Regeneration of Fraser Fir at Mt. Mitchell, North Carolina, After Depredations by the Balsam Woolly Adelgid

Abstract

The long-term ecological consequences of balsam woolly adelgid (Adelges piceae(Ratzeburg)) damage to Fraser fir (Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir.) are considered. Study areas were established and vegetation sampled during 1966 in western North Carolina near and on Mt. Mitchell in each of three forest types: fir, spruce-fir, and spruce-fir-hardwood. Study areas were resampled in 1978. In 1966, mortality caused by the balsam woolly adelgid on Fraser fir stems over 244 cm tall averaged 82, 98, and 95 percent in the fir, spruce-fir, and spruce-fir-hardwood types, respectively. The average number of live Fraser fir seedlings per hectare for all study areas in 1966 and 1978 were 25,809 and 14,026, respectively. The height class distribution of Fraser fir seedlings changed dramatically with approximately 1 percent of the trees over 61-cm tall in 1966, and 75 percent over 61-cm tall in 1978. The fir, spruce-fir, and spruce-fir-hardwood types are well-stocked with Fraser fir regeneration and fir should be an important species in all three forest types in the future. Forest Sci. 32:585-594.