The University's majestic American elms are falling victim to a host of problems that are weakening the trees structurally and deteriorating their health.

In the last two months, five elms lost their place on the Mall after contracting Dutch elm disease.

"It's sad," said Jeff Tran (senior-finance), echoing the sentiments of many students as he cringed while looking at the gaping hole left on the Mall.

Dutch elm disease was the trees' quickest killer. Once the fungus gets into the limbs or roots of the elm it "plugs up the vascular system and kills everything above it," said Kim Steiner, interim director of the School Of Forest Resources. The disease kills them within two growing seasons, he said.

But more than disease has affected the elms. The trees are growing old and weak with stress, said John Skelly, professor of plant pathology.

"Just like (people), the older they get, the more frail they become," he said.

For the nearly 100-year-old elms on the Mall, the stress is mainly from soil compaction, a byproduct of the corridor's daily stream of pedestrian traffic.

"They compact the soil so badly the trees can't live a normal life," said Jack Lingenfelter, landscape supervisor. The elms weaken over time because their compressed root systems draw inadequate water and nutrients into the trees.

Aside from weakening elms, Steiner said arborists are concerned about structural problems with the trees and are being extremely cautious. Weak limbs are removed long before they become a hazard, he added.

Weakened elms are also more susceptible to disease and less likely to recover from serious problems, such as Dutch elm disease, said Gregory Hoover, extension associate in the entomology department.

Dutch elm disease has been haunting continental trees since the 1930s when it entered North America on elm logs from Europe. The elm bark beetle is the primary infector of Dutch elm disease.

In 1990, the Office of Physical Plant undertook a massive project to control the spread of Dutch elm disease on campus. The project, called Save the Elms, is designed to preserve the University's elm population.

OPP's landscaping department is responsible for handling diseased elms, including pruning, spraying and removing trees.

Although the project's expense comes from OPP's operating budget, Lingenfelter said OPP is working to set up an annual fund through the Alumni Association.

Although removing the trees is unfortunate, Steiner said he prefers to think of it as a renewal of the Mall.

"It might take 30 years to reap the benefits, but it will be worth it in the long run," he said.