Editing Fraxinus (section)

== Ecology ==
North American native ash tree species are a critical food source for North American frogs, as their fallen leaves are particularly suitable for tadpoles to feed upon in ponds (both temporary and permanent), large puddles, and other water bodies.<ref name=frogs>{{cite journal |last1=Stephens |first1=Jeffrey |last2=Bervan |first2=Keith |last3=Tiegs |first3=Scott |date=3 May 2013 |title=Anthropogenic changes to leaf litter input affect the fitness of a larval amphibian |journal=Freshwater Biology |volume=58 |issue=8 |pages=1631–1646 |doi=10.1111/fwb.12155 |bibcode=2013FrBio..58.1631S }}</ref> Lack of tannins in the American ash makes their leaves a good food source for the frogs, but also reduces its resistance to the [[Emerald ash borer#As an invasive species|ash borer]]. Species with higher leaf [[tannin]] levels (including maples and non-native ash species) are taking the place of native ash, thanks to their greater resistance to the ash borer. They produce much less suitable food for the tadpoles, resulting in poor survival rates and small frog sizes.<ref name="frogs"/>

Ash species native to North America also provide important habitat and food for various other creatures native to North America. This includes the larvae of multiple [[long-horn beetle]]s, as well as other insects including those in the genus ''[[Tropidosteptes]]'', [[lace bug]]s, [[aphid]]s, larvae of [[gall fly|gall flies]], and caterpillars. Birds are also interested in black, green, and white ash trees. The black ash alone supports [[wood duck]]s, [[wild turkey]], [[Northern cardinal|cardinals]], [[pine grosbeak]]s, [[cedar waxwing]]s, and [[yellow-bellied sapsucker]]s, with habitat and food (such as the sap being of interest to the sapsucker) among others. Many mammalian species from [[meadow vole]]s eating the seeds to [[white-tailed deer]] eating the foliage to [[silver-haired bat]]s nesting will also make use of ash trees.<ref>{{cite web|title=Black Ash|url=https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/trees/plants/black_ash.html|website=Illinois Wildflowers|publisher=Dr. John Hilty|access-date=27 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=White Ash|url=https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/trees/plants/white_ash.html|website=Illinois Wildflowers|publisher=Dr. John Hilty|access-date=27 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Green Ash|url=https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/trees/plants/green_ash.htm|website=Illinois Wildflowers|publisher=Dr. John Hilty|access-date=27 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Red Ash|url=https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/trees/plants/red_ash.htm|website=Illinois Wildflowers|publisher=Dr. John Hilty|access-date=27 August 2018}}</ref>

Ash is used as a food plant by the [[Caterpillar|larvae]] of some [[Lepidoptera]] species ([[Butterfly|butterflies]] and [[moth]]s).