Date of Award
2025
First Advisor
Thomas Coote
Second Advisor
Donald McClelland
Abstract
The forests of Massachusetts are unhealthy. Between invasive insects, newly discovered nematodes, and the changing climate, trees are dying, and the forest trees are becoming younger. This thesis investigates local forests for these potential changes. By surveying four transects of forest, tree data was collected in the field, and analyzed for species, size, and health. The data collected focuses only on trees in these transects that are above ten centimeters in diameter at breast height, which is the standard for measuring tree diameter. The trees were each examined for condition and given a nominal condition grade. This grade factors in the percent of canopy dieback, visible disease, invasive species effect, cavities, basal decay, and cracking. This data was compiled and compared to clearly see the negative effects that these changing environmental factors are having on the forest of Massachusetts.
Recommended Citation
Morrison, Cole, "Massachusetts Forests are Changing: The threats, new and old, and how they are affecting our forest landscape." (2025). Senior Theses. 1711.
https://digitalcommons.bard.edu/sr-theses/1711
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