Preliminary Assessment of Climatic Sensitivity of Riparian Old-Growth Hemlock

John B. Holden IV*, Sophan Chhin, Andrew Hirsch, and Eric Yetter

Forest Resources Management Program, Division of Forestry and Natural Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506

Presentation Category: Oral-Science & Technology (Oral Presentation #22)

Student’s Major: Forest Resource Management

Eastern hemlock is a long-lived, slow growing climax species in North America currently undergoing a major decline in population due to a combination of effects derived from hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) as well as changing climate patterns. Data collection was conducted in an old-growth, riparian hemlock forest within the West Virginia University Research Forest to understand the effect of monthly climate factors (mean temperature, mean precipitation, and CMI) on hemlock radial growth. Results indicated that March mean temperature and May CMI of the current growth year are positively associated with hemlock growth whereas prior year summer conditions of each climate variable resulted in negative correlations. Spring temperature as well as winter precipitation of the current year also lessened hemlock growth. Many of the significant relationships ascertained by this study were well supported by other studies; however, increased June precipitation and CMI resulting in a reduction in growth may be explained by summer storm damage or root anoxia, resulting in lessened growth. Also, previous studies conducted south of the study area found winter precipitation to positively affect growth; this incongruence is explainable by differences in precipitation types and how heavy snow could contribute to hemlock damage.

Funding: United States Department of Agriculture

Program/mechanism supporting research/creative efforts: a WVU 497-level course, Also completed working as an undergraduate research assistant.