystem responses to this disturbance have been studied, but less is known about aquatic ecosystem responses. Forest ecologists predict that hemlock stands will be replaced by a succession of black birch (Betula lenta), red maple (Acer rubrum), and mixed oaks (Quercus). Such shifts in forest composition alter the timing, amount, and composition of leaf-litter inputs to adjacent stream ecosystems and may alter stream hydrology, chemistry, and ecology. Here we report on a series of newly initiated studies on hemlock-dominated streams that have not yet been impacted by the hemlock woolly adelgid. We present data on 1) stream hydrologic and thermal regimes, 2) stream light regimes and algal biomass, 3) organic matter decomposition, and 4) macroinvertebrate abundances and diversity. Our collaborative research program will help forecast the ecological consequences of hemlock declines on New England’s stream and connected downstream ecosystems (e.g., wetlands and reservoirs).
- Research Category: Watershed Ecology
