Effects and Impacts

Economic impacts associated with eab include the loss of valuable trees for timber production and the loss of ash from city and suburban landscapes.  The potential for widespread mortality of ash is a major concern for several Native American tribes who particularly value black ash for basket-making and as a cultural resource.  Long-term ecological impacts of eab could also be profound.  Ash species grow on a variety of soil and sites across much of the eastern U.S. Mortality of ash due to eab will affect forest ecosystems and biodiversity.  Ash trees provide browse, thermal cover and protection for a variety of wildlife species and seeds are consumed by many birds, small mammals and insects.  Research is underway to quantify the economic impacts of eab on industries and communities.  Studies are being conducted to evaluate patterns of eab-induced ash decline and mortality and to predict changes in forest tree-species composition.

Selected Research Studies

• Assessing the Role of Riparian Forests on EAB Dispersal
• Effects of Emerald Ash Borer on forest ecosystems
• Modeling Potential EAB Spread Using Spatially Explicit Cellular Models
• Predicting Ash Mortality due to Emerald Ash Borer
• Preventing the establishment of satellite EAB populations saves money
• The cost of the emerald ash borer infestation