[MAIPC] A conjecture on invasive vines and tree falls

[Muth, Norris (MUTH)]

Do any mid-atlantic state DOTs offer up any grant/project money?

—

Norris Z. Muth, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Biology

Office: 814-641-3632 | 1054 VLB

Juniata College

1700 Moore Street

Huntingdon, PA 16652

muthlab.org<http://muthlab.org> | NativePlantAdvocate.org<http://NativePlantAdvocate.org>


From: Jil Swearingen <jilswearingen at gmail.com<mailto:jilswearingen at gmail.com>>
Date: Thursday, March 22, 2018 at 9:21 AM
To: Ruth Douglas <cvilleruth at embarqmail.com<mailto:cvilleruth at embarqmail.com>>
Cc: MAIPC Listserve <maipc at lists.maipc.org<mailto:maipc at lists.maipc.org>>
Subject: Re: [MAIPC] A conjecture on invasive vines and tree falls

In addition to Steve's suggested "ghost impacts," I'll offer more conjecturing.

Based on personal observations over the past several decades, that are not backed up by hard science, I have watched trees heavily covered with English ivy vines deteriorate over time, lose most of their branches and structure and then die. At some point, even if vines are cut and killed at the base, it is too late to rescue a smothered tree. The tree is too weak to recover. Physically, the heavy growth and dense foliage (mini umbrellas) of English ivy blocks sunlight for the host tree foliage, leads to reduced photosynthesis and growth in the host tree, reduced water availability for the host tree (the vines get most of the water that would otherwise be available to the tree), and the vines probably cause some level of damage to the bark which could lead to increased vulnerability to insect pests and pathogens.

We have identified lots of factors to be studied. Now we just need someone to do the research.

Jil

Jil Swearingen
Invasive Species Consultant
In the Weeds



On Wed, Mar 21, 2018 at 9:27 PM, Ruth Douglas <cvilleruth at embarqmail.com<mailto:cvilleruth at embarqmail.com>> wrote:
I’m going to try to contact someone in VDOT (Va. Dept. of Transportation) and someone at Virginia Power to see if anyone there is looking at the role of invasive vines in trees down in storms.

Ruth Douglas
Invasive Plant Educator, VNPS

From: MAIPC [mailto:maipc-bounces at lists.maipc.org<mailto:maipc-bounces at lists.maipc.org>] On Behalf Of Nathan Hartshorne
Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2018 6:41 PM
To: frazmo
Cc: MAIPC Listserve (maipc at lists.maipc.org<mailto:maipc at lists.maipc.org>)
Subject: Re: [MAIPC] A conjecture on invasive vines and tree falls

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<mailto: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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