1. AN FOREST UNRAVELING ?

2. Eastern Hemlock * Extremely Shade Tolerant * Long-lived; often >400 yrs. “Redwood of the East” “Old Growth” * No Ecological Equivalent * Distinctive Ecosystem & Biodiversity * Drought Intolerant * Pennsylvania State Tree

3. Hemlock woolly adelgid Dying hemlock tree

4. Complicating Factors in the Causes of Hemlock Decline Local Human Impacts –fragmentation, soil compaction & erosion, salt Air pollution –acidic deposition, excess N (favor HWA) Climate change –drought stress, mild winters (favor HWA) Other forest “pests” –elongate and circular hemlock scale, hemlock borer beetle, gypsy moth defoliation

5. Blackburnian warbler Black-throated green warbler Blue-headed vireo Birds Strongly Linked to Hemlock Forests

6. Hemlock streams are 3 times more likely than hardwood streams to support brook trout

8. ALIEN PLANTS INVADING “Tree-from-hell” Japanese barberry Japanese stiltgrass Garlic mustard