Ontario Report 2008

Ed CzerwinskiOntario Ministry of Natural Resources

Taylor Scarr, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources

Krista Ryall, Canadian Forest Service

Forest Health Concerns Forest Health Concerns in Ontario 2008in Ontario 2008

• Major Forest Disturbances– Jack Pine Budworm– Spruce Budworm– Forest Tent Caterpillar– Large Aspen Tortrix

• Invasive Pests– GM, PFW, LCB, EAB…

• Regionally Significant Problems– Northwest Region– Northeast Region– Southern Region

Jack Pine Budworm, Choristoneura pinus pinus

1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 20000

1,000,000

2,000,000

3,000,000

4,000,000

5,000,000

6,000,000

Jack Pine Budworm, Tree Mortality

Spruce Budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 20000

5,000,000

10,000,000

15,000,000

20,000,000

Forest Tent Caterpillar, Malacosoma disstria

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 20000

5,000,000

10,000,000

15,000,000

20,000,000

25,000,000

Large aspen Large aspen tortrixtortrixLarge Aspen Tortrix, Choristoneura conflictana

Invasive Pests,

• Gypsy Moth

• Pine False webworm

• Larch Casebearer

• Emerald Ash Borer

Gypsy Moth, Lymantria dispar

GM Larval fungus, Entomophaga maimaiga

0

20

40

60

80

100

0426 0906 1606 24 06 03 07 07 07 21 07

Collection date

% i

nfe

cte

d (

Ld

NP

V)

SWCR Control

Backus Control

SWCR Treated

Pine Grove TreatedVirus

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

0426 0906 1606 24 06 03 07 07 07 21 07

Collection date

% i

nfe

cte

d (

EM

)

SWCR Control

Backus Control

SWCR Treated

Pine Grove Treated

Fungus

Larvae were collected weekly and examined for infection:

• Virus treatment resulted in higher prevalence of virus earlier in the season and at its peak, compared to naturally occurring infection in the controls

• Infection by Entomophaga maimaiga reached 100% in all blocks by early July, wiping out the populations

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 20050

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

Pine False Webworm, Acantholyda erythrocephala

Larch Casebearer, Coleophora laricella

tthehe beetles are coming, and beetles are coming, and yesyes there will be consequencesthere will be consequences

Emerald Ash Borer, Agrilus planipennis

MNR MNR OntarioOntario

Project Overview

• Conduct aerial survey to identify/locate various intensities of ash decline in urban centres.

• Prioritize ground survey crew effort for EAB.

• Enhance detection capacity, using new technology, NRVIS layers, ortho-rectified air photos & DMT.

• Cooperative project between three levels of government:– Federal: CFIA, CFS

– Provincial: OMNR

– Municipal: Toronto, Mississauga, Oakville, Vaughan, York Region, (Hamilton).

Take what we normally do –to the urban forest.

Mission Planning• General Route of Flight.• Obtain exemption to Canadian

Aviation regulations 602.14(2) from Transport Canada Civil Aviation to conduct:

– Low-level flight less than 500 ft AGL

• Base of Operation – Buttonville Airport.

• Emergency Management Plan:– Police, Fire, ambulance, nearest

hospitals, and municipal contact for each municipality we were to cover.

– Official notification sent to each municipality, & those in EMP forwarded to each Emergency Management Service.

• Book/ reserve aircraft & experienced pilot.

• Specific area of flight, flight lines.• Dates, times of flights• EAB data, known locations,

coordinates• Colour photos, road network,

forest and tree inventory if available., natural areas.

– Geospatial Information Licence Agreements to be signed with municipalities.

• Load into DMT.• Backup GPS and paper maps• Each level of government, obtain

necessary approvals.

Results

• Flights occurred August 26 & 27.• 4.1 & 4.5 hrs, respectively• Observed, 60+ trees, locations with ash decline.• Quick ground check disclosed no additional EAB, but

found RHAB, L-AB as well as snow/ice damage.• Detailed branch sampling followed at one selected site –

no EAB.• Follow-up work required:

– Improve upon geospatial information in DMT from different sources. Dedicate individual to specific project in future.

– Continue with branch sampling methodology.– Continue to work with municipalities, forestry.

The little green menace. . . .

Special thanks:

CFIA - Troy Kimoto, Erin Bullas-Appleton

CFS - Hugh Evans, Krista Ryall, Ron Fournier, Anthony Hopkin

MNR – PFCentre, Aspen Zeppa, Don Filliter, Robert O`Halloran, Taylor Scarr, PGeomatics, Joel Mostoway.

Municipalities: Toronto, Mississauga, Oakville, York Region, Hamilton.

Northwest Region,

Ws sawyerWs sawyerWhitespotted Sawyer Beetle, Monochamus s. scutellatus

Aspen mortality and declineAspen mortality and decline

Aspen Decline and Mortality,

Aspen Aspen leafrollerleafrollerAspen Leafroller, Pseudexentera oregonana

Bronze birch Bronze birch borerborer

Bronze Birch Borer, Agrilus anxious

BlowdownBlowdown picpic

Blowdown,

Northeast Region,

Bruce spanworm Bruce spanworm picpicBruce Spanworm, Operophtera bruceata

Southern Region,

Aspen Aspen leafrollerleafrollerAspen Leafroller, Pseudexentera oregonana

Fall cankerworm Fall cankerworm picpicFall Cankerworm, Alsophila pometaria

cherry cherry scallopshellscallopshell moth moth picpic

Cherry Scallopshell Moth, Hydria pruniverata

Cedar leafminer Cedar leafminer picpicCedar Leafminer, Argyresthia thuiella

Hemlock damage Hemlock damage picpic

Hemlock Damage,

Hail DamageHail DamageHail Damage,

Thank you

Ministry of Natural Resources