Ecological Factors Influencing Chestnut Blight Infection and Reproductive Success in Ozark Chinquapins (Castanea ozarkensis)

The Ozark chinquapin (Castanea ozarkensis) is a chestnut tree whose range is concentrated in the Interior Highlands of North America. Like other North American members of Castanea, the Ozark chinquapin was reduced from an overstory tree to an understory shrub by the invasive chestnut blight fungus (Cryphonectria parasitica) during the early twentieth century. While numerous studies have documented the response of the American chestnut (C. dentata) to chestnut blight, little is known about the Ozark chinquapin's health and reproductive status post-blight. We used generalized linear models and AIC model selection to assess the factors that influence the probability of being infected by chestnut blight and to determine which variables best predict the reproductive status of the Ozark chinquapin in south-central Missouri. Models showed that Ozark chinquapin reproductive status was related to the maximum stem height of the tree and past fire frequency. The probability of blight infection was related to stem height, deer damage, and fire history. Our findings suggest that the Ozark chinquapin is capable of reproduction in certain situations but remains susceptible to chestnut blight through deer damage and the burn time interval. Thus, conservation of chinquapins could benefit from management that reduces disturbance from deer and fire mortality.