Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Stand dynamics following gap-scale exogenous disturbance in a single cohort mixed species stand in Morgan County, Tennessee

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Differences in composition, structure, and growth under canopy gaps created by the mortality of a single stem were analyzed using analysis of variance under two scenarios, with stem removed or with stem left as a standing snag. There were no significant differences in composition and structure of large diameter residual stems within upper canopy strata. Some preexisting advance regeneration was recruited as a new cohort following the disturbance. On cut plots, the recruitment consisted of eastern white pine (Pinus strobus), yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), and red maple (Acer rubrum). On no cut plots, the advance regeneration recruited as a new cohort was comprised of red maple, American beech (Fagus grandifolia), and a few oaks (Quercus spp.). The removal of the gap maker provided a pathway to recruit suppressed stems into larger diameter and crown classes. Conversely, plots where the gap maker was left as a standing snag tended to result in larger radial increases by the closest major competitors.

Parent Publication

Citation

Hughett, Brian S.; Clatterbuck, Wayne K. 2014. Stand dynamics following gap-scale exogenous disturbance in a single cohort mixed species stand in Morgan County, Tennessee. In: Groninger, John W.; Holzmueller, Eric J.; Nielsen, Clayton K.; Dey, Daniel C., eds. Proceedings, 19th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; 2014 March 10-12; Carbondale, IL. General Technical Report NRS-P-142. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 336-346.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/47440