INCREASED SENSITIVITY OF SUGAR MAPLE TO

PRECIPITATIONCarolyn A. Copenheaver – Virginia

TechKetia L. Shumaker – University of West AlabamaSophan Chhin – Michigan State UniversityGlenn P. Juday – University of Alaska – FairbanksSaskia van de Gevel – Appalachian State UniversityMargaret E.K. Evans – University of Arizona

Overall Project Objective• Use dendroclimatology and forecast models to predict the

resilience of ten tree species to climate change scenarios• Black spruce• Douglas-fir• Eastern hemlock• Alaska birch• Pinyon pine• Ponderosa pine• Sugar maple• Quaking aspen• White bark pine• White oak

Overall Project Objective• Use dendroclimatology and forecast models to predict the

resilience of ten tree species to climate change scenarios• Black spruce• Douglas-fir• Eastern hemlock• Alaska birch• Pinyon pine• Ponderosa pine• Sugar maple• Quaking aspen• White bark pine• White oak

Strong competitor Tolerates shade Mature forests Moist sites Fertile soil 200-300 year life span

Methods – core sugar maple trees

Methods – prepare sugar maple cores

Methods – date and measure tree rings

Methods – Tree rings and climate• Entriken, Pennsylvania• Ridgeway, Pennsylvania• Ceres, New York• Pelham, Ontario• McGrath, Minnesota (International Tree-Ring Data

Bank)• Plymouth, Minnesota (International Tree-Ring Data

Bank)• Edwards, Ontario

Results - precipitationLocation Number of months with significant correlations

between ring width and precipitationPre-1950 Post-1950

Pennsylvania 0 4New York 1 4Ontario 2 4Minnesota 2 4

Sugar maple growth becoming more sensitive to precipitation

Results - temperatureLocation Number of months with significant correlations

between ring width and temperaturePre-1950 Post-1950

Pennsylvania 3 0New York 0 1Ontario 0 3Minnesota 7 6

Less clear pattern – need more study sites

Future work• Sugar maple in North Carolina - sample in February• Identify the years when precipitation became more important to

sugar maple growth (does this vary by site?)• Forecast modeling to predict future growth of sugar maple under

different climate change scenarios

Acknowledgements• USDA AFRI NIFA Award 2015-08461• Dr. Susan Stout and Ms. Collin Sheppard, Allegheny National Forest• Advisory Board Members:

• Ms. Shannon McCabe – Virginia Forestry Association• Dr. Greg Nowacki – US Forest Service• Mr. Michael Smalligan – Michigan DNR

• Dr. Michael Pisaric , Brock University