Growth of Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) after Ice Storm Damage and Forest Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria Hubner) Defoliation

The January 1998 ice storm broke off tree crowns across a wide geographic area in northeastern North America, and forest tent caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria Hubner) defoliated some of the same stands 2004–2007. We assessed post-event growth responses upper canopy sugar maples (Acersaccharum Marsh.) previously thinned recently rehabilitated even-aged northern hardwood New York State, USA. Cores from ice-storm-damaged trees showed an initial radial reduction, recovery after one year, increase to or above pre-storm levels three years. A later defoliation stand caused second reduction growth, another year. observed greater post-storm on released by post-ice rehabilitation treatment than untreated control, with exceeding rates. site 38 years earlier impacted only more moderate prompt but smaller post-defoliation response among affected both defoliation. Findings reflect potential for maple recover single two closely occurring crown disturbances, provide guidance managers who must decide about removing continuing manage similar kinds damage