scholarly journals Planting Oaks in Group Selection Openings on Upland Sites: Two Case Studies from Arkansas

2006 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 117-122
Author(s):  
Eric Heitzman ◽  
Adrian Grell

Abstract Two upland sites in Arkansas were studied to test the performance of 1-0 northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) and white oak (Quercus alba L.) seedlings planted in group selection openings. Both red and white oak seedlings were planted at one location in the Ozark Mountains,and only red oak seedlings were planted at a second site along Crowleys Ridge. Holes were dug with power augers and seedlings were planted by hand. At the time of planting, the mean height of red oak and white oak seedlings at the Ozark site were 3.4 and 1.9 ft, respectively. Red oak seedlingsat Crowleys Ridge averaged 3.0 ft tall when planted. After 4 years at the Ozark site, 77% of red oak and 86% of white oak were alive. After 3 years at Crowleys Ridge, red oak survival was 80%. Seedlings at both sites grew slowly. Mean 4-year height increment at the Ozarksite was 2.1 ft for red oak and 2.5 ft for white oak, and mean 3-year height increment for red oak at Crowleys Ridge was 1.6 ft. Three years after planting in the Ozark Mountains and 2 years after planting at Crowleys Ridge, naturally regenerating competition had suppressed over one-thirdof the red oak and about one-half of the white oak. This necessitated a release treatment around planted seedlings at both sites. Oaks that decreased in total height over a given growing season were common. Most seedlings that decreased in height had been pulled over or crushed by other vegetationor exhibited top dieback. South. J. Appl.For. 30(3):142–146.

2003 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 92-93
Author(s):  
Eric Heitzman ◽  
Adrian Grell

Abstract In 2001, we used power augers to plant 1-0 northern red oak (Quercus rubra) and white oak (Q. alba) seedlings in stony soils in Arkansas. After two growing seasons, red oak and white oak survival was 86% and 91%, respectively. Both species had only grown an average of 1 ft in height in 2 yr. North. J. Appl. For. 20(2):92–93.


1978 ◽  
Vol 110 (3) ◽  
pp. 241-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. A. Surgeoner ◽  
W. E. Wallner

AbstractTotal foliage consumption per larva of Heterocampa manteo (Doubleday) was 334 ± 49.3 cm2 of leaf area. Approximately 85% of the consumption occurred during the fifth larval stadium. There was no significant difference in consumption by H. manteo when fed northern red oak, Quercus rubra L., or white oak, Quercus alba L. Foliage consumption at 27 °C, 24 °C, and 21 °C did not differ significantly; but larvae reared at 15.5 °C consumed 42.6% less foliage. Larvae parasitized by Diradops bethunei (Cresson) consumed 61.3% less foliage than non-parasitized larvae reared at the same temperature. Two methods of predicting defoliation are discussed based upon larval foliage consumption data.


2011 ◽  
Vol 41 (11) ◽  
pp. 2219-2230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne Rebbeck ◽  
Kurt Gottschalk ◽  
Amy Scherzer

Northern red oak ( Quercus rubra L.) seedling growth has been extensively studied. White oak ( Quercus alba L.) and chestnut oak ( Quercus prinus L.), however, are far less investigated despite their importance among upland oak species in eastern North American forests. We characterized white and chestnut oak seedling response to light and available soil nutrients while using northern red oak as a benchmark. Germinants were grown within one of three shade treatments (25%, 18%, and 6% of full sun) in one of two native forest soil mixes over two growing seasons. Leaf area, shoot mass, and root mass of all three species showed positive growth responses to increasing light. Growth and biomass were higher for all species grown in the more nutrient-rich forest soil, but chestnut oak displayed the greatest positive responses to the higher nutrient levels. White oak seedlings were the slowest growers and demonstrated the most root-centered growth, with root to shoot ratios almost twice that of either chestnut or northern red oak seedlings. The oak species evaluated here responded differently to changes in resource availability. Our study demonstrates the differential response of upland oaks to low light and nutrients. These differences need consideration when developing oak management prescriptions for specific oaks.


Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 303
Author(s):  
Michael A. Steele ◽  
Harmony J. Dalgleish ◽  
Shealyn Marino ◽  
Andrew W. Bartlow ◽  
Rachel Curtis ◽  
...  

