Forest Health Monitoring in Fort Necessity National Battlefield

Maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum).

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The majority of Fort Necessity National Battlefield (FONE) is forested, and these forests are critical park resources that perform many important functions. Forests in FONE create habitat for hundreds of species of plants and animals, maintain soil stability, and protect water quality. Besides providing beautiful landscapes for people to recreate in, forests also influence our weather and reduce some gases that contribute to climate change.

Monitoring Helps Protect Park Forests

Monitoring forest health involves collecting data on canopy trees, tree regeneration, shrubs, plant diversity, downed logs, and soil.

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The Eastern Rivers & Mountains Network (ERMN) monitors forest health by collecting data on canopy trees, tree regeneration, shrubs, plant diversity, downed logs, and soil at permanent monitoring plots established in the FONE. Monitoring began in 2007, and ERMN collects data from 20 plots in the park over a 4-year rotation, such that each plot is visited every 5th year.

One reason that monitoring forest health is so important is that the forests are constantly changing. Storms, pests, pathogens, drought, and new species all play a role in shaping the forest. Studying the different components of a forest gives the ERMN information on the health of the forest, and allows park managers to make better informed decisions on how to manage the forest. In particular, mortality (how many trees are dying), recruitment (how many trees are growing into the canopy), and tree growth are important indicators of forest health and vitality.

“How are park forests changing over time in relation to weather, climate, landscape dynamics, invasive species, deer browse, and natural processes such as disturbances and succession?”

Tree Seedlings Tell of a Changing Forest

Tree species composition differs between forest canopy and seedling layer in Fort Necessity National Battlefield.

Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera), white oak (Quercus alba), red oak (Quercus rubra), and black cherry (Prunus serotina) are dominant trees in FONE’s forest canopy, and show strong growth of 1 - 2% per year. Although oak trees comprise over 25% of the canopy, oak seedlings make up only 4% of the seedling layer, which instead is dominated by red maple (Acer rubrum), black cherry (Prunus serotina), and white ash (Fraxinus americana). Without major disturbances, it is likely that the future canopy will be dominated by red maple, black birch (Betula lenta), and black cherry, as opposed to oaks. The abundant white ash seedlings will likely be killed by emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis), an invasive insect that is projected to infest the park’s trees in the next few years.

Invasive Species Impact Forest Health

Japanese barberry is among the most common invasive species at Fort Necessity National Battlefield.

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Non-native invasive species dramatically change park forests by degrading wildlife habitat, preventing tree regeneration, and out-competing native plants. In FONE, over 75% of the monitoring plots contain exotic invasive plants. Multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora), Morrow’s honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii), and Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) are the most common invasive species. Without strategic management, these species will spread further, displacing native species and disrupting the forest ecosystem.

For More Information

ERMN tracks forest health in a series of 360 permanent monitoring plots set up in eight national parks. It gathers information on tree health, forest regeneration, plant diversity, invasive species, and more.

To learn more, visit the ERMN Vegetation & Soils webpage.

Or, check out all the sciency details in:

Perles S and Others. 2016. Forest dynamics in national parks in the Eastern Rivers and Mountains Network. Natural Resource Report. NPS/ERMN/NRR—2016/1182. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado

Perles SJ and Others. 2014. Forest health monitoring in the Eastern Rivers and Mountains Network: 2009–2012 summary report. Natural Resource Report. NPS/ERMN/NRR—2014/803. Fort Collins, Colorado