Ralph D. Nyland

STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF OLD-GROWTH, MATURING, AND PARTIALLY CUT NORTHERN HARDWOOD FORESTS

Live tree diameter distributions, and abundance and quality of standing and downed coarse woody debris (CWD), were compared among three northern hardwood stand types in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, USA: old growth; partially cut, uneven-aged with 40–50 cm maximum residual diameters; and maturing, even-aged, 90–100 yr old, postfire. Downed CWD (stumps ≤1 m tall and logs) volumes in the old-growth, partially cut, and maturing stands were 139, 69, and 61 m3/ha, respectively. Large (≥50 cm diameter) CWD comprised 17%, 13%, and 4% of the total downed CWD volume in the old-growth, partially cut, and maturing stands respectively. Approximately one-half the large CWD in the partially cut stands was in the form of cut stumps. Standing CWD (stumps >1 m tall and standing dead trees) basal areas averaged 8.6, 1.2, and 4.1 m2/ha in the old-growth, partially cut, and maturing stands, respectively. Basal area of large (≥50 cm diameter) standing CWD averaged 70%, 0%, and 5% of the total in the old-growth, partia...

Even- to uneven-aged: the challenges of conversion

Changing philosophies of management have encouraged some landowners to consider converting existing even-aged stands to an uneven-aged arrangement. This will require an extended time as managers partition the cut of original trees in periodically establishing new age classes and maintaining the vigor of ones that develop. Strategies might include forms of uniform partial cutting, or patch cutting combined with thinning. The approach depends upon the shade tolerance and regeneration potential of the component species. Also, the limited growth potential of original trees that occupied poor crown positions will force landowners to rely on the dominants and co-dominants as residual growing stock during the conversion of most even-aged stands. Stratified mixed-species stands would allow a different approach. While experience suggests some clear options for the first entry towards conversion, later cuttings are more difficult to envision at present.

Understory response to springtime prescribed fire in two New York transition oak forests

Abstract Portions of two south-central New York transition oak stands received 0, 1 or 2 springtime prescribed fires between 1980/1981 and 1984. Observations 8–12 years later showed that forb richness, forb and shrub cover, and the importance values of forbs relative to shrubs increased in areas receiving one or two fires. Fagus grandifolia, Dennstaedtia punctilobula, Gaultheria procumbens and Trientalis borealis exhibited small, but detectable increases in importance values in burned areas. The importance values of Quercus rubra, Kalmia latifolia and Viburnum acerifolium decreased in burned areas. Areas receiving greater intensity fires contained taller tree regeneration and greater shrub cover, but no important changes in community composition could be attributed to fire intensity. An apparent relationship between rhizome depth and post-fire competitiveness of dominant perennial forbs and shrubs suggests the importance of below-ground morphological traits on survival and recovery following fire. Overall, the 12-year, post-burn cover and density of understory vegetation increased in burned areas and in areas receiving greater intensity fires, however, community composition remained largely unaffected by these springtime prescribed fires.

Patterns of deforestation and reforestation in different landscape types in central New York.

Abstract In landscapes of the eastern U.S.A., deforestation and reforestation are continuing processes. To better understand these processes, we documented the change in density and size of forest islands within individual landscape types of central New York. Thirty-one-30-km2 sample landscapes were subdivided into 1-ha cells, and the cells were classified according to five and uses — forest, other natural vegetation, agriculture, urban, and water. Sample periods were 1938, 1959, and 1978. Using a cluster analysis, sample landscapes were grouped according to seven landscape types - urban, sub-urban, agricultural-urban, agriculture, transitional-urban, transitional-agriculture, and forest. The intensity of landscape use determined the frequency of fragmentation, elimination, consolidation and emergence of forest islands. The suburban landscape type had the highest rates of fragmentation, elimination, and emergence. In contrast, the forest landscape type had the lowest rate for thos processes but had the highest rate of consolidation. By conducting such spatial and temporal analyses, regional managers can gain insight into how the individual attributes of landscapes might change through time under different management regimes.

Forecasting development of understory American beech after partial cutting in uneven-aged northern hardwood stands

Abstract American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) in the understory of northern hardwood stands can interfere with the development of more desirable species such as sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.). Yet, managers have had only limited methods for identifying stands where beech might dominate a new cohort. We examined five uneven-aged stands in New York State to determine the degree of influence that understory beech has on species development after a cutting treatment. No significant differences between stands were found, allowing us to develop a single model for evaluation. Understory beech was assessed using a species index value (SIV), which measures the proportion of stems, weighted by height, for a species on a milacre plot. We used a 5×5 transition matrix to compare pre- and post-cut beech importance levels. Stand-level trends showed an overall increase in the proportion of sample plots with higher levels of understory beech after cutting, with the likelihood of change on individual plots dependent on their pre-cut status. Plots with either no beech or very high levels of beech changed little after cutting, while beech was more likely to reach critical levels of dominance when pre-cut SIV was medium or higher. The transition matrix gives forest managers a means to forecast the probable level of future beech importance following cutting, based upon precursor conditions.

