Measuring pitch pine physical and chemical defense mechanisms in historically and culturally important forests in Concord, MA

Abstract

Pitch pine (Pinus rigida Mill.) is a fragile, yet culturally and historically important, species. Pitch pine forests like those surrounding Brister’s Hill in Concord, MA represent a vestige of agriculture, land clearing, and homesteading. They were written about nearly two hundred years ago by Transcendentalists like Henry David Thoreau. Now, these forests face the threat of attack by southern pine beetle (SPB) (Dendroctonus frontalis), which has destroyed pine species in South and Mid-Atlantic states. Concord pitch pines are thought to be protected from attack by low winter temperatures (<-16 C°), but these temperatures are being less frequently observed. Pitch pine exhibit potent defense mechanisms against most pathogens and insects. However, beetle defense is modest and it is unclear whether defenses in naïve (pre-attack) Concord pitch pines will ward off SPB. Here, we will obtain a comprehensive set of measurements of naïve pitch pine individuals, while preserving samples in laboratory and herbaria settings for future use. This information will be used (1) to compare naïve Concord, MA pitch pine defenses against those seen in resistant populations, (2) as pre-attack data to monitor any changes that might indicate the onset of an SPB attack, and (3) as a snapshot of this culturally, historically, and ecologically important species. This work will be shared with scientists.

Personnel

Nicholas G. Smith

Nicholas G. Smith is an assistant professor at Texas Tech University. He is a plant ecophysiologist and terrestrial ecosystem ecologist who specializes in plant-environment interactions, broadly defined. Smith has studied ecophysiological responses of multiple flora to global change in a variety of ecological contexts, including Northeastern United States’ ecosystems. He is trained in and now teaches a variety of analytical and statistical techniques as well as predictive modeling. He has also been recognized for his dedication to making ecological data openly accessible.

Jeff Licht

Jeff Licht is an adjunct professor at the University of Massachusetts – Boston. He is a regional expert on the pitch pine ecosystem and has spent many years studying the species’ physiology, ecology, and distribution. Smith and Licht have co-authored multiple peer-reviewed articles on pitch pine barren ecophysiology and have worked together to develop the field methods used in the proposed project.