Forest Ecology and Management最新文献

{"title":"Ecohydrological mechanisms of river runoff destabilization following the conversion from long-rotation to short-rotation Eucalyptus plantations","authors":"Lisha Li ,&nbsp;Xiaolin Su ,&nbsp;Gairen Yang ,&nbsp;Yusong Deng ,&nbsp;Zhifeng Xie ,&nbsp;Yuhan Huang ,&nbsp;Guijin Chen ,&nbsp;Jingrui Yu ,&nbsp;Mingxia Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.foreco.2025.123483","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foreco.2025.123483","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The global trend toward younger and structurally simplified plantations, driven by shortened rotation cycles, is becoming increasingly evident. The replacement of long-rotation native pure plantations and conifer-broadleaf mixed forests with short-rotation Eucalyptus plantations may significantly disturb regional water cycles through intensive management practices. To address the limitation of conventional methods in distinguishing the individual contributions of soil evaporation and plant transpiration to evapotranspiration, which constrains a precise understanding of the mechanisms behind such hydrological disturbances, this study achieved accurate measurement and effective separation of soil evaporation from total forest evapotranspiration. Based on 5.5 years of continuous field monitoring in Eucalyptus plantations (EU) and native mixed forests (MF) in Guangxi, China, we systematically investigated the relationships and trade-offs between key hydrological processes—such as evapotranspiration and canopy interception—and streamflow following forest conversion. Results showed that canopy rainfall interception and soil evaporation were 29.5 % lower and 62.7 % higher, respectively, in EU compared to MF. Although total streamflow during the short rotation period did not change significantly, its interannual and seasonal distribution became more unbalanced, with the number of zero-flow months increasing by 2.5 times relative to MF. The youthfulness and simplified structure of EU enhanced topsoil evaporation and reduced deep water infiltration, resulting in a “profligate-thirst” effect in the surface soil that consequently weakened the forest’s function as an underground reservoir and undermined streamflow stability. Management strategies such as no-burning during establishment, strip-interval weeding, extended rotation periods, and mosaic distribution of different-aged stands within catchments can effectively mitigate these issues.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12350,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecology and Management","volume":"604 ","pages":"Article 123483"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145940405","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bridging shared PWD-resistant consensus and implementation across Mainland Portugal: An assessment framework for large-scale mixed-forest conversion projects and their cost–feasibility","authors":"Tiantian Ma ,&nbsp;Yakui Shao ,&nbsp;Huiqing Pei ,&nbsp;Takuya Hiroshima ,&nbsp;Miga Magenika Julian ,&nbsp;Biao Zhang ,&nbsp;Bingqian Ma ,&nbsp;Shen Tan ,&nbsp;Xiaoyuan Zhang ,&nbsp;Zhichao Wang ,&nbsp;Zhongke Feng","doi":"10.1016/j.foreco.2025.123482","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foreco.2025.123482","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pine wilt disease (PWD) is one of Europe’s most acute transboundary forest health threats, with Portugal and the Portugal–Spain buffer zone forming its primary defense line. Although mixed-forest conversion is widely viewed as a promising strategy for reducing host continuity and enhancing resistance, its real-world implementation has remained unclear due to the complexity of coordinating climate-driven habitat shifts, large-area planning, and long-term costs. Here we move from scientific conception to engineering practice by developing a spatial–temporal–economic assessment framework for nationwide PWD-resistant mixed-forest establishment in mainland Portugal. Using optimized MaxEnt models under SSP1–2.6, SSP2–4.5, and SSP5–8.5 scenarios for the 2030 s and 2050 s, we show that <em>maritime pine</em> (<em>Pinus pinaster</em> Ait.) suitability contracts sharply, with a northwestward centroid shift of up to ∼101 km by 2050, while a four-species mixed forest retains markedly higher stability, maintaining ∼43.3 % suitability even under SSP5–8.5. Integrating suitability with slope, accessibility, and afforestation mechanisms, we design a three-phase conversion blueprint (2025–2050) targeting 3.61–3.62 × 10⁴ km². Implementation relies on mechanical afforestation and UAV seeding, with mechanical operations accounting for &gt; 83 % of total area. Cost modeling indicates a required investment of 3.186–4.404 B€ (128–176 M€/yr), with Phase II comprising ∼74 % of the total effort. This framework demonstrates that large-scale mixed-forest establishment is not only ecologically advantageous but also operationally and economically feasible. It provides a transferable model for converting ecological concepts