Leaf and Soil Nitrogen Following Lymantria dispar Defoliation in Central Massachusetts 2018-2019

In this study we investigated relationships between ecosystem nitrogen (N) cycling and tree defoliation during a recent 2015-2018 irruption of invasive Lymantria dispar caterpillars, which can cause tree stress and sometimes mortality following multiple years of defoliation. Nitrogen is a critical nutrient that limits the growth of caterpillars and plants in temperate forests. We assessed the associations between N concentrations, soil solution inorganic N availability, and defoliation intensity by L. dispar at the scale of individual trees in the Amherst, MA area and forest plots in the Quabbin Reservoir area.