1997
Hunter, John C.
Fourteen years of change in two old-growth Pseudotsuga-Lithocarpus forests in northern California Journal Article
In: Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society, vol. 124, no. 4, pp. 273-279, 1997, ISSN: 1095-5674.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Arbutus, Douglas-fir, madrone, mixed evergreen forests, mortality, shade-tolerance, stand dynamics, tanoak
@article{Hunter1997b,
title = {Fourteen years of change in two old-growth Pseudotsuga-Lithocarpus forests in northern California},
author = {John C. Hunter},
url = {https://angelo.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/59/Hunter_TorreyBotanicalSociety1997.pdf},
issn = {1095-5674},
year = {1997},
date = {1997-00-00},
journal = {Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society},
volume = {124},
number = {4},
pages = {273-279},
abstract = {For the Pseudotsuga-Litkocarpus forests of California and Oregon, this study presents the first documentation of stand dynamics in permanently marked plots. Two 0.25 ha plots of old-growth forest in Mendocino County, California were inventoried in 1981 and 1995. These plots were dominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii (Pinaceae), Lithocarpus densiflorus (Fagaceae) and Arbutus menziesii (Ericaceae), and contained nine additional tree species. During the 14 yr interval, Lithocarpus accounted for 98% of recruitment of new stems, and had greater recruitment into taller height classes and a much lower mortality rate in the understory than did Arbutus or Pseudotsuga. Lithocarpus was also the only species filling canopy gaps. However, its relative basal area increased only 3% because death of canopy trees partially offset growth. There was no recruitment of Arbutus or Pseudotsuga. Arbutus suffered mortality and extensive crown die-back, and its density and relative basal area dropped. Mortality of small stems reduced Pseudotsuga's density, but no canopy stems died and growth increased Pseudotsuga's relative basal area 4%. These results indicate that in the absence of fire, Arbutus decreases and Lithocarpus increases in importance, and due to Pseudotsuga's great potential longevity and size, these forests remain co-dominated by Lithocarpus and Pseudotsuga.},
keywords = {Arbutus, Douglas-fir, madrone, mixed evergreen forests, mortality, shade-tolerance, stand dynamics, tanoak},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
For the Pseudotsuga-Litkocarpus forests of California and Oregon, this study presents the first documentation of stand dynamics in permanently marked plots. Two 0.25 ha plots of old-growth forest in Mendocino County, California were inventoried in 1981 and 1995. These plots were dominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii (Pinaceae), Lithocarpus densiflorus (Fagaceae) and Arbutus menziesii (Ericaceae), and contained nine additional tree species. During the 14 yr interval, Lithocarpus accounted for 98% of recruitment of new stems, and had greater recruitment into taller height classes and a much lower mortality rate in the understory than did Arbutus or Pseudotsuga. Lithocarpus was also the only species filling canopy gaps. However, its relative basal area increased only 3% because death of canopy trees partially offset growth. There was no recruitment of Arbutus or Pseudotsuga. Arbutus suffered mortality and extensive crown die-back, and its density and relative basal area dropped. Mortality of small stems reduced Pseudotsuga’s density, but no canopy stems died and growth increased Pseudotsuga’s relative basal area 4%. These results indicate that in the absence of fire, Arbutus decreases and Lithocarpus increases in importance, and due to Pseudotsuga’s great potential longevity and size, these forests remain co-dominated by Lithocarpus and Pseudotsuga.