Forested wetlands in Louisiana are hydrologically isolated from
the Mississippi River, impounded by manmade structures, impacted
by saltwater intrusion, and are sinking, resulting in more
frequent flooding for longer periods. Additionally, defoliation
of the two dominant trees, baldcypress (Taxodium distichum L.
Rich) and water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica L.), occur frequently
during spring. In Louisiana, the baldcypress leafroller, BCLR,
(Archips goyerana Kruse) and the forest tent caterpillar, FTC,
(Malacosoma disstria Hubner) defoliate up to 120,000ha of
baldcypress-tupelo swamps. Restoration plans call for
reintroducing Mississippi River water (diversions) to increase
sediment elevation, promote natural regeneration, and enhance
primary and secondary productivity. In this study, insect-tree-
health relationships were evaluated in field and in multifactor,
greenhouse and larval rearing experiments incorporating these
environmental stressors and nutrient enhancements under
simulated diversion conditions. It was a