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What is the context of this research?

The emerald ash borer is an invasive insect that has destroyed many acres of ash forests in the midwestern US. It has been detected as far west as Colorado, and could arrive on the West Coast in the next decade. If that occurs, Oregon ash forests are particularly vulnerable to widespread degradation. Currently, very little is known about the ecology of Oregon ash forests. They are typically found in remnant wetlands, and appear to host a diverse range of native species, including wildflowers and lichens. Changes in these forests due to the emerald ash borer could include increased exotic plant invasion and/or loss of native plant diversity. This study will provide a baseline description of plant communities and their ecology in Oregon ash forests that will inform future restoration efforts.

What is the significance of this project?

It is important that this work is done now, before the emerald ash borer arrives. Researchers in the Midwest are now attempting to reconstruct native plant communities based on information gathered from remnant ash forests. However, the range of diversity that existed just a few years ago may never be fully understood. In areas currently unaffected by the emerald ash borer, we have an opportunity to learn about the role ash forests play in harboring native biological diversity before they are impacted. This could help future land managers understand where and how to best restore these important ecosystems.

What are the goals of the project?

We have already selected 11 of the most intact remnant Oregon ash forests in the Willamette Valley. We will establish research plots in these forests to document stand structure (age, height, and density of trees), plant and lichen species, and soil hydrology characteristics. Finally, we will use statistical analyses to determine relationships between these three ecological components. We expect to find differences in diversity and/or impacts from exotic plant species based on levels of seasonal standing water and forest structure. Not only will these relationships be explored, but we will provide the first description of forest conditions and plant communities in Oregon ash forests of the Willamette Valley.