[MAIPC] A conjecture on invasive vines and tree falls

[Nathan Hartshorne]

Perhaps the previous ivy spread had stopped development of an understory
that would have helped prevent windthrow since the gaps in a forest can
help facilitate it.

On Wed, Mar 21, 2018 at 5:32 PM, frazmo <frazmo at gmail.com> wrote:

> Continuing from the recent thread, it seems intuitively obvious that the
> weight and windload burden of invasive vine growth would cause mature trees
> to be more vulnerable to high winds. But I also conjecture that non-native
> invasive vines may have "ghost" impacts even when they have been removed.
> Based on personal observations at Long Branch Nature Center in Arlington
> VA, we have lost dozens of mature trees due to wind storms from Hurricane
> Isabel (2003) to now. My sense is that a disproportionate fraction fell in
> areas that had been heavily blanketed in English Ivy growth circa pre-2004.
>
> Even though the ivy had been removed, the trees fell. The conjecture is
> that the invasives' growth had altered soil characteristics and tree root
> growth patterns in ways that left the trees more vulnerable going forward.
>
> I agree that this whole area seems like a great topic for research and
> this is just one more angle to consider. Cheers,
>
> Steve Young, volunteer, Arlington VA
>
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