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Friday, 10 February 2017

Recovery of central Appalachian forested watershed

Author

Year Published

2014

Publication

In: Swank, Wayne T.; Webster, Jackson R., comps., eds. Long-term response of a forest watershed ecosystem. Clearcutting in the southern Appalachian. Oxford University Press: 194-212.

Abstract

The Fernow Experimental Forest (FEF) was established to conduct research in forest and watershed management in the central Appalachians. The 1868-ha FEF, located south of Parsons, West Virginia, is administered by the Northern Research Station of the USDA Forest Service and provides a valuable point of comparison with the Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory (CHL), located in the southern Appalachians. This chapter summarizes responses to clearcutting on four watersheds at FEF and compares the results to those from clearcutting on CHL Watershed & (WS 7).

Citation

Adams, Mary Beth; Kochendenfer [sic], James N. 2014. Recovery of central Appalachian forested watershed. In: Swank, Wayne T.; Webster, Jackson R., comps., eds. Long-term response of a forest watershed ecosystem. Clearcutting in the southern Appalachian. Oxford University Press: 194-212.

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https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/46103
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Uneven-aged management after a half-century of research on the Forest Service Fernow Experimental Forest in West Virgina

Author

Year Published

2014

Publication

In: Hayes, D.C.; Stout, S.L.; Crawford, R.H.; Hoover, A.P., eds. USDA Forest Service experimental forests and ranges research for the long term. New York, NY: 149-172.

Abstract

Uneven-age management in forestry refers to a system of management that periodically selects individual trees or small groups of trees for harvest. In general, the concept of uneven-age management entails the sustained yield of forest products while maintaining continuous forest cover. In North America, interest in uneven-age management grew in the second half of the twentieth century after most of the old-growth forests had been harvested. In West Virginia, unevenage management and its surrogates have been studied intensively since 1948 at the Forest Service Fernow Experimental Forest. The Fernow Experimental Forest is located in the Allegheny Mountains of the Central Appalachian Broadleaf Forest and has characteristics of both mixed-oak and northern hardwood forests, depending on site characteristics. In stands managed with the type of unevenage management known as "single-tree selection," only those species capable of developing in reduced sunlight conditions have thrived. Concerns that the increased dominance of these so-called shade-tolerant species would lead to lower productivity have not been validated. It appears that managing the stocking level, or the size and number of trees after harvesting, has helped to sustain higher than expected levels of wood production and carbon storage. Economically, unevenage-managed stands have produced periodic revenue that resulted in higher net present values than either clearcut or unharvested stands, and, unlike more exploitive procedures, did not deplete the residual stand value. Unexpected insights into forest ecology and management also were realized by carefully studying the response to treatments for more than a half century and the benefits of long-term forestry research are discussed. 

Keywords

Citation


Schuler, Thomas M. 2014. Uneven-aged management after a half-century of research on the Forest Service Fernow Experimental Forest in West Virgina. In: Hayes, D.C.; Stout, S.L.; Crawford, R.H.; Hoover, A.P., eds. USDA Forest Service experimental forests and ranges research for the long term. New York, NY: 149-172.

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https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/46392
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Effects of prescribed fire on the wood quality and marketability of four hardwood species in the central Appalachian region

Author

Year Published

2014

Publication

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: 202-212.

Abstract

A series of research studies addressing the effect of prescribed fire on oak (Quercus spp.) regeneration has been ongoing on the Fernow Experimental Forest in northeastern West Virginia for 10 years. The study site is a mesic, mixed oak forest. Two prescribed fires were conducted in spring 2002 and 2005. In 2010, a shelterwood harvest was conducted. A complementary study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of the prescribed fires on the quality and marketability of the wood removed in this harvest. Seventy-four logs from the four most populous commercial species located on the study site were tracked from forest through milling. Before harvest, trained timber graders visually evaluated the residual effects of the prescribed fires on tree grade and merchantable volume. At the sawmill's log yard, pictures were taken of the logs and paint marks were placed on the log ends to indicate the side of the log most affected by the fire. During sawing, the first two boards recovered from the marked side were marked for examination. The percentage of these most "at-risk" boards showing indications of defect potentially attributable to the heat of the fire ranged from 10 percent for yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) to 65 percent for red maple (Acer rubrum), which translates to between 2 and 16 percent of all boards sawn from these butt logs. Fire-associated defects included mineral stain, decay and incipient decay, shakes, and checks.

Citation

Wiedenbeck, Janice K.; Schuler, Thomas M. 2014. Effects of prescribed fire on the wood quality and marketability of four hardwood species in the central Appalachian region. 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: 202-212.

