scholarly journals Reconstructing the competitive dynamics of mixed-oak neighborhoods

2012 ◽  
Vol 42 (9) ◽  
pp. 1714-1723 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric K. Zenner ◽  
Daniel J. Heggenstaller ◽  
Patrick H. Brose ◽  
JeriLynn E. Peck ◽  
Kim C. Steiner

The disparity between the potential for latent oak dominance within a stand and their region-wide decline in importance value raises questions about the competitiveness of oaks in early stand dynamics. We reconstructed tree height growth dynamics in mixed-species neighborhoods to determine if currently dominant oaks were ever shorter than their competitors and at what age currently subordinate oaks fell behind. In 23–36 year old mixed-oak stands in two physiographic provinces of Pennsylvania, we identified dominant and subordinate northern red oaks ( Quercus rubra L.) and chestnut oaks ( Quercus prinus L.) competing with adjacent non-oaks (red maple ( Acer rubrum L.), sweet birch ( Betula lenta L.), and black cherry ( Prunus serotina Ehrh.)) of equal crown class. In each stand, we randomly selected 20 tree neighborhoods and collected stem cross sections every metre from the base to the tip of each tree. In the Allegheny Plateau province, dominant northern red oaks never averaged more than 2 m shorter than their competitors, while by age 20, subordinate oaks were commonly more than 2 m behind. Dominant chestnut oaks in the Ridge and Valley province were never more than 1 m shorter than their competitors; subordinate oaks, however, were generally always at least a metre behind. In both regions, growth dynamics of currently subordinate trees were indistinguishable from those of currently dominant trees during their first decade. Because oaks that were considerably behind at age 15 were likely to be subordinate by age 30, the window of opportunity for release to prevent oaks from becoming permanently overtopped and unable to recover may thus be relatively early (age 10–20).

2019 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Ying Xin ◽  
Roger A. Williams

Abstract The effects of fall and spring prescribed fires on large seedlings (0.3 to 1.3 m height) of oak and other hardwood species three years after a shelterwood harvest were examined in Richland Furnace and Zaleski State Forests in southern Ohio. Fall and spring burns appeared to be more deleterious to red oaks (Quercus rubra L., Q. velutina Lam., Q. coccinea Muenchh.) than white oaks (Q. alba L., Q. prinus L.). Red oak experienced reductions in numbers and canopy volume after spring burns, and canopy reductions after fall burns. White oak experienced small increases in numbers of stems after both fall and spring burns, and an increase in the canopy volume after fall burns, but a slight decrease after spring burns. Yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.), a major oak competitor prior to fire, experienced dramatic reductions in the number of regenerating stems and canopy volume after both fall and spring burns. On the other hand, red maple (Acer rubrum L.) experienced large increases in the number of regenerating stems and canopy volume after both fall and spring burns. Based on importance value, the oak species remained relatively unchanged after both fall and spring burns. Yellow-poplar became the least dominant species after spring burns and the second to last dominant species after fall burns.


1983 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-6
Author(s):  
R.D. Wright ◽  
E.B. Hale

The influence of N rates and irrigation on shoot growth and trunk diameter were evaluated for red maple (Acer rubrum, L. ‘October Glory’), pin oak (Quercus palustris Muenchh) and dogwood (Cornus florida L. ‘Barton’). Irrigation increased shoot growth and trunk diameter for all 3 species during the first 2 growing seasons. Tree height and trunk diameter at the end of the third growing season were also greater for irrigated trees. Increasing the N levels from 168 to 329 Kg N/ha (150 to 300 lb N/A) resulted in a decrease in trunk diameter the first year and a decrease in shoot growth the second year in ‘October Glory’ maple. No significant differences in oak growth due to N rate were observed. Shoot growth and trunk diameter for dogwood were greater at 329 kg N/ha (300 lb N/A) than at 168 kg N/ha (150 lb N/A) only the first year. Neither height or trunk diameter at end of the third year were significantly increased from applying the higher level of N for any of the genera.


