Characteristics of a Bottomland Hardwood Forest at Arcadia Lake, Edmond, Oklahoma, with Special Emphasis on Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marshall)

Abstract

We characterized the structure and tree species composition of bottomland hardwood forest at Arcadia Lake, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma. Additionally, we quantified the age structure of Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marshall (green ash) at the study site in order to establish a baseline dataset in the event that Agrilus planipennis (emerald ash borer) invades F. pennsylvanica stands in central Oklahoma. Three species, Salix nigra Marshall (black willow), F. pennsylvanica, and Populus deltoides W. Bartram ex Marshall (cottonwood) accounted for over 98% of importance values. These three species were also common in the understory. We found that 95% of F. pennsylvanica established following Arcadia Lake reaching pool conservation status in 1987. Arcadia Lake has experienced five sustained flooding events since 1995 that have likely played a role in regeneration at the study site. In particular, we showed that the 1995 event resulted in reduced radial growth in seedlings of F. pennsylvanica. Two biotic stressors appear to be influencing F. pennsylvanica overstory trees, Castor canadensis (American beaver) and Hylesinus spp. (ash bark beetle), which will likely enhance the establishment of A. planipennis at the study site. We recommend expanding the study of Fraxinus spp. forest stands in Oklahoma. Baseline data on Fraxinus species prior to an A. planipennis range expansion to central Oklahoma can enhance strategies for control and management of this invasive insect by identifying the traits of surviving ash following the invasion.

Literature Review of Dendrochronology Research in Oklahoma, U.S.A.

“…(Chinese privet) dominating the midstory and understory. King and Buck (2018) A recurring topic for many ODP were two leading factors affecting forest stand dynamics: historical land-use and drought. Land-use changes over time due to population movements of Native Americans and settlement by Euro-Americans showed a gradual effect on forest ecosystems and disturbance patterns as both groups cleared forests for agriculture, grazing, and logging, and changed fire regimes (Taylor 1965;Clark 2003;Allen and Palmer 2011;and Stambaugh et al 2013b).…”

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“…The Stand Dynamics research topic contained the highest number of ODP with the most diverse main study species: P. echinata (Taylor 1965;Cerny et al 2016), J. virginiana (Edmondson 2006), Quercus (Therrell and Stahle 1998;Clark 2003;Clark and Hallgren 2003;Clark and Hallgren 2004;Clark et al 2005;King and Cheek 2015), and F. pennsylvanica (King and Buck 2018). Numerous forest types/locations were assessed: upland Quercus-Pinus stand (Taylor 1965), Shortleaf Canyon (Cerny et al 2016), upland Cross Timbers (Therrell and Stahle 1998;Clark 2003;Clark and Hallgren 2003;Clark and Hallgren 2004;Clark et al 2005;Edmondson 2006), an urban forest (King and Cheek 2015), and a lakeside bottomland hardwood forest (King and Buck 2018). Many factors leading to forest composition changes were evaluated in the Stand Dynamics research topic.…”

“…(Chinese privet) dominating the midstory and understory. King and Buck (2018) described characteristics of bottomland hardwood forest and obtained baseline data for F. pennsylvanica in case of an invasive insect outbreak by Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (emerald ash borer). The diverse dendrochronology applications observed in the Stand Dynamics ODP showed analyzing tree-rings can go far beyond studying tree age.…”

“…Land-use changes over time due to population movements of Native Americans and settlement by Euro-Americans showed a gradual effect on forest ecosystems and disturbance patterns as both groups cleared forests for agriculture, grazing, and logging, and changed fire regimes (Taylor 1965;Clark 2003;Allen and Palmer 2011;and Stambaugh et al 2013b). More recent effects due to urbanization include fire exclusion, J. virginiana encroachment, and introduction of non-native plant species (King and Cheek 2015;Hoff et al 2018;King and Buck 2018). Several ODP established new techniques and foundspecies applicable to the field of dendrochronology beyond Oklahoma (Therrell and Stahle 1998;Clark and Hallgren 2004;Edmondson 2006;Bode 2015;King and Cheek 2015).…”

“…Although an array of genera and species were investigated, Quercus showed the highest presence within the ODP (Figure 2), particularly Q. stellata and Q. marilandica (Figure 3; Appendix B). Some tree species were investigated less frequently as main species within the ODP: Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marshall (King and Buck 2018), Pinus echinata Mill. (Taylor 1965, Stambaugh et al 2013a, Cerny et al 2016 and Prunus angustifolia Marshall (Dunkin et al 2008).…”