URBANIZATION AND TREE HEALTH
Does Urbanization Deserve All the Blame for the Destruction of Trees And the Decline in Their Health ?
Does Urbanization Deserve All the Blame for the Destruction of Trees And the Decline in Their Health ?
One important thing is Biological Competition. Competition between trees or with other vegetation, especially in resource-limited environments, can impact a tree’s access to sunlight, water, and nutrients, thus affecting its health.
Spotted lanternfly, an invasive insect that poses a significant threat to a variety of trees and plants in New York and other regions of the United States. Repeated feeding by large numbers of Spotted Lanternflies can stress trees, leading to reduced vigor and overall health decline.
Gypsy Moth, another common invasive species. The larvae (caterpillars) of the gypsy moth consume large quantities of tree leaves, leading to nutrient deficiencies. Severe defoliation can cause stunted growth, leaf drop, and even tree death. Besides, Affected trees are more susceptible to diseases and other pests.
At last, extreme weather events, such as frequent droughts, heavy rains, extreme high or low temperatures, and other extreme weather events which can put significant stress on trees and affect their health.
High winds during storms can break branches, strip leaves, and even uproot entire trees, and Severe wind can result in the loss of a significant portion of a tree's canopy. Prolonged drought deprives trees of the necessary water to maintain their physiological processes. This can lead to wilting, leaf browning, and in severe cases, tree death, and Drought-stressed trees are more susceptible to pest infestations. Intense heat from wildfires can scorch the bark, damaging the cambium layer.
The following is a comparison of the forest before and after the fire.
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Tools: Mapbox, Mapbox API, ChatGPT, Visual Studio Code, Mapbox Storyline
Data: NYC Open Data, NYCMapHub, GitHub