Honors College Thesis
 

Exotic Species Success in Fire- and Harvest-Disturbed Forest Sites in Southwest Oregon

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https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/honors_college_theses/pn89dg03v

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  • Invasive plant species are a significant concern in Oregon’s forests, particularly in early-seral sites. Early-seral forests are generated by severe disturbances such as fire or timber harvest, and persist until canopy closure. They are vulnerable to invasion because they have abundant resources, and are important because they provide unique resources. The spread of invasive plant species at these sites can result in loss of biodiversity, ecosystem services, and timber productivity, so understanding how management can promote or inhibit invasion is important. This thesis compared exotic species success (presence, abundance, and prevalence) in Southwest Oregon forests following three disturbance types: stand-replacing fire, intensive forest management (timber harvest, herbicide, and replanting), and salvage logging post-fire. It also examined relationships between exotic success and stand age, resource availability, canopy cover, and native species richness. Sites disturbed by intensive forest management had higher levels of exotic success than sites that experienced severe fire. This suggests that intensive forest management is more likely than other disturbance types to create a landscape vulnerable to invasion and subsequent negative impacts.
  • Keywords: forestry, ecology, wildfire, logging, exotic species
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  • Funded in part by the OSU College of Forestry Mentored Employment Program, the OSU College of Forestry Fish and Wildlife Habitat in Managed Forests program, and the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement.
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