Survey of Alarka Laurel and Rich Mountain Red Spruce (Picea rubens) Overstory, Saplings, and Seedlings in western North Carolina in 2007, 2022, and 2023

In the southern Appalachians, disjunct red spruce (Picea rubens) populations persist at low latitudes at elevations above 1,370 m. However, research on the condition of these disjunct red spruce populations is limited. This study compared baseline health, recruitment, and stand dynamics of two of the southern-most red spruce populations in eastern North America, the Rich Mountain and Alarka Laurel spruce bog basins in Nantahala National Forest, North Carolina. We collected data on overstory (DBH>10 cm), saplings (DBH< 10 cm, and height >2 m), and seedlings (height<10 cm) from Alarka Laurel in 2007 and 2022. Data from Rich Mountain were collected in 2023. We used 10-m wide belt transects noted the species and diameter at breast height (DBH) of overstory species, counted and noted the DBH of red spruce saplings, and counted and noted the height of red spruce seedlings. In 2022 and 2023, we gave a health score from 0-3 for all three categories of trees (overstory, saplings, and seedlings), with 0 being dead and 3 being healthy with little to no signs of disease or stress. Overall, both stands did not yet appear affected by climatic warming, despite the southern latitude and relatively low elevation. Our findings reveal that red spruce is the dominant overstory species, comprising an average of 25.6% of all measured overstory trees, with seedlings and saplings making up 72.8% of the red spruce population, indicating sustainable recruitment. Red spruce basal area declined by 13.9% from 2007 to 2022 in Alarka Laurel, with a concomitant increase in some hardwood species. However, both Alarka Laurel and Rich Mountain showed high levels of sapling and seedling recruitment. Overall, red spruce trees are healthy, particularly seedlings, representing the healthiest age category. Our results suggest the stands are relatively stable and provide essential baseline data for monitoring of forest conditions in the context of intensifying climate change. This research contributes to broader conservation efforts aimed at mitigating ecological degradation in the southern Appalachian Mountains.