Stream microbiome responses to spruce budworm defoliation
This project investigated the effects of spruce budworm defoliation on headwater stream habitat and leaf litter microbiomes to inform forest management decisions. It was conducted in 12 watersheds in the Gaspesie Peninsula, Quebec, Canada, which represent a range of defoliation severity. Leaf packs were incubated in headwater streams for 5 weeks in August/September of 2019-2021 and samples were sequenced for 16S and ITS genes.