Non-indigenous pathogenic fungi increasingly threaten North American tree species. Ecosystems may be fundamentally changed
when abundant tree species are functionally eliminated, as occurred with American chestnut (
Castanea dentata (Marsh.) Borkh.). Conversely, changes may be more subtle but still significant and long lasting when populations are lost,
or all trees in the larger size classes are killed. Proposed approaches for characterizing the magnitude of ecological impacts
use characteristics of both the non-indigenous pathogen and the host species. Impacts are most significant when highly successful
invading pathogens attack foundation species, setting in motion a long-lasting cascade of effects on the host and associated
species. Such impacts have generally not been well documented at the ecosystem level. Several North American forest tree species
have been functionally eliminated or severely reduced by non-indigenous pathogens. Historical invasions, such as that of chestnut
blight (
Cryphonectria parasitica (Murr.) Bar), caused very significant ecological impacts that will never be completely understood because of lack of quantitative
data. Beech bark disease, caused by a combination of an introduced scale insect (
Cryptococcus fagisuga Lindinger) and a fungus (
Neonectria faginata (Lohman et al.) Castl. & Rossman), is still advancing and provides opportunities for studying ecosystem-level impacts when
a major tree species is removed or markedly reduced in abundance from the overstorey. Butternut canker, caused by the fungus,
Sirococcus clavigignenti-juglandacearum N.B. Nair, Kostichka & Kuntz, has spread throughout the host range, endangering species’ survival. Other non-indigenous invasive
fungi such as
Cronartium ribicola J.C. Fisch and
Phytophthora lateralis Tucker & Milbrath continue to move into new populations, causing high mortality and associated restructuring of these ecosystems.
Global trade and environmental change trends will ensure new challenges by non-indigenous fungal pathogens, presenting an
urgent need for improved understanding of long-term impacts across ecological systems.
Keywords Beech bark disease - Butternut canker - Chestnut blight - Dutch elm disease - Ecological impacts - Invasive fungi - Non-indigenous species - Pathogen - Port-Orford cedar root rot - White pine blister rust