No abstract

Current forests developed under conditions different from original forests, with higher deer densities, reduced fire frequency, denser canopies, and smaller canopy gaps. These alterations have led to understories dominated by species simultaneously browse tolerant, shade tolerant, and fire sensitive leading to difficulties in the regeneration of oak species (Quercus spp.) in some areas. We evaluated how three key processes -understory fire, canopy gaps, and browsing -influenced tree species in east central West Virginia. We were particularly interested in the response of oak species because they are the dominant overstory species and of maple species (Acer spp.), black birch (Betula lenta L.), and yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.) as these are likely to replace the current forest. Single-process effects were significant and significant interactions among processes were numerous. In general, fire caused significant reductions of seedlings and saplings of red maple (Acer rubrum L.) and striped maple (Acer pensylvanicum L.) and increased the seedlings of black birch and yellow-poplar. Canopy gaps increased the abundance of black birch and yellow-poplar seedlings and saplings. Gaps and fire together caused an increase in the relative abundance of yellow-poplar. Excluding browsers and creating canopy gaps together nearly doubled oak sapling importance values versus either treatment alone; however, oak importance values remained low. Given the significant interactions of browse control with the other two processes, browse control should be considered when planning oak regeneration treatments such as canopy gaps or prescribed fire. Résumé :Les forêts actuelles se sont développées sous des conditions différentes de celles des forêts d'origine, soit une densité plus élevée de cerfs, une fréquence de feu plus faible et un couvert forestier plus dense comportant de plus petites trouées. Ces modifications ont produit des sous-étages dominés par des espèces simultanément tolérantes au broutement, tolérantes à l'ombre et sensibles au feu, ce qui a causé des problèmes de régénération des espèces de chêne à certains endroits. Nous avons déterminé de quelle façon trois processus clés : les feux en sous-étage, les trouées dans le couvert forestier et le broutement, ont influencé la présence d'espèces d'arbre dans le centre-est de la Virginie occidentale. Nous étions particulièrement intéressés par la réaction des espèces de chêne, parce qu'elles sont les espèces dominantes du couvert, et par les érables, le bouleau noir et le tulipier de Virginie, parce que ces espèces remplaceront probablement les espèces dominantes actuelles. Les effets simples des processus étaient significatifs et les interactions significatives entre les processus étaient nombreuses. En général, le feu a significativement réduit le nombre de semis et de gaules d'érables rouge et de Pennsylvanie, et a augmenté le nombre de semis de bouleau noir et de tulipier de Virginie. Les trouées dans le couvert forestier ont causé une augmentation de l'abondance ...

Development of a natural gas well and pipeline on the Fernow Experimental Forest, WV, was begun in 2007. Concerns were raised about the effects on the natural and scientifi c resources of the Fernow, set aside in 1934 for long-term research. A case study approach was used to evaluate effects of the development. This report includes results of monitoring projects as well as observations related to unexpected impacts on the resources of the Fernow. Two points are obvious: that some effects can be predicted and mitigated through cooperation between landowner and energy developer, and that unexpected impacts will occur. These unexpected impacts may be most problematic.

On the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, managers have used prescribed fire to create and maintain early-successional and open forest conditions across large areas. We used a landscape-scale and image-based approach to assess the extent that prescribed fires, including repeated fires, have created these forest conditions and put the results in context of the new George Washington National Forest management plan. At the landscape level, early-successional forest made up an average of 5 percent of burn unit area after one burn, 9 percent after two fires, 17 percent after three fires, and 14 percent after four fires. On average across all burn unit acreage, open forest made up 5 percent of the area after one burn, 7 percent after two burns, 9 percent after three, and 8 percent after four fires. The forest plan desired condition of 12 percent of the area in early-successional forest was met after three or four fires and was exceeded in some individual burn units. It is harder to achieve open-forest than early-successional conditions using prescribed fire alone. We also examined possible drivers of canopy gap creation in these forests. Vegetation type and heat load index, a topographic-based measure of solar radiation received by a site, were important predictors of where canopy gaps formed after prescribed fire.