1993 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 72-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.M. Townsend ◽  
M.S. McIntosh

Abstract Controlled pollinations made between selected parents of red maple (Acer rubrum L.), and seedling progenies were planted in a randomized block design along with trees of the cultivars ‘October Glory,’ ‘Autumn Flame,’ and ‘Red Sunset’. Tree height, autumn color, and leafhopper (Empoasca fabae (Harris)) injury were evaluated over an eight-year period. Differences among progenies and cultivars in leafhopper injury and in the time and quality of peak autumn leaf color were statistically significant for all years. These traits were significantly influenced by the female and/or male parent used to create the progeny. The timing of peak color was also influenced by a significant interaction between male and female parents. Growth rate and color intensity of the same progenies were generally consistent across years, whereas correlation for leafhopper damage was weak between years. Clonal selections from the best progenies have been made and are being evaluated for possible release to the nursery industry.


1990 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 439-449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lance S. Risley

There is a paucity of information that describes the relationship between the suite of nutrient elements in tree foliage and associated arthropod assemblages. Foliage from chestnut oak (Quercus prinus), hickories (Carya spp.), yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), red maple (Acer rubrum), and flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) and associated canopy arthropods were collected in an undisturbed and a 15 yr-old successional forested watershed and analyzed for K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Rb, and Sr. Foliar Mn and Sr were found in higher concentrations in the undisturbed watershed. Foliage from hickories was generally higher in concentrations of metals (Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn) compared with other tree species. Dogwood foliage had significantly higher concentrations of Ca and significantly lower concentrations of Mn than other tree species (P < 0.05). Concentrations of foliar elements in herbivore-damaged and undamaged leaves did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). Concentrations of elements in and among arthropod feeding categories varied substantially such that no trends were apparent among tree species and between watersheds. The most apparent trend among arthropod feeding categories was the relatively large accumulation of K in chewing herbivores (primarily caterpillars). In general, there appeared to be increases in K, Fe, Cu, and Zn concentrations from primary producers to consumers. This study contributes to arthropod nutritional ecology and to defining the role of canopy arthropods in forest ecosystem nutrient cycles.


2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 814-822 ◽  
Author(s):  
A S Bova ◽  
M B Dickinson

Data from 69 experimental, small-plot fires are used to describe relationships among fire intensity, bark-surface heat flux, and depth of necrosis in stem tissue for red maple (Acer rubrum L.) and chestnut oak (Quercus prinus L.). A tetrazolium staining technique was used to determine the depth of necrosis in tree boles subjected to fires with intensities of 20 to 2000 kW/m. Over a range of bark moistures (28%–83%) and bole diameters (3–20 cm), depth of necrosis appears to be primarily a function of fire intensity, flame residence time at the stem, and the corresponding time-integrated heat flux at the bark surface. Our results, along with known relations between bole diameter and bark thickness, and improved models of fire behavior and heat transfer, may be useful for estimating tree mortality resulting from prescribed fires.


1988 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 98-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan S. Kays ◽  
David Wm. Smith ◽  
Shepard M. Zedaker ◽  
Richard E. Kreh

Abstract Clear felling with whole-tree utilization was performed on six similar pairs of plots with a range of SI50 48-75 ft for white oak. Pairs of plots received either dormant or growing season harvests and spanned a typical range of Piedmont upland hardwood sites characterized by low-quality stems and poor species composition: White oak (Quercus alba L.), scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea Muenchh.), and red maple (Acer rubrum L.) sprouting decreased with increasing diameter, while chestnut oak (Quercus prinus L.), yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.), and sourwood (Oxydendron arboreum L.) did not. Sprouting of white oak stumps greater than 12 in. dbh and 80 years old was significantly increased with a dormant season harvest. In general, chestnut oak, yellow-poplar, sourwood, and red maple sprouted with high frequencies regardless of season of harvest, diameter, or age. South. J. Appl. For. 12(2):98-102.