For further details log on website :
https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/47414
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Inorganic nitrogen retention by watersheds at Fernow Experimental Forest and Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory

Author

Year Published

2014

Source

Soil Science Society of America Journal. 78(S1): S84-S94.

Abstract

Because elevated N loading can impair both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, understanding the abiotic and biotic controls over retention and export of dissolved inorganic N (DIN) is crucial. Long-term research has been conducted on experimental watersheds at two U.S. Forest Service experimental forests in the Appalachian region: Fernow Experimental Forest (FEF) in West Virginia and Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory (CHL) in North Carolina. While similar in vegetation and research history, FEF and CHL differ in climate, historic DIN deposition, and soils. We evaluated long-term patterns of DIN inputs and exports from three watersheds at each location with similar treatments including clear-cut harvest, conversion to conifer plantation (Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.] at FEF and white pine [Pinus strobus L.] at CHL), as well as reference watersheds. We examined DIN export and retention in these watersheds, comparing treated and reference watersheds within each experimental forest and comparing similarly treated watersheds between the experimental forests. Despite current similar levels of N deposition, stream water DIN concentrations and exports were generally greater at FEF by almost an order of magnitude. We found differences between FEF and CHL in stream DIN concentrations, watershed export, and retention of DIN inputs not only in the untreated reference watersheds but also in the watersheds with similar disturbance treatment. We hypothesize that these differences are the result of site and vegetation differences as well as site history including long-term patterns of DIN deposition. We document the switch from biogeochemical to hydrologic controls that occurred when N availability exceeded N immobilization, due to either N deposition or biological N inputs.

Citation

Adams, Mary Beth; Knoepp, Jennifer D.; Webster, Jackson R. 2014. Inorganic nitrogen retention by watersheds at Fernow Experimental Forest and Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 78(S1): S84-S94.

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https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/46374
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Tree response to experimental watershed acidification

Author

Year Published

2014

Source

Water, Air, and Soil Pollution. 225(7): 2034. 12 p.

Abstract

Forest ecosystems in the Eastern USA are threatened by acid deposition rates that have increased dramatically since industrialization. We utilized two watersheds at the Fernow Experimental Forest in West Virginia to examine long-term effects of acidification on ecological processes. One watershed has been treated with ammonium sulfate (approximately twice the ambient deposition rate) since 1989 to simulate elevated acidic deposition, while the other served as a control. Prior to treatment, both watersheds were similar in age and species composition. Ten dominant overstory Prunus serotina and Liriodendron tulipiferatrees were selected and cored from each watershed to measure bolewood concentrations of essential elements through time. In addition, changes in tree species basal area were analyzed utilizing 50 long-term growth plots. Results of this experiment show lower calcium and magnesium concentration and increased acidic cation concentration for both species in the treated watershed, indicating a negative treatment effect. Growth response, measured through relative growth rates of cored trees and changes in basal area from growth plots, was not as conclusive and appeared to differ by species. The resulting difference in species response indicates that acidification sensitivity is something that land managers should consider when managing forests affected by acidification.

Keywords

Citation


Jensen, N.K.; Holzmueller, E.J.; Edwards, P.J.; Thomas-Van Gundy, M.; DeWalle, D.R.; Williard, K.W.J. 2014. Tree response to experimental watershed acidification. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution. 225(7): 2034.

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https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/46388
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Will more nitrogen enhance carbon storage in young forest stands in central Appalachia?

Author

Year Published

2015

Source

Forest Ecology and Management. 337: 144-152.

Abstract

Many temperate deciduous forests in the Eastern US are secondary, regrowing forests and have experienced decades of elevated inputs of acidic compounds and biologically available nitrogen (N) from the atmosphere. These young forests play an important role in the global carbon (C) cycle as C sinks, and it is possible that acidic deposition will influence the strength and longevity of this sink. We used the Fernow Experimental Forest Long Term Soil Productivity (LTSP) experiment near Parsons, WV to evaluate how 13 years of experimental N additions has affected ecosystem C storage and stand level dynamics in a young temperate deciduous forest. Specifically we examined whether N additions: (1) directly increased aboveground growth of regenerating trees but did so in a way that was independent of the indirect effects of soil acidification; (2) directly (independent of acidification effects) increased forest floor and soil C pools, and decreased the fine root C pool; and (3) lowered stand density and diversity. We also tested whether tree species were differentially affected by either N fertilization or soil acidification.

