American beech trees (Fagus grandifolia) provide important food and habitat resources for many mammal, bird and amphibian species. Beech Bark Disease (BBD), a complex of beech scale (Cryptococcus fagi Baer) and one of at least three Nectria species, was discovered in Michigan in 2000 and will likely kill at least 50% of mature American beech trees. We assessed the potential impact of BBD on wildlife-related variables in forest stands varying in beech density (low, moderate and high) and abundance of C. fagi (absent, light and heavy). Volume of coarse woody debris, abundance of tree cavities, snag (standing dead tree) density and beechnut production were measured in permanent plots. Preliminary results indicate that the volume of coarse woody debris was significantly higher in stands with heavy abundance of C. fagi and in stands with moderate beech density. Neither snag nor cavity density significantly differed among stands. Beechnut production averaged 30.0 g/m2 (± 7.18 g/m2) in stands with high beech density but only 17.78 g/m2 (± 6.28 g/m2) in stands with heavy C. fagi infestation.
Species 1: Homoptera Coccidae Cryptococcus fagi (beech scale)
Keywords: American beech, Nectria
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