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Effects of seasonal prescribed fires of varying intensities on density, mortality, stem form, height, and height growth of hardwood advance regeneration were investigated. Three mixed-hardwood stands on productive upland sites were cut using a shelterwood technique, each forming a block of spring burn, summer burn, winter burn, and control treatments. Advance regeneration was inventoried from permanent plots before and after burning. Fires top-killed nearly all hardwood regeneration, forcing the rootstocks to sprout. Fire treatments reduced densities of all hardwood species relative to not burning, with spring and summer fires causing greater density reduction than winter burning. Among species, oak (Quercus spp. L.) and hickory (Carya spp. Nutt.) were more resilient sprouters than yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.) and red maple (Acer rubrum L.), especially as fire intensity increased. All prescribed fires improved oak stem form and stimulated height growth of hickory and oak. Overall, prescribed fires improved oak advance regeneration with spring burning providing the most benefit. This approach of following a shelterwood harvest with prescribed fire may be a viable method of regenerating oak-dominated stands on productive upland sites.

Radio telemetry was used to monitor the diel movement of 22 brown trout Salmo trutta (268–446 mm in total length, TL) in the Chattooga River watershed. Forty‐seven diel tracks, locating individuals once per hour for 24 consecutive hours, were collected for four consecutive seasons. High variability in movement both within and among individual brown trout resulted in similar seasonal means in total distance moved, diel range, and displacement. The majority of fish moved a total distance of less than 80 m within a diel range of less than 80 m and had a displacement of less than 10 m. Brown trout were more likely to occur in pool habitat independent of season or period of the day. Hourly movement patterns differed among seasons. During the winter and fall, trout moved only around sunrise; during the spring, they moved around sunrise, sunset, and intermittently throughout the night. Large brown trout (>375 mm, TL) were found to move greater total distances and establish wider diel ranges than small brown trout. Overall, most brown trout exhibited restricted diel movement within a single riffle–pool or run–pool sequence.

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Large woody debris (LWD) is an important ecological component of mountain streams. However, the relation of LWD loading and riparian forest composition is poorly understood in the southern Appalachians. In this study, 500-m reaches of 11 riparian forest–stream systems representing a 300-year sere were inventoried and measured to obtain quantitative estimates and descriptions of in-stream LWD. Loading volumes ranged from 7.1 to 31.2 m3/100 m of stream, or between 3.6 and 13.2 kg/m2. LWD loadings were highly variable during midseral stages of plant community succession, primarily because of the wide range in loading of American chestnut (Castaneadentata (Marsh.) Borkh.). Loadings increased linearly in late-successional through old-growth systems over a 165-year interval. Eastern hemlock (Tsugacanadensis (L.) Carrière) and American chestnut were the most dominant carry-over LWD species in midsuccessional stream systems. Loading of eastern hemlock LWD increased from midsuccessional through old-growth stages as the species became dominant in the riparian forest. Without carry-over debris, LWD loadings would be extremely low in midsuccessional stream systems. American chestnut was a major component of LWD in midsuccessional stream systems, despite the fact that it has been unavailable for recruitment for decades.