Finding the sweet spot: Shifting optimal climate for maple syrup production in North America

Abstract (from ScienceDirect): Climate change is affecting the benefits society derives from forests. One such forest ecosystem service is maple syrup, which is primarily derived from Acer saccharum(sugar maple), currently an abundant and widespread tree species in eastern North America. Two climate sensitive components of sap affect syrup production: sugar content and sap flow. The sugar in maple sap derives from carbohydrate stores influenced by prior year growing season conditions. Sap flow is tied to freeze/thaw cycles during early spring. Predicting climate effects on syrup production thus requires integrating observations across scales and biological processes. We observed sap at 6 sugar maple stands spanning...

Categories: Publication; Types: Citation; Tags: Indigenous Peoples, Northeast CASC, Plants, Tribes and Tribal Organizations, Wildlife and Plants

TAMM review: On the importance of tap and tree characteristics in maple sugaring

Abstract (from ScienceDirect): Maple sugaring mainly uses sugar and red maples (Acer saccharum and Acer rubrum) by tapping them for sap in the leafless-state across large portions of their ranges. How much sap exudes from a tap hole and how sweet this sap is, can vary substantially. Year-to-year variation in sap yield and sugar content can be primarily traced to differences in meteorological conditions that drive sap runs. Yet, how much of the total variation in sap yield and sugar content is linked to the year, site, species, tree, or tap has not been investigated systematically. Here, we reviewed the literature and also compiled a dataset of sap yield and sugar content from gravity taps on 324 red and sugar maples....

Categories: Publication; Types: Citation

Acer Climate and Socio-Ecological Research Network (ACERnet)

The Acer Climate and Socio-Ecological Research Network (ACERnet) is an international consortium of scientists studying climate impacts on sugar maple and maple syrup production. With funding from the Department of Interior Northeast Climate Science Center, our research focuses on the relationship between sap quality and climate, and how producers can and are adapting to climate variability and change. With core sap collection sites from southern Virginia to northern Quebec, and Massachusetts to Indiana, we are collecting data on sap quality across a broad range of climate conditions. We are always interested in expanding our network of sap quality observations and data – from adding producer hosted sample collection...

Tags: Indigenous Peoples, Northeast CASC, Plants, Tribes and Tribal Organizations, Wildlife and Plants

Final Report: Climate Effects on the Culture and Ecology of Sugar Maple

Maple syrup is produced from the sap of sugar maple trees collected in the late winter and early spring. Native American tribes have collected and boiled down sap for centuries, and the tapping of maple trees is a cultural touchstone for many people in the northeast and Midwest. Because the tapping season is dependent on weather conditions, there is concern about the sustainability of maple sugaring as climate changes throughout the region. At the same time the demand for this natural sweetener and the production of maple syrup are increasing rapidly. Our research addressed the impact of climate on the quality of maple sap used to make maple syrup. We examined yields coupled with the sugar and biochemical composition...

Categories: Publication; Types: Citation; Tags: Acer saccharum, Indigenous Peoples, Northeast CASC, Plants, Sugar maple, All tags... Tribes and Tribal Organizations, Wildlife and Plants, climate change, maple syrup, Fewer tags