2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiongwen Chen ◽  
Dale G. Brockway

The scaling relationship between height and diameter is important for understanding the dynamic patterns of tree growth and estimating the accrual of tree biomass. Metabolic ecology predicts that tree growth follows a universal scaling invariant relative to the height-diameter relationship (i.e., no variation based on taxonomy or resource availability). Comparing field data for different tree species across a range of site conditions should be an informative test of that prediction. Our results indicate that the scaling exponents of height and diameter for longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) vary at the four locations across its natural range. As for swamp trees, the scaling exponents for red maple (Acer rubrum L.) and river birch (Betula nigra L.) were consistent with that predicted by metabolic ecology; however, those for water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica L.) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich) were not. Our study confirms that high plasticity and variation in allometric scaling of the tree height and diameter relationship may very well be the rule, rather than the exception.


2006 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua L. Jones ◽  
Brent W. Webb ◽  
Bret W. Butler ◽  
Matthew B. Dickinson ◽  
Daniel Jimenez ◽  
...  

A model for fire-induced heating in tree stems is linked to a recently reported model for tissue necrosis. The combined model produces cambial tissue necrosis predictions in a tree stem as a function of heating rate, heating time, tree species, and stem diameter. Model accuracy is evaluated by comparison with experimental measurements in two hardwood and two softwood species: red maple (Acer rubrum), chestnut oak (Quercus prinus), ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). Results are promising, and indicate that the model predicts stem mortality/survival correctly in ~75–80% of the test cases. A limited sensitivity analysis of model kill depth predictions suggests that the model is more sensitive to required input data for some species than for others, and that the certainty in predicting vascular cambium necrosis decreases as stem diameter decreases.


2016 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward Gilman ◽  
Chris Harchick ◽  
Maria Paz

The purpose of this study was to evaluate growth and anchorage one year after landscape planting of red maple (Acer rubrum L. ‘Florida Flame’) from both a field and container nursery that were stabilized with above- or belowground systems. Trunk diameter increased more for trees planted from containers with soilless substrate (17 mm) than trees with a soil root ball from a field nursery (14 mm); however, there was no impact of nursery production method on tree height. Trees secured with a guying system grew less in trunk diameter than trees secured with a belowground system, with a tall wood stake system, or the non-staked control. Guyed trees were taller than trees secured with a root-ball stabilization system. More bending stress was required to winch trees transplanted from the field nursery than trees from containers immediately after releasing stakes one year after planting. There was no difference among stabilization systems in bending stress to winch to any trunk tilt angle, indicating similar anchorage across systems. Moreover, trees stabilized for one year required the same bending stress to winch as controls, indicating that stabilizing trees for one year with any of the systems tested did not reduce anchorage compared to non-stabilized trees.


2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-12
Author(s):  
Donna C. Fare

Plant response to blue, red, gray or black shade cloth was evaluated with willow oak (Quercus phellos L.), Nuttall oak (Quercus nuttallii Palmer, Nuttall) and Summer Red maple (Acer rubrum L. ‘Summer Red’) liners. Light transmitted through the colored shade cloth had no influence on germination of willow oak acorns or height and caliper growth following germination. Tree height, trunk diameter, number of internodes, shoot and root dry weight were generally greater with the species tested when exposed to red or gray shade cloth, but were often similar to plants exposed to blue or black shade. Height increase of willow oak with red shade was similar to plants exposed to blue or gray; however, the average number of internodes was similar with oaks exposed to blue shade and 16% less with oaks exposed to gray shade. Summer Red maples exposed to black, blue or red shade cloth were similar in height, though plants with blue shade had 23% less dry weight. Nuttall oaks exposed to gray shade had the greatest height increase while the plants exposed to red shade had the largest trunk diameter. The growth parameters measured showed some increases with exposure to colored shade, but the morphology of the species tested was not significantly altered to recommend the use of colored shade during production.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document