Impacts of Hemlock Harvesting in Central Massachusetts 2003-2009

The recent unimpeded infestation of the hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA; Adelgids tsugae) across the Northeastern U.S. is driving large-scale hemlock decline and mortality. HWA has already infested over 40% of the towns in Massachusetts and, as a result, many landowners are considering pre-emptively harvesting their eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) stands. To examine the local impacts of this cutting activity, this study examined stand and ecosystem dynamics in 10 hemlock-dominated sites on public and private lands where hemlocks were harvested between 1 to12 years ago with nearby uncut forests.

近期，美国东北部地区遭遇铁杉球蚜（hemlock woolly adelgid，缩写HWA；学名Adelgids tsugae）的大范围未受遏制的侵染，正引发铁杉林的大面积衰退与死亡。目前，马萨诸塞州已有超过40%的城镇遭到该虫侵染，诸多土地所有者因此正考虑对其所属的东部铁杉（Tsuga canadensis）林分开展预防性采伐。为探究此类采伐活动的本地生态影响，本研究选取了10个以铁杉为主的样地，涵盖公共与私有土地，这些样地的铁杉林均在1至12年前完成采伐，并以邻近的未采伐森林作为对照，以此分析林分与生态系统的动态变化。