Post-Invasion Forests: Composition and Structure Following Invasive Species Establishment

The goal is to document changes in the composition and structure of mixed deciduous forests following establishment of selected exotic invasive species in the southern Appalachian region. Specifically, the plan is to 1) re-visist forest stands previously censused in the aftermath of the 1999-02 SPB outbreak, 2) evaluate changes in woody plant vegetation and stand characteristics, and 3) model and predict the outcome of invasion by (i) thousand cankers disease, (ii) laurel wilt disease, and (iii) the emerald ash borer on future sorests of the resion.