Patterns of lodgepole pine regeneration following the 1988 Yellowstone fires

Abstract In 1988, fires killed extensive lodgepole pine ( Pinus contorta Dougl. ex. Loud) in Yellowstone National Park. This species bears both serotinous and non-serotinous cones, with the former most common in fire-origin stands of an even-aged character. Reconnaissance of burned stands indicated that former even-aged communities regenerated effectively. Others did not. The larger and more uniformly-sized seedling under formerly even-aged communities suggests primarily a single wave of regeneration there. Seedlings appeared to initiate to some degree over multiple years under other stands, but not sufficiently to make them well stocked. Four different regeneration pathways seem to characterize the natural reforestation of lodgepole pine following the 1988 fires. These include: (1) a dense, uniformly distributed cohort that will develop as a single-storied stand; (2) lodgepole pine islands that form over long periods around isolated seedlings; (3) a moderate to low density cohort that will gradually fill with multiple age classes over a protracted period; and (4) a cohort of only widely scattered single seedlings that initially form as small nearby tree islands, and may eventually converge into a more continuous stand with multiple age classes.

Influences of pin cherry (Prunus pensylvanica L.f.) on growth and development of young even-aged northern hardwoods

Abstract Data collected from a young, even-aged northern hardwood stand in central New York revealed differences in species composition and patterns of development between permanent plots having a high and low stem density of pin cherry ( Prunus pensylvanica L.f.). Twenty years after clearcutting, pin cherry dominated the high density plots. It persisted only as large, scattered individuals among low density plots. Low density plots had about three times more dominant and codominant stems of species other than pin cherry, including over five times more dominant black cherry ( Prunus serotina Ehrh.), and dominant and codominant sugar maple ( Acer saccharum Marsh.). Dense patches of pin cherry appeared to inhibit other trees from growing into the general level of the main crown canopy. After pin cherry dies, all plots will contain a mixture of shade-tolerant and shade-intolerant species. However, high density areas will have fewer sugar maple and black cherry, and an overall low density of surviving stems.

Effects of two silvicultural regimes with large tree retention on epiphytic macrolichen communities in Adirondack northern hardwoods, New York, USA

We sampled epiphytic lichen communities in nine Adirondack northern hardwood stands: three old growth, three reserve shelterwood, and three single-tree selection systems. Our objectives were to assess the effects of treatment, tree diameter at breast height, and their interaction on lichen communities and to determine whether lichen traits were associated with particular habitats. Lichen community composition was strongly related to tree diameter at breast height and differed between old growth and reserve shelterwoods. Lichen community composition was also related to an interaction between tree size and stand type. Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm. was associated with large trees in old growth, whereas Evernia mesomorpha Nyl., Parmelia sulcata Taylor, and Physcia millegrana Degel. characterized those in shelterwood stands. Nitrophilous lichens were most common on small trees and in reserve shelterwoods, whereas small trees in selection systems and old growth supported lichens that were found to be most asso...

Hardwood Browse Production Following Shelterwood Cutting

Southeast Assoc. Game and Fish Comm. 16:2428. PLOTKA, E. D., U. S. SEAL, L. J. VERME, AND J. J. OZOGA. 1977. Reproductive steroids in the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus borealis). II. Progesterone and estrogen levels in peripheral plasma during pregnancy. Biol. Reprod. 17:78-83. SEEGER, K. H., AND P. R. KLATT. 1980. Laparoscopy in the sheep and goat. Pages 107-120 in R. M. Harrison and D. E. Wildt, eds. Animal laparoscopy. Williams and Wilkens Co., Baltimore, Md. VERME, L. J., L. D. FAY, AND U. V. MOSTOSKY. 1962. Use of x-ray in determining pregnancy in deer. J. Wildl. Manage. 26:409-411. WILDT, D. E. 1980. Laparoscopy in the pig. Pages 121-132 in R. M. Harrison and D. E. Wildt, eds. Animal laparoscopy. Williams and Wilkens Co., Baltimore, Md. ZWANK, P. J. 1981. Effects of field laparotomy on survival and reproduction of mule deer. J. Wildl. Manage. 45:972-975.

Habitat diversity in uneven-aged northern hardwood stands: a case study

Habitat characteristics were quantified in an empirically balanced uneven-aged northern hardwood stand in central New York. Canopy structure, wildlife trees, downed woody material, low cover, and richness and abundance of understory vegetation were assessed. High vertical structural diversity and low horizontal patchiness were associated with the single-tree selection system. Downed logs and wildlife trees were spatially well distributed, and cavities at a range of heights and sizes were documented. Application of a selection cutting decreased total canopy closure, but maintained high vertical structural diversity and an even distribution of foliage among canopy strata. Cutting reduced the number of wildlife trees, but increased low cover, shade-intolerant understory vegetation, and the abundance and complexity of downed woody material. This study provides quantifiable evidence of the diversity of habitat characteristics associated with a balanced stand structure and uniform spatial arrangement of different sized trees in uneven-aged northern hardwood stands.