Measuring spatial and temporal shifts in forest structure and composition in high elevation beech forests in response to beech bark disease in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

•Exotic forest pests and pathogens are among the most serious environmental threats.•Beech bark disease is a pathogenic complex affecting Fagus grandifolia.•Beech bark disease arrived in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 1986.•High elevation beech forest communities were monitored between 1986 and 2017.•High elevation beech forest communities are becoming more influenced by Acer- and Betula-species.