The American Beech tree is one of the dominant species of trees growing in Adirondack Park. They make up a significant portion of the forests in not only New York but also the rest of the northeast, being prominent all over New England and stretching across the Canadian Border. They are a significant part of the ecosystem, with the seeds being a large part of the diet of many herbivorous species and other parts serving a variety of purposes to humans. For example, their leaves can be boiled and eaten, and they are frequently used for their lumber (though the quality is only decent, and as such they are limited to building cheaper items). Regardless, they have been and hopefully will continue to hold their place in this ecosystem for the foreseeable future.

The threats to beech trees have been looming for over 50 years now, with strains of Beech Bark Disease (often abbreviated BBD) reaching the Adirondack Region in the late 1960s. Beech Bark Disease is caused by an insect called Cryptococcus fagisuga and a species of fungus, Nectria coccinea, that infest the bark and can weaken and kill the tree. The insects, which are invasive, typically bore deep into the tree, allowing space for the fungi to spread. The disease tends to primarily infect the largest beech trees, and as a result the Adirondack forests nowadays are filled with a combination of larger, infected trees, or small but thriving trees. 

Given the abundance of the American Beech, there is not much that can be done to stop or even slow the spread of this disease. However, it does not actually spread incredibly quickly, as the insects behind it are fairly immobile and spread mainly by wind. Though after 40 years, it has certainly spread enough to span the entire northeastern habitat of the American Beech. By 2000, approximately 90% of beech trees larger than 6 inches in diameter had been infected, proving how lethal this strain still is.

The trees, though, have developed a handful of creative measures to fight back against the disease. For example, when a tree is infected they frequently expand their root networks, producing more trees while infected. And although those smaller trees often get infected as well, it is still a somewhat effective form of resistance. Other trees have also developed various levels of tolerance to the disease, with some being completely resistant to the insects, some walling out the fungus, and a portion just developing tolerance to being infected. They have begun to fight back, but not without the sacrifice of the largest and strongest trees.

Beech Bark Disease should continue to spread across the northeastern wilderness, but the trees themselves should also hopefully develop stronger resistance to the disease. This case is one of countless examples of the importance of invasive species regulation, with these insects being introduced from Europe around the turn of the 20th Century. Tragically, it is difficult to intervene in this case as the scale of the infestation is so large. Beech trees will hopefully make the adjustment and should still remain prevalent in the northeast.

Works Cited:

“Trees of the Adirondacks: American Beech (Fagus Grandifolia).” Trees of the Adirondacks: American Beech | Fagus Grandifolia, https://wildadirondacks.org/trees-of-the-adirondacks-american-beech-fagus-grandifolia.html

 McNulty, Stacy A, and Raymond D Masters. “Changes to the Adirondack Forest: Implications … – Fs.fed.us.” Adirondack Ecological Center, https://www.fs.fed.us/ne/newtown_square/publications/technical_reports/pdfs/2005/331papers/mcnulty331.pdf 

​​“Beech Bark Disease .” The Adirondack Almanack, 21 Dec. 2017, https://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2017/12/beech-bark-disease.html