1 00:00:01,350 --> 00:00:03,690 - [Marcus] This is Marcus Isselhardt, maple specialist, 2 00:00:03,690 --> 00:00:06,080 with the University of Vermont Extension. 3 00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:08,453 And this is another Vermont Maple Minute. 4 00:00:09,870 --> 00:00:11,920 Trees form the size and shape 5 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:14,450 of its stem and crown will be impacted 6 00:00:14,450 --> 00:00:16,380 by living in a low light environment, 7 00:00:16,380 --> 00:00:19,320 such as the forest's understory. 8 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:21,960 So called suppress trees are able to capture 9 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:24,023 just enough sun to survive. 10 00:00:24,930 --> 00:00:26,720 Sugar maples growing in the understory 11 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:30,610 tend to leaf out earlier than the trees in the upper canopy. 12 00:00:30,610 --> 00:00:32,130 When measured, it has been shown 13 00:00:32,130 --> 00:00:34,490 that these understory trees will produce 14 00:00:34,490 --> 00:00:38,350 as much as 80% of their entire annual food production 15 00:00:38,350 --> 00:00:41,660 in that short period before the canopy closes in 16 00:00:41,660 --> 00:00:43,563 and light becomes more limited. 17 00:00:44,620 --> 00:00:46,970 Perhaps the most visible impact of a tree 18 00:00:46,970 --> 00:00:49,470 being suppressed for a long period of time 19 00:00:49,470 --> 00:00:51,933 is a characteristic flat topped crown. 20 00:00:53,050 --> 00:00:55,670 This results from the tree growing 21 00:00:55,670 --> 00:00:58,000 and attempting to get sun from the sides 22 00:00:58,000 --> 00:00:59,393 rather than from above. 23 00:01:00,580 --> 00:01:03,570 Trees whose branching has been impacted this way 24 00:01:03,570 --> 00:01:05,860 will have a harder time responding 25 00:01:05,860 --> 00:01:08,253 if a gap in the canopy were to open up. 26 00:01:09,380 --> 00:01:11,060 These poor formed individuals 27 00:01:11,060 --> 00:01:14,723 will generally not mature into large tappable trees. 28 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:19,070 This is Mark Isselhardt, maple specialist, 29 00:01:19,070 --> 00:01:21,210 with the University of Vermont Extension, 30 00:01:21,210 --> 00:01:23,343 and this is another Vermont Maple Minute.