The growth rate of this tree was decreasing for the last 15 years. The last seven growth increments consisted of only earlywood vessels. The tree was a victim of repeated attacks the last seven years by gypsy moths, Lymantria dispar. The log is kept in the wood, and to read that log you must under stand the simple language of tree anatomy.
Trees respond to the ever changing environment, and to injuries and infections.
Because pruning and removing trees are major activities of most tree companies. Autopsy, which comes from the Greek word autopsia, means to see for yourself. It is often mistaken for the word for necropsy, which means the study of the dead. The usefulness of an autopsy depends on knowing where to look, what to look for, and the meaning of what you see. You must be able to see details fast.