acknowledged (Amirio et al. 2010; Clark et al. 2010; Lovett et al. 2010; Peltzer et al. 2010). In a synthesis of the responses of carbon fluxes to various types of disturbances, the typical trajectory of forest carbon dynamics after a pest or pathogen attack is an initial decrease in Net Ecosystem Production (NEP) in the year of disturbance, followed by a recovery period of 1-5 years before NEP returns to normal (Amiro et al. 2010). In contrast to Amirio et al.’s (2010) study, no such review has occurred for soil carbon pools in response to pest or pathogen attacks. The general impact of such pestilence on belowground carbon storage for either short or long time scales is poorly understood (Peltzer et al. 2010). Peltzer et al. (2010) hypothesize that terrestrial carbon pools should decline shortly after the introduction of pests due to reduced productivity and increased decomposition. This hypothesis groups the entire terrestrial carbon pool into a single category but presumes the same directional response for both the aboveground and belowground components. Few studies have measured belowground carbon storage after this type of disturbance to test the belowground aspect of this hypothesis (Peltzer et al. 2010). One study found the forest floor and mineral soil carbon pools were not affected shortly after a hemlock wooly adelgid invasion (Jenkins et al. 1999). A recent manipulative experiment designed to mimic a pathogen attack in Black Rock Forest, southeastern NY (Levy-Varon et al. 2011), provides another opportunity to test Peltzer et al.’s (2010) hypothesis. This study was prompted by concerns over the decline of oak (genus species in the eastern United States. The widespread failure of oak tree regeneration Quercus) (Crow et al. 1992; Rooney and Waller 2003; Shumway et al. 2001) coupled with a array of pests,
acknowledged (Amirio et al. 2010; Clark et al. 2010; Lovett et al. 2010; Peltzer et al. 2010). In a synthesis of the responses of carbon fluxes to various types of disturbances, the typical trajectory of forest carbon dynamics after a pest or pathogen attack is an initial decrease in Net Ecosystem Production (NEP) in the year of disturbance, followed by a recovery period of 1-5 years before NEP returns to normal (Amiro et al. 2010). In contrast to Amirio et al.’s (2010) study, no such review has occurred for soil carbon pools in response to pest or pathogen attacks. The general impact of such pestilence on belowground carbon storage for either short or long time scales is poorly understood (Peltzer et al. 2010). Peltzer et al. (2010) hypothesize that terrestrial carbon pools should decline shortly after the introduction of pests due to reduced productivity and increased decomposition. This hypothesis groups the entire terrestrial carbon pool into a single category but presumes the same directional response for both the aboveground and belowground components. Few studies have measured belowground carbon storage after this type of disturbance to test the belowground aspect of this hypothesis (Peltzer et al. 2010). One study found the forest floor and mineral soil carbon pools were not affected shortly after a hemlock wooly adelgid invasion (Jenkins et al. 1999). A recent manipulative experiment designed to mimic a pathogen attack in Black Rock Forest, southeastern NY (Levy-Varon et al. 2011), provides another opportunity to test Peltzer et al.’s (2010) hypothesis. This study was prompted by concerns over the decline of oak (genus Quercus) species in the eastern United States. The widespread failure of oak tree regeneration (Crow et al. 1992; Rooney and Waller 2003; Shumway et al. 2001) coupled with a array of pests,