Celastrus orbiculatus and architectural degredation of the forest canopy and the review of a rapid assessment protocol to aid land management
Date
2018
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
Celastrus orbiculatus (oriental bittersweet) is a ubiquitous non-native liana (woody vine) species found on woodland edges, and in developing and established forested ecosystems of the North Eastern United States. Liana species and Celastrus orbiculatus in particular can have a devastating impact on forest succession and canopy development (Hegarty & Caballe, 1991). Lianas can also impact the carbon storage potential of a healthy forested ecosystem (van der Heijden et al., 2015). ☐ In this liana tree-load interaction study, three tree species ( Liriodendron tulipifera, Prunus serotina, Fraxinus sp.) were observed. Trees that fit five Vine Coverage Assessment (VCA) classes (0 = no vines are impacting the crown, 1 = vine coverage is limited to the interior of the crown, 2 = up to 33% of the tree canopy is covered, 3 = 34% to 66% of the crown is covered, 4 = 67% to 100% of the crown is covered) were used for data collection. For each tree, I examined the architectural degradation and estimated a Crown Biomass Reduction (CBR) from the live crown. The estimated CBR was subtracted from the total Above Ground woody Biomass (tAGwB), calculated from the measured diameter at breast height (dbh) of each tree (Jenkins 2004). A percentage of loss was assigned per tree and a calculated mean percentage loss assigned for each VCA class. ☐ The mean percentage loss of tAGwB increased from 1.54%, for the control group (VCA 0); to 13.91% for the heaviest vine load (VCA 4). The mean loss of tAGwB of 13.91% (55.10 kg) which is 50% carbon (Birdsey, 1992) equals a reduction of sequestered carbon of 27.55 kg, per tree over its lifetime, at the highest vine load (VCA 4). Based on atomic weight, this equates to a loss of potential atmospheric CO2 reduction of 101.12 kg, per tree over its lifetime, at the highest vine load (VCA 4). ☐ Additionally the rapid assessment protocol VCA, was a moderate to strong indicator of vine loading. It would be a useful tool for land managers, when the ultimate goal is reclamation of degraded forest communities, and maximizing the ecosystem services provided by healthy forested ecosystem including long term carbon sequestration.
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Keywords
Biological sciences, Health and environmental sciences, Carbon, Carbon sequestration, Celastrus orbiculatus, Forest carbon, Lianas, Oriental bittersweet