Absent Native Ash Trees: Land Ecology

Emerald Ash-Borer, Native Ash Trees (absent), and Downy Woodpecker

The Emerald Ash-Borer is an invasive species from Asia that infects all species of ash trees found in New York state. Ash trees are native to New York and their presence often indicates an undisturbed landscape, as they require certain conditions to grow. Black ash, specifically, is present in many swampy areas around New York state that often are home to rare plants and animals. Trees infected by the Emerald Ash-Borer usually die within 2-4 years, which has the potential to majorly disrupt the local community of an ecosystem. A few species of woodpecker, including the Downy Woodpecker native to New York, have been found to be benefitting from these insects as a newly available food source. However, woodpecker activity can potentially accelerate the destruction of Ash Trees, as large amounts of bark can be stripped away by woodpeckers due to the sheer amount of Ash-Borer larvae. When invasive species infiltrate an area, it is important to consider all impacts they have on the natural ecosystem, both positive and negative.

Composition installed and designed by: Sarah Herring, Michael Tom, and Evan Tschumi

My name is Claudia Buszta, and I am an Environmental Geography major. I am working this year with Professor Haughwout on the 6th E Street project to illustrate how different organisms relate to each other within their ecological communities. Our focus is on regional ecosystems in New York State, identifying how native species interact with human activity. These summaries are meant to accompany the visualizations of the ecologies within the tunnels.