You are invited to attend the master's thesis defense of Jalkowski Samantha, please see the following information:

Name: Jalkowski Samantha
Date: 11/13/2024
Time (EST/EDT): 11:00 am
Location: remote
Remote Access: email: mees@umd.edu

Committee Chair: Dr. Stephanie Stotts
Committee Members: Dr. Eric May Dr. Keryn Gedan

Title: Salinity Intrusion Effects on Pinus Taeda along the Delmarva Peninsula: an analysis of wood density and morphology

Abstract: Ghost forests are striking indicators of salinization along the Delmarva peninsula. Despite increasing visibility, awareness, and research regarding coastal forest response to salinization, the mechanisms associated with tree decline and mortality are still not well understood, leaving an important gap with regards to conservation and restoration. This study seeks to elucidate wood density response to salinization by collecting and analyzing wood density measurements from Pinus taeda at Milford Neck, DE, Monie Bay, MD, and Brownsville Forest, VA with a Resistograph. Low forest samples captured tree response in a highly salt impacted system with elevated soil salinity and obvious tree mortality while high forest samples at the same location reflected minimal salt exposure. Wood density analysis revealed that salt exposed trees exhibited lower wood density than the high forest trees at all locations despite similar ages and sizes amongst most of the sites. A cellular comparison, including lumen area and cell wall thickness, was completed to identify the underlying source of density differences. Thin sections were collected for microscopic analysis using a digital image system and compared with statistical analysis which revealed mixed results. While the lumen area was similar at all sites, the salt exposed trees at Monie Bay had thinner cell walls than trees without salt exposure which could result from carbon starvation due to osmotic stress. However, the other sites did not exhibit any difference in cell wall thickness, providing no clear explanation for density differences. Wood density response to salinization should be more thoroughly investigated due to ecological and economic importance of this trait.