To flow or to grow? Impacts of tapping on sugar maple.

Abstract

Maple sugaring is a rapidly growing industry in North America. Maples are tapped annually, thus undergoing repeated wounding and resource reduction for sap water collection. We aim to understand the effects of tapping and sap exudation on annual radial wood growth and xylem traits in sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.), utilizing eight mature trees monitored during 2018-2021 in Simoncouche, Canada. Compared to the first year of tapping, trees exhibited a 49.7% drop in tree-ring width. Vessel density, potential hydraulic conductivity and hydraulic vessel diameter decreased, but not lumen area. We showed evidence of a trade-off among sap extraction, resource depletion and reduced tree growth. The repeated reduction of resources through tapping can have a detrimental effect on tree growth, even if the effect on the hydraulic function remains marginal. These insights underscore the need for sustainable tapping practices that consider the long-term health and productivity of sugar maple trees.