Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) as an alternate host for spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana): dendrochronological evidence from Maine, USA

Poppe, Rachel; Birch, Stacy; Guiterman, Christopher H.; Kenefic, Laura S.; Larson, Evan R.; Orwig, David A.; Pederson, Neil; Fraver, Shawn

doi:10.1139/cjfr-2025-0161

i

Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) as an alternate host for spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana): dendrochronological evidence from Maine, USA

2025
By Poppe, Rachel ; Birch, Stacy ; Guiterman, Christopher H.
Source Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 55: 1-9

Details

Journal Title:

Canadian Journal of Forest Research
Personal Author:

Poppe, Rachel ; Birch, Stacy ; Guiterman, Christopher H. ; Kenefic, Laura S. ; Larson, Evan R. ; Orwig, David A. ; Pederson, Neil ; Fraver, Shawn
NOAA Program & Office:

NESDIS (National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service) ; NCEI (National Centers for Environmental Information) ; CIRES (Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences)
Description:

In northeastern North America, episodic eastern spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) outbreaks extensively defoliate balsam fir (Abies balsamea) and spruces (Picea glauca, Picea rubens, Picea mariana). We investigated eastern spruce budworm defoliation in eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), a reported alternate host species, during previously documented outbreaks in Maine, USA. We compiled red spruce and hemlock tree-ring series from nine sites, seven of which showed synchronous radial growth reductions in spruce and hemlock during documented budworm outbreaks. Outbreak evidence varied among sites, but growth reductions were observed in six study sites during a 1914 outbreak. Synchronous growth reductions between spruce and hemlock suggest that when budworm defoliation occurred in spruce at a given site, hemlock typically experienced at least some level of defoliation. Relative budbreak synchrony with preferred host species may contribute to hemlock's suitability as a host. This research is timely given the recent spruce budworm population increase in this region.
Keywords:
Source:

Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 55: 1-9
DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfr-2025-0161
Format:

PDF
Document Type:

Journal Article
Place as Subject:

Maine
Rights Information:

Accepted Manuscript
Compliance:

Submitted
Download URL:

https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/72652/noaa_72652_DS1.pdf
File Type:

[PDF - 527.99 KB]
Collection(s):

NOAA Cooperative Institutes ; National Environmental Satellite and Data Information Service (NESDIS)
Main Document Checksum:

urn:sha-512:f5469e71f44db307d7d392995bc98cd0f264dfc45b77af788f44389f23dd6c7d462b5679f272cc9604743b7035f4b8ea589a8f90d8a555b40d2ffad9d931c334

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