into engineered forest-resilience programs under accelerating climate and biosecurity pressures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12350,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecology and Management","volume":"604 ","pages":"Article 123482"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145883293","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Forest structure and microclimate predict nesting activity and reproductive success of cavity-nesting Hymenoptera","authors":"Emily P. Tudor ,&nbsp;Adam T. Cross ,&nbsp;Sean Tomlinson","doi":"10.1016/j.foreco.2025.123495","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foreco.2025.123495","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Landscape-scale habitat alteration causes changes in biotic and abiotic conditions that may drive population declines of insect pollinators and other functional guilds. Such declines may consequentially impair ecosystem function and composition. Our objective was to examine whether habitat structure or microclimate best explained patterns in nesting activity and reproductive output of cavity-nesting Hymenoptera, specifically <em>Megachile</em> (Family: Megachilidae)<em>,</em> along a successional gradient following post-mining rehabilitation and restoration in Australia’s south-west. To do so, we sampled cavity-nesting Hymenoptera using artificial nesting cavities (trap nests) across twelve survey sites randomly selected across a 22-year restoration chronosequence. We observed that early successional restoration sites had warmer microclimates and supported increased nesting activity and greater fecundity of cavity-nesting bees (principally <em>M. aurifrons</em>). In contrast, cavity-nesting wasps were recorded less frequently but in association with areas of reduced understorey density. Early successional and open habitats appear important in maintaining highly fecund populations of the large cavity-nesting bees that we studied here, suggesting that thermal ecology may underpin the mechanisms driving habitat selection by these important pollinators in heterogenous forested landscapes. This has implications for the management of biodiversity in Australia because cavity-nesting bees represent an important component of the hymenopteran fauna, and often fulfil specialised pollination roles in native ecosystems. Ongoing restoration management could aim to maximise landscape heterogeneity by featuring a mix of successional stages to support the abiotic and biotic requirements of a biodiverse insect community.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12350,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecology and Management","volume":"604 ","pages":"Article 123495"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145883292","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Towards a more resilient restoration: Assessing leaf and branch tolerance to low temperatures in native and exotic species used in seasonal forest restoration","authors":"Daniela Ofélia Antonioli ,&nbsp;Davi Rodrigo Rossatto","doi":"10.1016/j.foreco.2025.123492","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foreco.2025.123492","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Forest ecosystems can be exposed to extreme temperature events related to climatic change. Such events includes frost in seasonal forests, which can directly threaten plant survival because of top kill caused by low temperatures. This effect can threaten forest restoration projects, affecting the persistence of plants. This study aimed to analyze leaf and branch traits related to cold protection and to assess the leaf thermotolerance to low temperatures in native and exotic species that are commonly used in reforestation areas in seasonal forest vegetation. Leaf and branch morphological traits were measured, and low-temperature exposure tests were conducted to evaluate the photochemical quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) - an indicator of damage caused by cold stress. The results showed that native and exotic species differed in some morphological traits, such as the degree of bud protection, branch bark thickness, and relative water content, indicating that native species were more protected to cold in relation to exotic species. When subjected to –5°C, most native species maintained stable photosynthetic activity, while more than half of the exotic species exhibited significant impairment and damage. These findings suggest that native species generally possess more effective cold protection mechanisms. Overall, morphological and physiological differences exist between native and exotic species, particularly regarding their response to freezing stress. Understanding these differences is crucial for improving the resilience and success of reforestation and conservation efforts under changing climatic conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12350,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecology and Management","volume":"604 ","pages":"Article 