We may think of oak trees as stalwart survivors. The name “oak” may sound synonymous with hardiness, strength, and resilience.
A recent study by the Cincinnati Nature Center has revealed that the trusty oak may have more difficulty surviving in Cincinnati than we had previously though.
The Director of Conservation for the Cincinnati Nature Center, Cory Christopher, had noticed that young oaks were having a tough time thriving at the center. Older oaks were falling ill. Young maple trees were flourishing in parts of their forest, but young oaks were simply not to be found.
Christopher began to undertake a scientific study to test the effects of honeysuckle and drought on the center’s oak trees.
As Christopher told reporter Ann Thompson from WVXU, the oaks turned out to be “not as tolerant” of honeysuckle and drought as he and his staff had originally thought.
Why Oaks Are So Crucial
Many animals in Cincinnati’s forest ecosystem require the acorns from oak trees to survive. Deer, wild turkeys, squirrels, and chipmunks all depends upon these acorns for sustenance. Further up the food chain, predators like foxes, coyotes, and wolves need fattened squirrels and chipmunks to feed off of.
The larvae of pollinating insects feed on oak leaves too. Without those oak leaves to feed from, these pollinators have a tougher time reproducing, and therefore a tougher time pollinating those plants. In turn, those plants need pollination to reproduce as well.
The whole forest leans heavily upon these oak trees to continue their vital life processes.
How Does Honeysuckle Factor into the Equation?
As lovely as those honeysuckle plants may smell, the plants’ leaves carry an extract that inhibits growth in oak trees. This extract does not inhibit maple trees.
For his study, Christopher tried to grow oak saplings with and without that honeysuckle extract. He also tested oak growth with and without drought. His study confirmed that both the lack of rainfall and the presence of invasive honeysuckle were limiting growth of the young oaks.
Christopher says the next question for study will be: how long does the honeysuckle extract remain in the soil? And, as a corollary, how long does the extract have a limiting effect on oak growth? His studies will continue, and he will continue to share his findings with the public. He wants the Cincinnati Nature Center’s scientific publications to help inform other parks and forests across the United States and elsewhere.
As a tree service in Cincinnati, we encourage you to plant an oak tree or two in your yard. The more we can support these young oaks, the better it will be for our local, native ecosystem.
