Snag Characteristics and Dynamics in Douglas-Fir Forests, Western Oregon

Cline, Steven P.; Berg, Alan B.; Wight, Howard M.

doi:10.2307/3808305

Cited by 258 publications

(204 citation statements)

References 18 publications

(20 reference statements)

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“…Roost trees used in summer were closer to water and on gentler slopes than roost trees used in autumn (Table 2). a DBHR = diameter (cm) at breast height of roost or random tree; DECAYR = decay class of roost or random tree (Cline et al 1980; 1 = live, 2 = declining, 3 = recent dead, 4 = loose bark, 5 = no bark, 6 = broken top, 7 = broken bole); HEIGHT = roost or random tree height (m); BARK = estimation of percent bark remaining on roost or random tree; SLOPE = percent slope; BASAL = stand basal area (m 2 /ha); ELEV = elevation of roost or random tree; WATER = distance of roost tree to closest permanent water source; GAP = percent canopy gap over roost or random tree; DBHN = average diameter (cm) at breast height of four trees nearest to roost or random tree; DECAYN = average decay class of four trees nearest to roost or random tree. …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Measurements were taken within a few weeks of bats roosting in a tree. For each roost tree, we determined tree species, dbh (cm) using a diameter tape, decay class (Cline et al 1980; i.e., 1 = live, 2 = declining, 3 = recent dead, 4 = loose bark, 5 = no bark, 6 = broken top, 7 = broken bole), crown class (Nyland 1996; i.e., 1 = suppressed, 2 = intermediate, 3 = codominant, 4 = dominant), tree height (m) with a hypsometer, roost height when known, and visually estimated percent bark remaining on the tree. For each of four trees nearest to the roost tree, we determined tree species, dbh (cm), distance (m) to the roost tree, decay class, and crown class.…”

Section: Habitat Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Roost Selection by Male Indiana Myotis Following Forest Fires in Central Appalachian Hardwoods Forests

Johnson

Ford

Rodrigue

et al. 2010

Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management

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Despite the potential for prescribed fire and natural wildfire to increase snag abundance in hardwood forests, few studies have investigated effects of fire on bat roosting habitat, particularly that of the endangered Indiana myotis Myotis sodalis. From 2001 to 2009, we examined roost selection of Indiana myotis in burned and unburned forests in Tucker County, West Virginia. We radiotracked 15 male Indiana myotis to 50 roost trees; 16 in burned stands and 34 in unburned stands. Indiana myotis roosted in stands that had initially been burned 1-3 y prior to our observations. In burned stands, Indiana myotis roosted exclusively in fire-killed maples (Acer spp.). In unburned stands, they roosted in live trees, predominately hickories (Carya spp.), oaks (Quercus spp.), and maples. Roost trees in burned stands were surrounded by less basal area and by trees in advanced stages of decay, creating larger canopy gaps than at random trees in burned stands or actual roost trees located in unburned stands. Compared to random trees in unburned stands, roost trees in unburned stands were less decayed, had higher percent bark coverage, and were surrounded by less basal area, also resulting in larger canopy gaps. Roost-switching frequency and distances moved by Indiana myotis among roost trees were similar between burned and unburned stands. Our research indicates that use of fire for forest management purposes, at minimum provoked no response from Indiana myotis in terms of roost tree selection, and may create additional roost resources, depending on spatial context.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Habitat Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Roost Selection by Male Indiana Myotis Following Forest Fires in Central Appalachian Hardwoods Forests

Johnson

Ford

Rodrigue

et al. 2010

Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management

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“…, and giant (>121.9 cm). We assigned each snag a decay class from 1 to 5, with class 1 being recently dead and class 5 being almost completely decayed (Cline et al 1980). We assumed that class 1 snags found in 1992 were casualties of the Warner Creek Fire, which allowed us to reconstruct the prefire tree and snag structure of each plot.…”

Section: Fire Severities and Study Plotsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Natural tree regeneration and coarse woody debris dynamics after a forest fire in the western Cascade Range