Keywords

Citation


Fowler, Zachariah K.; Adams, Mary Beth; Peterjohn, William T. 2015. Will more nitrogen enhance carbon storage in young forest stands in central Appalachia? Forest Ecology and Management. 337: 144-152.

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https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/47448
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Triple nitrate isotopes indicate differing nitrate source contributions to streams across a nitrogen saturation gradient

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Year Published

2015

Source

Ecosystems. doi: 10.1007/s10021-015-9891-8.

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) deposition affects forest biogeochemical cycles worldwide, often contributing to N saturation. Using long-term (>30-year) records of stream nitrate (NO3-) concentrations at Fernow Experimental Forest (West Virginia, USA), we classified four watersheds into N saturation stages ranging from Stage 0 (N-limited) to Stage 3 (N-saturated). We quantified NO3- contributions from atmospheric and microbial sources using d15N, d18O, and ?17O of NO3- and characterized the concentrations and isotopes of NO3- in precipitation. Despite receiving identical atmospheric inputs, the proportions of atmospheric NO3- in streams averaged from 7 to 10% in the hardwood watersheds (stages 1, 2, and 3) and 54% in the conifer watershed (Stage 0). This suggests that the hardwood watersheds may be less responsive to future reductions in N deposition than the conifer watershed, at least in the short term. As shown in other studies, atmospheric NO3- proportions were higher during stormflow. Despite large proportions of atmospheric NO3- in the Stage 0 stream, total atmospheric NO3--N flux from this watershed (2.9 g ha-1) was lower than fluxes in the other watersheds (range = 117.8-338.5 g ha-1). Seasonal patterns of d15N-NO3- in the hardwood watersheds suggest enrichment of the soil NO3- pool during the growing season due to plant uptake. In all watersheds, d18O-based mixing models over-estimated atmospheric NO3- contributions to streams by up to 12% compared to ?17O-based estimates. Our results highlight the importance of atmospheric deposition as a NO3- source in low-concentration streams and demonstrate the advantage of using ?17O-NO3- over d18O-NO3- for NO3- source apportionment.

Keywords

Citation


Rose, Lucy A.; Elliott, Emily M.; Adams, Mary Beth. 2015. Triple Nitrate Isotopes Indicate Differing Nitrate Source Contributions to Streams Across a Nitrogen Saturation Gradient. Ecosystems. 18(7): 1209-1223.

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https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/49058
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Testing associations between tree species and nitrate availability: do consistent patterns exist across spatial scales?

Author
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  • Peterjohn, William T.
  • Harlacher, Margaret A.
  • Christ, Martin J.
  • Adams, Mary Beth

Year Published

2015

Source

Forest Ecology and Management 358: 335-343.

Abstract

In forest ecosystems there are numerous factors that influence nitrate (NO3) availability and retention in ways that can significantly affect receiving waters. Unfortunately these factors often co-exist and interact making it difficult to establish the importance of each individually. Three reference watersheds at the Fernow Experimental Forest (FEF) provide a unique opportunity to evaluate the influence of tree species on soil NO3availability across spatial scales because they differ in stream-water NO3 concentrations despite sharing the same macro-climate, geology, hydrology, dominant soils series, stand age, pollution regime, and land-use history. To test the strength of plant/soil associations inferred from previous work in two watersheds in the FEF, we measured NO3 availability and the composition of tree species in a third watershed that has intermediate stream-water NO3 concentrations. We also examined plant/soil relationships in these watersheds at the scale of individual trees. Across the spatial scales examined – from individual trees to small watersheds – there were consistent associations between tree species and soil NO3 availability. For individual trees, species with high underlying soil NO3 availability included Acer saccharum and Lireodendron tulipifera, whereas species with low underlying soil NO3 availability included Acer rubrum, Nyssa sylvatica, and Quercus prinus. For small plots we found plant/soil relationships that were consistent with those made apparent by sampling under individual trees of A. saccharum, A. rubrum, N. sylvatica, and Q. prinus. And at the scale of entire watersheds, those with higher stream-water NO3 had a greater importance of tree species associated with high NO3availability at finer spatial scales than did the watershed with low stream-water NO3. The spatially-robust relationships between tree species and soil NO3 availability at the FEF suggest that well-characterized relationships between dominant tree species and soil properties should improve our understanding of how changes in the species composition of forest trees due to human activities, or natural causes, will alter rates of NO3 production and loss.

Keywords

Citation


Peterjohn, William T.; Harlacher, Margaret A.; Christ, Martin J.; Adams, Mary Beth. 2015. Testing associations between tree species and nitrate availability: do consistent patterns exist across spatial scales? Forest Ecology and Management. 358: 335-343.