123492"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145940406","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Land surface temperature and microclimate effects on biomass components in temperate coppice-originated oak forests","authors":"Emrah Ozdemir ,&nbsp;Ender Makineci ,&nbsp;Tufan Demirel ,&nbsp;Ersel Yilmaz ,&nbsp;Serhun Saglam ,&nbsp;Gafura Aylak Ozdemir","doi":"10.1016/j.foreco.2025.123502","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foreco.2025.123502","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Coppice-originated oak forests constitute vital carbon reservoirs in temperate regions, yet the fine-scale relationships between thermal microclimate, stand structure, and biomass dynamics remain poorly understood. This study integrates thermal remote sensing with forest inventory approaches to investigate spatial variations in biomass components (foliage, ground cover and organic soil) alongland surface temperature (LST) gradients in coppice-originated oak forests of northwestern Türkiye. LST was mapped using Landsat 7 ETM+ imagery, and relationships with biomass components were characterized using 244 sample plots. Cluster analysis identified two temperature classes (low: 23.7°C, high: 26.8°C), with cooler stands exhibiting greater structural development. The 3.1°C difference was associated with substantial biomass increases: 45 % in foliage, 33 % in ground cover, and 31 % in organic soil. Biomass components were predicted using multiple linear regression and Generalized Additive Models (GAMs). GAMs demonstrated 32 % lower error rates for foliage prediction. Foliage biomass achieved the highest prediction accuracy (97 % explained variance), while ground cover showed poorest performance (39 % explained variance), likely reflecting high heterogeneity and fine-scale environmental drivers not captured by stand-level variables. LST functions as an integrative indicator of stand structural development, with cooler signatures reflecting greater canopy closure and maturity. The thermal buffering capacity of mature stands creates feedback mechanisms promoting sustained biomass accumulation and potentially enhancing climate resilience. These results support management strategies promoting forest maturation to optimize carbon storage and microclimate buffering.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12350,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecology and Management","volume":"604 ","pages":"Article 123502"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145940404","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of resin-tapping on growth, defences and reproduction of 40 yr-old maritime pines in NW-Spain","authors":"Rafael Zas ,&nbsp;Adrián López-Villamor ,&nbsp;Ana Cao ,&nbsp;Roberto Touza,&nbsp;Luis Sampedro ,&nbsp;Margarita Lema","doi":"10.1016/j.foreco.2025.123497","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foreco.2025.123497","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Resin tapping in pine forests can provide multiple ecological and economic benefits. Extraction of resin from living trees implies, however, vast and periodical traumatisms that may have significant impacts on key vital functions such as growth, reproduction and resistance to biotic aggressors. These side effects of resin tapping need to be carefully assessed before fostering the activity, especially when proposed as a complementary exploitation of timber-oriented forests. Here, we studied traits related to growth (tree ring width), defences (resin ducts and chemical defences assessed in different tissues and relative positions in relation to the tapped wounded area), tree physiology (nutrient content, specific leaf area (SLA), relative water content (RWC), pigments) and reproduction (cone and seed size and yield) in resin-tapped and untapped control trees in two maritime pine (<em>Pinus pinaster</em>) forests in NW Spain, a region where pines occupy vast areas and are typically managed for timber purposes. Results indicated a strong and consistent local defensive response at the two sites with larger resin flow and greater content of non-volatile resin, phenolics, tannins, and flavonoids in the phloem above the wounded area. Qualitative changes in the terpenoid profile of the produced resin were also evident. No significant effects of resin tapping were observed on radial growth or reproduction. However, local induction of chemical defences was accompanied by reductions in the concentration of some chemical compounds in top branches of the crown as well as a reduction in the concentration of nutrients in the needles. This suggests that the local defensive responses to resin tapping were not free of some physiological costs. A trend to impact growth as the successive resin campaigns accumulate also point in this direction. Altogether, results suggest that resin tapping has effects on tree physiology, but these effects were either positive or had little practical consequences for health, growth, and reproduction.