What is Killing all the Aspen Trees??

http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/beauty/aspen/decline.shtml

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/whats-killing-the-aspen-93130832/

http://www.nwf.org/wildlife/wildlife-library/plants/quaking-aspen.aspx

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/31/science/earth/climate-change-threatens-to-kill-off-more-aspen-forests-by-2050s-scientists-say.html?_r=0

http://www.oregon.gov/oweb/docs/pubs/aspenmanual.pdf

What is Killing the Aspen Trees?

Overview
The Aspen Tree has been of the most recognizable trees in the Rockies with its lean, chalky trunk, and display of heart-shaped leaves bursting with colors of yellow. Over the last several years though, they have been on the decline throughout the Rocky Mountains since about 2004 according to the U.S. Forest Service. In certain areas, these Aspen trees have not been naturally recovering the way they're supposed to. In the past if there was a big die-off, Aspen trees would recover rather quickly. Now scientists are seeing a decline without the recovery.

History
Aspen Trees, or Quaking Aspens are named for their leaves. Flat leaves that attach to branches that have long stalks, which tremble with light breezes. Aspens normally grow in dense stands in a high altitude area. They are known to range from Canada to Northern New Mexico. This tree is very susceptible to disease and can not thrive in urban environments due to roots growing into sewage systems and such. An individual tree can live between 40-150 years, but its the root systems that keep new trunks coming up for thousands of years, in one case in Utah, there's said to be a colony of around 80,000 years old, indicating ancient woodlands.

Influence
The Aspen tree provides much vegetation to animals. The understory of aspens is heavily consumed by cattle and sheep for grazing. Browsing is also causing a big direct impact. In the early stages of an aspen, browsing can reduce growth and numbers. Large animals such as deer and elk can drastically reduce aspen population. Beaver can be another problem for aspens. They use aspens for food and building dams. Building dams can easily result in floods of an area, which means if an area is too wet, then aspen trees will not flourish. Aspens harbor many insects like sawflies and bore beetles that feed o Aspens harbor many insects like sawflies and bore beetles that feed on these trees. Many physical and mechanical factors affect the aspen. Aspen do not thrive in shaded areas, wind my damage aspen and also wild fires. Weather plays a huge role in effecting the aspen ecosystem.

No-Action Impact
Without any action towards these trees, habitats will suffer. When trees go down to disease or insects, birds suffer, grazing animals suffer and the land suffers. These trees are incredibly susceptible to disease, and many bugs are eating these trees. Many animals use these trees to graze. Animals that may consume a diseased tree could become sick. If livestock become ill, it could affect other livestock.

Effort
The U.S. Forest service is working to increase aspen abundance and restoration. The Forest Service has been doing controlled burns to help the aspen population. This disturbance in environment is necessary for aspen sprouting and the development of an uneven age structure An inventory of aspens is being taken to determine what actions are needed for the trees. This inventory includes density and age classes. Conifers are being removed by hand and machinery.

Future Action
Forest Services, scientists, and conservationists are using controlled burns, also known as "prescribed burns" to help these trees to spread seeds. These prescribed burns are used when no natural fires have occurred in an area for a long time. Fires must be managed correctly or they could sterilize the soil and kill the sprouts or roots. We as citizens can simply be activists for these trees, doing the same steps the forest service uses on private lands. We can manage our livestock and make sure they don't overgraze and help prevent disease from occurring and spreading over time.