Date of Award

2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Natural Resources

First Advisor

Anthony W. D'Amato

Abstract

Global climate change presents an increasingly complex challenge for forest managers to protect valuable habitat and ecosystem services from rapid changes in climate and disturbance regimes. In the northeastern US, changing climate is expected to bring with it significant shifts in precipitation patterns and drought, warming temperatures with changing seasonality, and altered snow dynamics. Increases in tree stress and damage resulting from native and non-native pests and pathogens are also expected. As a result, forest management efforts have begun to consider to a greater degree the associated ecology of their regions and vulnerabilities to climate projections to promote resilience and increase adaptability to predicted future conditions. Management that is successful at meeting complex economic, wildlife, and climate related goals will require new techniques to monitor and manage forest health.

Nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs) represent a significant mechanism for resilience against climate change associated and other physiological stressors in trees. NSCs buffer deficits in carbon (C) supply and act as osmolytes to help maintain hydraulic integrity, recover after drought, and prevent cold damage. Among other functions, NSCs may also be used to support early growth in spring, re-foliation after herbivory, or act as signaling molecules to regulate photosynthesis. In this study, we measured total NSC (TNSC) concentrations in stem wood, tree architecture, and competition, in mature, dominant and codominant red spruce and sugar maple trees. Samples for NSC analysis were collected from trees in managed and unmanaged forests at five sites in northern Vermont and New Hampshire, USA. The importance of water availability—measured by the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI)—to growth and storage was greater in red spruce, on average. Competition was negatively correlated with growth and TNSCs for sugar maple and red spruce. Our results support the use of competition reduction, from a TNSC perspective, to maintain vigor and growth of residual trees in managed forests.

Language

en

Number of Pages

77 p.

Available for download on Saturday, August 15, 2026

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