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12350,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecology and Management","volume":"604 ","pages":"Article 123497"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145940363","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of target diameter cutting on oak recruitment in a multilayered mixed conifer-broadleaved stand in southern Sweden","authors":"Kyaw Thu Moe ,&nbsp;Nora S. Pohl ,&nbsp;Jorge Aldea ,&nbsp;Magnus Löf","doi":"10.1016/j.foreco.2026.123519","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foreco.2026.123519","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Managing multi-layered forest stands is increasingly promoted as a strategic adaptation measure to climate change. Pedunculate oak (<em>Quercus robur</em> L.) and sessile oak (<em>Q. petraea</em> (Matt.) Liebl.) are ecologically and economically important species and considered important components of future forest management. However, forest management is challenged by the unsuccessful recruitment of oak, particularly under selective cutting systems, due to the species’ relatively high light requirements. In this study, we investigated the long-term effects of different selective cutting treatments on oak recruitment in multi-layered mixed stands over 16 years in southern Sweden. We studied the individual tree diameter growth, height growth, and transition of oak recruits into higher canopy positions. All target diameter cutting treatments significantly promoted the individual tree diameter growth of oak recruits, compared to the control. Observed height growth was lower in target diameter cutting treatments. However, target diameter cutting treatments increased the transitions of oak recruits into higher canopy positions. The higher diameter growth and canopy class transitions into higher classes are achieved by the treatment that removed more Norway spruce trees. Therefore, to promote the advancement of oak recruits into higher canopy positions, target diameter cutting could be an appropriate management alternative if it is sufficiently strong and is focused on removing the most competitive tree species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12350,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecology and Management","volume":"604 ","pages":"Article 123519"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145940407","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Species composition, competition, and environmental stress influence early growth dynamics in bottomland forest communities","authors":"Olaniyi O. Ajala ,&nbsp;Zhongqian Cheng ,&nbsp;Jeremy P. Stovall,&nbsp;Kathryn R. Kidd,&nbsp;Brian P. Oswald,&nbsp;Yuhui Weng","doi":"10.1016/j.foreco.2026.123505","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foreco.2026.123505","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Abiotic and biotic stressors can impede bottomland forest restoration. Native bottomland species’ performance when growing alongside invasive species under varying shade and flooding regimes may identify suitable candidates for restoration. Two greenhouse experiments tested how species composition, interaction, and environmental stress (shade and flooding) influence seedling growth and biomass. Both experiments included one invasive species, Chinese tallow<em>,</em> and four native species: baldcypress, green ash, sugarberry<em>,</em> and water tupelo. The first experiment tested competition using all pairwise species combinations and their monocultures. The second experiment grouped species into invasive, native, and mixed communities and subjected them to two treatments: light (high vs. low irradiance) and flooding (non-flooded vs. flooded). In both experiments, seedling height and root collar diameter were monitored throughout a growing season, with total biomass measured at the end to compare the actual and expected biomass difference in the mixture (in terms of biodiversity effects). Tallow and baldcypress suppressed the growth of ash, sugarberry, and tupelo, while the latter three species grew well with each other. Composition and light availability, not flooding conditions, explained more variation in growth. Growth of both invasive and native communities was highest under high irradiance. Biodiversity effects were generally governed by selection effects, or dominant species leading to higher productivity. High irradiance and flooded conditions yielded positive selection and complementary effects, while low irradiance and non-flooded conditions yielded low values. Removing invasive species alone may not be effective for restoring bottomland forests. Native species interactions under stress should be a key consideration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12350,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecology and Management","volume":"604 ","pages":"Article 123505"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974311","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dynamic wildlife habitat mapping and attribution analyses reveal that wildfire, not fuels management, drives declines in an old forest