Carolina hemlock genetics study

[Steve Galehouse]

Jason-

I met up with Dr. Jetton and a grad student last summer; they collected samples of the Carolina hemlocks. I think it might be up to a year until we know the full information on the Carolina hemlocks at the site. Either way, a reproducing population of Carolina hemlock is something special.

Steve

[jasonbaker]

I figured it might take awhile which also explains why you haven't updated this thread. Thanks for the update! I didn't see your post earlier because I missed the page 2 link for the thread :)

[Steve Galehouse]

Jason, NTS-

Attached is the most current information I have regarding the Carolina hemlocks, which I received last December.

Jetton et al. 2013, TPN 56(59-71).pdf

(6.28 MiB) Downloaded 123 times

Steve

[jasonbaker]

Awesome! I'll read that PDF when I get home in a few hours.

Thanks for sharing.

[jasonbaker]

Interesting read. I didn't realize that there was a seed orchard program in South America. At least if our hemlock populations are devastated, the genes for the trees should be safe for quite some time.

I'm assuming that if the genetic testing results for the CVNP Carolina hemlocks are shown to be different from the other established populations, it should prove they are a native disjunct population.

[Steve Galehouse]

Jason-

Yes, that's the implication. At the very least the trees at Ritchie Ledges will likely be among the last of the species to be exposed to HWA due to their relative remoteness.

Steve

[jamesrobertsmith]

Isn't there an island off the coast of Chile that's being planted with Eastern and Carolina hemlocks? A just-in-case precaution?

[Will Blozan]

Steve,

That population is so infinitesimally small that it should be a no-brainer to treat the entire stand when HWA arrives. It could be done in less than a day for a very reasonable price if contracted. If someone paid my way I'd do it as a volunteer; insecticide included.

Hopefully it won't go the route of other stands- victims of apathy, misinformation, red tape and lack of funding. This population- if indeed a relic outlier- is so important to preserve for many reasons. There are no longer any viable excuses not to.

Will

[Steve Galehouse]

Will-

I'm not sure if it's good or bad that these hemlocks are within a national park, as far as treating them if HWA arrives to the area. I've let my pesticide applicator license lapse, but would be glad to get re-certified to treat these trees. So far in northern Ohio HWA has been confined to production nurseries and ornamental plantings, and control has been successful.

Steve