The abundance and spatial heterogeneity of coarse woody debris (CWD) on the forest floor is a prominent feature of Pacific Northwest (PNW) forest ecosystems. The effect of CWD on soil solution chemistry, nutrient cycling and availability, soil physical structure and formation of soil organic matter, however, remains unknown. Therefore, studies...
This study investigated the long-term consequences of timber stand removal on the recruitment, physical characteristics, and
spatial distribution of coarse woody debris in small (second- and third-order) streams of the Oregon Coast Range. A chronosequence of stream-stand systems, ranging from 21- to 140-years since disturbance (YSD), were sampled to determine...
Western forests have become increasingly fragmented landscapes dominated by young stands. Given that western Oregon forests largely consist of headwater systems, there is a need to better understand how headwater forest taxa and their habitats are impacted by forest management practices. Several amphibian species associated with forested headwater systems have...
Large wood (LW) pieces are recognized as an important habitat component for salmon freshwater habitat. As such, they are often used in stream habitat restoration practices despite a lack of knowledge about their impacts on spatial and temporal hydraulic characteristics relevant to fish habitat. In this thesis we present results...