In western Oregon, hardwood trees occupy 20% of the
timberland but account for less than 1% of the timber
harvest. Information about how to manage them effectively
is limited.
The objective of this study was to examine: 1)
effect of thinning on tree growth, plant moisture stress,
and crown cover...
Red alder (Alnus rubra Bong.) is a fast-growing pioneer species that colonizes disturbed forest sites west of the Cascade Mountains in the Pacific Northwest.
Streambottoms, toe slopes, and mass movement of surface soils have historically provided the scarification and soil moisture necessary for successful regeneration of red
alder. During the...
Red alder (Alnus rubra Bong.) is a common associate and a potentially severe competitor of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii [Mirb.] Franco) in the Oregon Coast Range. However, because it fixes nitrogen and increases rates of soil nutrient cycling, red alder has the potential to benefit Douglas-fir. The objective of...
Understanding how N availability influences base cation stores is critical for long-term ecosystem sustainability. Indices of nitrogen (N) availability and the distribution of nutrients in plant biomass, soil, and soil water were examined across ten young, unpolluted Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) stands in the Oregon Coast Range spanning a three-fold soil...
The amount and quality of competition among
individuals in developing plant communities is an important factor determining community structure, composition and development. In perennial plant communities, this competition is reflected by shifts in carbon allocation among plant parts and can result in long-term structural differences between neighboring individuals. This study...
Salmonberry community structure was examined in alder-dominated
riparian buffer strips in the Oregon Coast Range. Salmonberry growing on slopes
was found to respond differently, to both characteristics of the buffer strips and
to environmental factors, than salmonberry growing on terraces.
Salmonberry, as measured by total height, number of ramets or...
General outcomes of this study show that early growth of planted red alder is often slowed in the presence of neighboring vegetation, and overwhelmingly by salmonberry, a common associate in disturbed Oregon Coast Range habitats. Additionally, young red alder plantations located in
riparian areas may be highly susceptible to frost...
Red tree voles (Arborimus longicaudus) are a unique species of Arvicoline rodent found in western Oregon and northwest California. Their preferred habitat is mature and old-growth coniferous forest dominated by Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). Tree voles are an important prey item for northern spotted owls and many other predators, but are...