Beech booming as climate changes, and that's bad for forests

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Beech booming as climate changes, and that's bad for forests

By PATRICK WHITTLE
Posted: Feb. 25, 2018 8:00 am Updated: Feb. 25, 2018 2:03 pm

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Beech trees are dominating the woodlands of the northeastern United States as the climate changes, and that could be bad news for the forests and people who work in them, according to a group of scientists.

The scientists say the move toward beech-heavy forests is associated with higher temperatures and precipitation. They say their 30-year study, published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Applied Ecology, is one of the first to look at such broad changes over a long time period in the northeastern U.S. and southeastern Canada.

The changes could have major negative ramifications for forest ecosystems and industries that rely on them, said Dr. Aaron Weiskittel, a University of Maine associate professor of forest biometrics and modeling and one of the authors.

Beech, often used for firewood, is of much less commercial value than some species of birch and maple trees that can be used to make furniture and flooring.

"There's no easy answer to this one. It has a lot of people scratching their heads," Weiskittel said. "Future conditions seem to be favoring the beech, and managers are going to have to find a good solution to fix it."

-snip-

Read more: http://www.njherald.com/article/20180225/AP/302259862#//

[enough]

1. This is happening in a big way in the woods in my area (SE PA).

Around here, the deer eat every other seedling and small native tree or bush in the woods, but not the Beech. The look of the woods has changed dramatically in the past two or three decades.

[Glorfindel]

2. Same here in the southern Appalachians of north Georgia

It's very noticeable.

[NickB79]

3. That's due in large part due to too many deer

In general, deer populations are far above historical numbers across the Eastern US because we've wiped out wolves and cougars, and prioritize big bucks over does while hunting.