Does Forest Community Structure Influence Susceptibility and Response to Emerald Ash Borer?
Annemarie Smith1, Daniel A. Herms2, and Robert P. Long3 1 Environmental Science Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, 400 Aronoff Laboratory, 318 W. 12th Street, Columbus, OH 43210 2 Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University, 1680 Madison Avenue, Wooster, OH 44691 3 USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station 359 Main Road, Delaware, OH 43015 The ability of invasive species to invade native landscapes may be influenced by community composition. Emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) has already caused considerable mortality of ash in southeast Michigan forests and is now invading forests in northwest Ohio. However, the ecological impact of this mortality is unknown. The objectives of this research are to 1) characterize effects of community composition and structure on forest susceptibility to emerald ash borer invasion, and 2) quantify community response to ash (Fraxinus spp.) decline and death. Invaded stands