For further details log on website :
https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/50086
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Deriving habitat models for northern long-eared bats from historical detection data: a case study using the Fernow Experimental Forest

Author
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  • Ford, W. Mark
  • Silvis, Alexander
  • Rodrigue, Jane L.
  • Kniowski, Andrew B.
  • Johnson, Joshua B.

Year Published

2016

Source

Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management. 7(1): 86-98.

Abstract

The listing of the northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) as federally threatened under the Endangered Species Act following severe population declines from white-nose syndrome presents considerable challenges to natural resource managers. Because the northern long-eared bat is a forest habitat generalist, development of effective conservation measures will depend on appropriate understanding of its habitat relationships at individual locations. However, severely reduced population sizes make gathering data for such models difficult. As a result, historical data may be essential in development of habitat models. To date, there has been little evaluation of how effective historical bat presence data, such as data derived from mist-net captures, acoustic detection, and day-roost locations, may be in developing habitat models, nor is it clear how models created using different data sources may differ. We explored this issue by creating presence probability models for the northern long-eared bat on the Fernow Experimental Forest in the central Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia using a historical, presence-only data set. Each presence data type produced outputs that were dissimilar but that still corresponded with known traits of the northern long-eared bat or are easily explained in the context of the particular data collection protocol. However, our results also highlight potential limitations of individual data types. For example, models from mist-net capture data only showed high probability of presence along the dendritic network of riparian areas, an obvious artifact of sampling methodology. Development of ecological niche and presence models for northern long-eared bat populations could be highly valuable for resource managers going forward with this species. We caution, however, that efforts to create such models should consider the substantial limitations of models derived from historical data, and address model assumptions.

Keywords

Citation


Ford, W. Mark; Silvis, Alexander; Rodrigue, Jane L.; Kniowski, Andrew B.; Johnson, Joshua B. 2016. Deriving habitat models for northern long-eared bats from historical detection data: a case study using the Fernow Experimental Forest. Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management. 7(1): 86-98.

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https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/52368
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Managing Appalachian hardwood stands using four management practices: 60-year results

Author

  • Wiedenbeck, Jan

    • Year Published

    2016

    Source

    Forest Ecology and Management. 9 p. http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1016/j.foreco.2016.08.019

    Abstract

    A long-term forest management case study on the Fernow Experimental Forest in West Virginia referred to as the Cutting Practice Level study is evaluated after 60 years. Treatments include a commercial clearcut (one time application), a 39 cm diameter-limit (applied 4 times), uneven-aged management using two variations of single-tree selection (applied 7 and 8 times, respectively), and an unmanaged reference area. We examine productivity, species composition and diversity, structure, tree quality, and revenues generated related to each treatment since establishment. The diameter-limit treatment resulted in greatest average periodic annual increment (PAI) of sawtimber volume of 3.1 m3 ha-1 yr-1 while the unmanaged reference area resulted in the least of 2.2 m3 ha-1 yr-1 (based on the difference in standing volume from 1956 to 2008). All types of partial harvesting resulted in greater sawtimber productivity than either the commercial clearcut or the reference area. Post-harvest tree quality, as measured by proportion of grade 1 butt logs, has improved from 1988 to 2008 for all but the diameter-limit treatment, which is similar to conditions in 1968. In 2008, the proportion of grade 1 trees in the residual stand ranged from a high of 0.22 for single-tree selection to 0.15 for diameter-limit harvesting. Species composition is becoming less diverse and more dominated by shade-tolerant species in all treatment groups but the change has been the greatest in the two single-tree selection treatments. Initially, size-class distributions were somewhat unimodal and reflective of even-aged stands with shade tolerant species persisting in the understory. In 2008, the single-tree selection treatments were both characterized by a reverse-J size class distribution and it appears this structure can be maintained due to recruitment of shade-tolerant species in the smaller size classes with concomitant reductions in species diversity. The net present value for each treatment in 2008, the time of the last management intervention, ranged from $20,000 ha-1 for reference area to almost $34,000 ha-1 for the single-tree selection treatment that included management of pole-sized trees based on all revenue and the value of standing timber using an internal rate of return of 4%.

    Keywords

    Citation

    Schuler, Thomas M.; Thomas-Van Gundy, Melissa; Brown, John P.; Wiedenbeck, Janice K. 2016. Managing Appalachian hardwood stands using four management practices: 60-year results. Forest Ecology and Management. 9 p. http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1016/j.foreco.2016.08.019
    Last updated on: October 21, 2016


    For further details log on website :
    https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/53083
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