The Impact of Mistletoe on Urban Canopy and the Effect of Climate Change on Mistletoe Parasitic Behavior
Date of Award
11-9-2010
Document Type
Undergraduate Capstone Project
Degree Name
Master of Applied Science
Organizational Unit
University College, Environmental Policy and Management
Disciplines
Environmental Policy & Mgmt
First Advisor
Kathy Flanagan
Keywords
Climate change, Mistletoe, Parasitic behavior, Urban canopy
Abstract
Mistletoe parasitic behavior can significantly impact urban canopy, especially because climate change is expected to cause favorable conditions that may promote aggressive growth, reproduction and dispersal of this often overlooked parasite. This study found an occurrence frequency of 6.3 percent and an infection rate of 26.7 percent among host trees. These results are comparable to other mistletoe studies based in non-urban areas. When the findings were applied to Nowak and Greenfield's (2010) estimated number of urban trees in California, roughly four million trees fell into the infected category. The potential impact of mistletoe on urban canopy could undermine the tree planting efforts of urban forest managers and planning developers to mitigate the effects of climate change on urban environments.
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by the author. Permanently suppressed.
Recommended Citation
Dunseith, Deanna, "The Impact of Mistletoe on Urban Canopy and the Effect of Climate Change on Mistletoe Parasitic Behavior" (2010). University College: Environmental Policy and Management Capstones. 119.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/ucol_epm/119