species","authors":"Joshua M. Barry ,&nbsp;Ronan Hart ,&nbsp;Gavin M. Jones ,&nbsp;H. Anu Kramer ,&nbsp;Kate A. McGinn ,&nbsp;M. Zachariah Peery","doi":"10.1016/j.foreco.2025.123386","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foreco.2025.123386","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Intensifying disturbances such as high-severity wildfire and prolonged drought-related tree mortality – along with forest management activities intended to curb these disturbances – are reshaping wildlife habitat. As a result, older forest-dependent species are being affected in fire-prone forests. Yet, mapping these dynamic processes at fine spatial resolution across broad spatiotemporal scales remains challenging. Using 37 years (1986–2022) of California spotted owl (<em>Strix occidentalis occidentalis</em>) detection data from Southern California – the subspecies' southern range limit – we integrated a recently developed statewide fuels management database and remotely-sensed data with random forest models to (1) map annual habitat changes at 30-m resolution, and (2) attribute those changes to major disturbance types. Our analysis revealed that nesting/roosting habitat declined by 54 % since 1986, with 92 % of the remaining habitat concentrated in the San Bernardino National Forest. Prey acquisition habitat decreased by 40 % within this forest. Wildfire primarily drove nesting/roosting habitat loss, explaining 80 % of attributable declines post-2006, followed by drought/other (14 %) and fuels management (6 %). Potential territories with ≥ 48 ha of nesting/roosting habitat declined by 53 %, those with ≥ 48 ha of prey acquisition habitat declined by 47 %, and territories meeting both thresholds declined by 73 %. These results underscore dramatic habitat loss for spotted owls, highlight wildfire's disproportionate impact, and emphasize the San Bernardino National Forest’s importance as a refuge. Limited nesting/roosting habitat declines from fuels management highlight its potential to reduce wildfire impacts on older forests. By integrating species distribution models with multi-disturbance mapping, our study offers a regional-scale framework that can be transferred to other species and ecosystems to monitor habitat dynamics and disturbance impacts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12350,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecology and Management","volume":"603 ","pages":"Article 123386"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145973255","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Simulation of recurring defoliation by multiple insects shows lasting consequences for carbon storage in temperate oak forests","authors":"Jane R. Foster ,&nbsp;Robert M. Scheller ,&nbsp;Brian R. Sturtevant ,&nbsp;Philip A. Townsend ,&nbsp;Brian Miranda ,&nbsp;David J. Mladenoff","doi":"10.1016/j.foreco.2025.123450","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foreco.2025.123450","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Insect defoliation outbreaks are dynamic forest disturbances that alter species composition and carbon balance. In the Central Appalachian Mountains, U.S.A., the invasive spongy moth (SM, <em>Lymantria dispar</em> L., formerly called gypsy moth) has been spreading and impacting oak forests for 45 years, yet much about how its outbreaks compound the effects of native defoliator inhabitants remains unknown. We developed a model to simulate insect defoliation and project long-term consequences on forest biomass and composition. The model incorporates outbreak spatial dynamics derived from Landsat data and implements species-specific tree-growth and mortality responses. We used this model with the LANDIS-II forest change model to simulate forest dynamics over 400 years in a managed forest in western Maryland, with and without SM defoliation, to quantify changes that follow invasion. Additional scenarios included a native defoliator, forest tent caterpillar (FTC, <em>Malacosoma disstria</em> Hbn.), to examine how multiple defoliators alter disturbance outcomes. Results showed that SM invasion changed forest species composition in unexpected ways. Shade tolerant species increased less after SM invaded, even though they were not preferred hosts, due to their proximity to neighboring host species. Forest carbon was temporarily reduced following individual outbreaks, and long-term aboveground C was lower (by 7.2 Mg C ha⁻¹ on average), with SM than without. Changes in forest aboveground C stocks were more pronounced when a native defoliator was included, particularly when outbreaks synchronized. Interacting insect disturbances have significant consequences for forest C storage and should be incorporated into our growing understanding of C dynamics at landscape scales.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12350,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecology and Management","volume":"603 ","pages":"Article 123450"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145838052","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}