Brown¹,

Kertis²,

Huff³

2013

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Cover photosPlot number 16 at 7 and 14 years after fire. At 7 years, there is abundant regeneration of Pseudotsuga menziesii under a canopy of snags. At 14 years, the snag canopy is thinning out owing to snag fall and fragmentation; tree, shrub, and herb regeneration mix but trees are the tallest elements.This work was performed under USDA Forest Service PO AG-04T0-P-10-0057. We monitored coarse woody debris dynamics and natural tree regeneration over a 14-year period after the 1991 Warner Creek Fire, a 3631-ha (8,972-ac) mixedseverity fire in the western Cascade Range of Oregon. Rates for tree mortality in the fire, postfire mortality, snag fall, and snag fragmentation all showed distinct patterns by tree diameter and species, with Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) more likely to survive a fire, and to remain standing as a snag, than other common tree species. Natural seedling regeneration was abundant, rapid, and highly variable in space. Densities of seedlings >10 cm height at 14 years postfire ranged from 1,530 to 392,000 per ha. Seedling establishment was not concentrated in a single year, and did not appear to be limited by the abundant growth of shrubs.The simultaneous processes of mortality, snag fall, and tree regeneration increased the variety of many measures of forest structure. The singular event of the fire has increased the structural diversity of the landscape.Keywords: Fire severity, monitoring, coarse woody debris, reforestation, snag recruitment, regeneration. SummaryWe monitored natural tree regeneration and coarse woody debris dynamics over 14 years following the 1991 Warner Creek Fire, a 3,631-ha (8,972-ac) mixed-severity fire in the western Cascade Range of Oregon. The results provide a detailed picture of the variety of natural postfire conditions in westside Cascade forests, and demonstrate how a single mixed-severity fire can increase variety in forest structures.We studied 24 permanent plots representative of the burned area and its mix of fire severities, which ranged from 0.1 to 100 percent of prefire canopy killed. Plots This postfire mortality rate was higher in plots with higher initial fire severity.Much of the new snag volume quickly transferred to the ground via snag fall and fragmentation. Small snags, and A. amabilis snags, were more likely to fall. Larger snags were more likely to fragment.Natural seedling regeneration was abundant, and highly variable in space. Densities of seedlings >10 cm height at 14 years postfire ranged from 1,670 to 392,000 per ha in the higher elevation zone, and from 1,530 to 47,500 per ha in the lower zone. New seedlings were observed over all study visits, in patterns demonstrating that establishment was not concentrated in a single year. The growth of shrubs was abundant but did not appear to be limiting tree regeneration. The mixed-severity fire, followed by variable mortality, snag fall, and tree regeneration, led to an increase in variability, among plots, of several metrics of forest structure. The prominence of P. menziesii ...

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“…A 20-m transect was placed in each cardinal direction from the centre of each plot and each piece of fallen dead wood (>7.6 cm) intersected by the plane of the transect tape was measured: species, diameter, decay class (1-5 where 1-3 = sound and 4-5 = rotten) (Cline et al 1980). To quantify standing dead biomass, 1-m belt transects were used on either side of the planar transect with species, diameter and decay class of all standing dead trees recorded.…”

Section: Fuel Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

How drought-induced forest die-off alters microclimate and increases fuel loadings and fire potentials

Ruthrof

Fontaine

Matusick

et al. 2016

Int. J. Wildland Fire

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Forest die-offs associated with drought and heat have recently occurred across the globe, raising concern that associated changes in fuels and microclimate could link initial die-off disturbance to subsequent fire disturbance. Despite widespread concern, little empirical data exist. Following forest die-off in the Northern Jarrah Forest, south-western Australia, we quantified fuel dynamics and associated microclimate for die-off and control plots. Sixteen months post die-off, die-off plots had significantly increased 1-h fuels (11.8 vs 9.8 tonnes ha -1 ) but not larger fuel classes (10-h and 100-h fuels). Owing to stem mortality, die-off plots had significantly greater standing dead wood mass (100 vs 10 tonnes ha -1 ), visible sky (hemispherical images analysis: 31 vs 23%) and potential near-ground solar radiation input (measured as Direct Site Factor: 0.52 vs 0.34). Supplemental mid-summer microclimate measurements (temperature, relative humidity and wind speed) were combined with long-term climatic data and fuel load estimates to parameterise fire behaviour models. Fire spread rates were predicted to be 30% greater in die-off plots with relatively equal contributions from fuels and microclimate, highlighting need for operational consideration by fire managers. Our results underscore potential for drought-induced tree die-off to interact with subsequent fire under climate change.

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Snag Characteristics and Dynamics in Douglas-Fir Forests, Western Oregon

Cited by 258 publications

References 18 publications

Roost Selection by Male Indiana Myotis Following Forest Fires in Central Appalachian Hardwoods Forests

Roost Selection by Male Indiana Myotis Following Forest Fires in Central Appalachian Hardwoods Forests

Natural tree regeneration and coarse woody debris dynamics after a forest fire in the western Cascade Range

How drought-induced forest die-off alters microclimate and increases fuel loadings and fire potentials

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