Ashes Standing - A Functional Extinction

The images are taken from the Waterman main site at Hilton Road, Apalachin, NY, though they could've been taken anywhere in the region. The ash tree group members -- multiple species -- are becoming functionally extinct due to the Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive insect from Asia that we inadvertently brought here. A functional extinction is when a species no longer plays a significant role in an ecosystem. Ash trees were prevalent, and chemically (low-tannin) important for a number of insects and amphibians. In the future they will be less than a bit player, and more of an oddity. (9/27/22 -jcs)