Recent studies have explored how nut weevils (Curculio and Conotrachelus spp. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) prey on the fruits (acorns) of oak (Quercus spp.). However, few, if any, have examined these interactions over both an extensive geographic area and over several years. Here, we observed patterns of infestation in acorns of both red oak (Quercus rubra) and white oak (Quercus alba) over an eight-year period along a latitudinal transect, extending as far as 900km, across much of the shared range of these two oak species. Although weevil prevalence did not differ significantly between the two oak species, in red oak, infestation prevalence increased significantly with latitude. In contrast, an opposite pattern was evident in white oak, with the highest infestation prevalence occurring at lower latitudes. One controlled measure of cotyledon damage was significantly lower in acorns of red oak than those of white oak, which may in part be due to larger acorn size at the lower latitudes. Future investigations in this system should focus on the distribution of weevil species (with DNA barcoding) across this range and geographic variation in chemical gradients that likely determine patterns of weevil damage in individual acorns.


The Condor ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (2) ◽  
pp. 377-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey E. Moore ◽  
Robert K. Swihart

Abstract We assessed dietary preference of 14 captive Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata) for different food types under different conditions of availability. In four separate feeding trials, we provisioned jays with the following: Trial 1, two nuts each of white oak (Quercus alba), pin oak (Q. palustris), black oak (Q. velutina), northern red oak (Q. rubra), and shagbark hickory (Carya ovata); Trial 2, two small and two large red oak acorns; Trial 3, two germinating and two nongerminating white oak acorns; and Trial 4, one large red oak acorn, one large white oak acorn, and one shagbark hickory nut. We used discrete choice models to describe selection under conditions of changing choice sets. Blue Jays displayed a clear preference for pin oak and strong avoidance of red oak acorns when alternative foods were available. White oak and black oak acorns were selected intermediately. Shagbark hickory nuts were never used. Correlation coefficients suggested that preference was inversely related to seed size and the proportion of seed consisting of hard seed coat. In the absence of alternative food items, small red oak acorns were readily taken, whereas large red oak acorns were mostly avoided but still used by some birds. These results highlight the importance of considering food availability when making conclusions about preference, and lend support to the hypothesis that Blue Jays can be important dispersers of even less-preferred oak species. We discuss the potential as well as the limitations for Blue Jays to act as seed dispersers, with respect to postglacial range expansion of fagaceous tree species, and in the context of present-day dispersal in regions where forests are highly fragmented.


2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 629-636 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa W. Alexander ◽  
Keith E. Woeste

We developed a novel scoring system to assess spring phenology in a northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) clonal seed orchard. The system was used to score from 304 to 364 ramets for three reproductive seasons and to place clones into early, intermediate, and late phenology classes. Although the absolute number of clones in each phenological class changed from year to year, the overall order of clonal flowering was highly stable (rs = 0.67, p < 0.001). Early-flowering clones flowered significantly longer than later flowering clones in all 3 years. Dichogamy was present in the orchard, with male flowers of a clone emerging from 1.4 to 3.0 d sooner than its female flowers. Mean dichogamy values for individual clones ranged from 0.0 to 4.9 (± 1.3) d. Year strongly influenced a clone’s dichogamy value (F = 6.0, p = 0.004), whereas genotype had no influence. The mean overall phenological synchronicity for the 3 years of observations was 0.30 ± 0.01 or about 30% overlap between the time when females were receptive and males were shedding pollen. This study represents the first effort to quantify phenology in an artificial population of northern red oak, and it provides a snapshot of the current relationship between temperature, phenology, and floral synchronization.


2011 ◽  
Vol 41 (10) ◽  
pp. 1936-1947 ◽  
Author(s):  
David C. LeBlanc ◽  
Mark A. Terrell

The objective of this study was to evaluate growth–climate associations for northern red oak ( Quercus rubra L.) across much of its geographic range in eastern North America and to compare these associations with those of white oak ( Quercus alba L.). Tree-ring and climate data were obtained for a total of 82 sites, including 51 sites where both oak species were sampled. Northern red oak radial growth was most strongly and spatially consistently correlated with site water balance variables for the early growing season (May through July). Correlations with prior year autumn and winter precipitation were also identified at a smaller number of sites. The phenology of growth–climate correlations was virtually identical between northern red oak and white oak, although there was modest evidence that correlations were stronger for white oak. These results support the hypothesis that species with similar wood anatomy, geographic distribution, and habitat preferences may have similar growth–climate relationships. This suggests that functional groups of tree species may be defined a priori based on existing knowledge of their wood anatomy and ecology.


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