Nancy D. Hausle-Johnson
Aspen Color Change
Scientist Pat Doak (UAF) gave a presentation to ITOC, describing the damage to aspen trees in Fairbanks, Alaska, due to aspen leaf miners. She also provided a hands-on opportunity to examine aspen leaf miners under a dissecting microscope, during a field trip to the Bonanza Creek Experimental Forest southwest of Fairbanks.
My home is surrounded by tall, beautiful aspen trees. Eggs are laid by female leaf miner moths on aspen leaf surfaces, just as the leaf buds begin to unfurl. Larvae feed on the leaves, leaving zigzagging mining tracks. I watched aspen leaf miners eat these leaves, creating feeding tracks that changed the leaves to a silvery two-tone color. The leaves transformed from a rich green into ghost images that flutter in the wind. A study of aspen trees near Fairbanks in 2002 found a large percent of surveyed trees had leaf miner damage. Leaf miner damage does not seriously affect the trees during moderate infestations, but leaf miner damage does have stronger negative impacts on aspen trees during hot, dry conditions that may be increasing as a result of climate warming.
Aspen Color Change provides a view of a stand of aspen, showing leaf miner tracks in the lower right and unaffected aspen leaves elsewhere.
Special thanks to Thomas Hart (Iron Amenities, Ester, Alaska).
Nancy D. Hausle-Johnson
Nancy D. Hausle-Johnson grew up in Seattle, Washington, and fell in love with outdoor activities including hiking, climbing, skiing, and outdoor education. Her experience as a fire lookout reinforced appreciation of wild spaces. Since moving to Fairbanks, Alaska, in 1980, she has applied her art in schools, businesses, and public spaces, designing and creating paintings and silkscreen prints, clay structures, and tile murals. Since 1985, she has designed art tiles and murals for art shows, public and private commissions and 1% for art commissions, hospitals, libraries, schools, and sports areas, using images inspired by birds, animals, flowers, and Alaskan landscapes.
Website: alaskatileart.com
