Models predict the loss of sugar maples over much of its current range in response to climate change. A potential means to monitor changes in tree health is the use of chemistry of sap provided by commercial maple producers acting as citizen scientists. In 2010 scientists at USFS and UNH teamed up with members of NH Maple Producers Association to develop protocols for sap sampling and storage. Methods for chemical analysis of sap by LC/MS (phenolic compounds), ICP-AES (mineral elements), refractometry (sugar content), spectrophotometry (phenol content and phenol oxidizing activity), etc. were developed for tree health, not syrup production. Research is ongoing to improve communication and training for producers who undertake the critical step of sample collection that determines how well analytical results represent changes taking place in maples trees exposed to rapidly changing environmental conditions. Determining adverse environmental impacts on natural resources over large geographic areas requires citizen science.<br/>

Maple producers play key role in use of tree sap to monitor tree health in a changing environment

256th National Meeting (2018)

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