scholarly journals Characteristics of remnant old-growth forests in the northern Coast Range of Oregon and comparison to surrounding landscapes.

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew N. Gray ◽  
Vicente J. Monleon ◽  
Thomas A. Spies
Keyword(s):  
Northern Coast ◽  
Coast Range ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Old Growth Forests

Tree species and soil nutrient profiles in old-growth forests of the Oregon Coast Range

2011 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 195-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison Cross ◽  
Steven S. Perakis
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Western Hemlock ◽  
Coast Range ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Oregon Coast Range ◽  
Old Growth Forests

Old-growth forests of the Pacific Northwest provide a unique opportunity to examine tree species – soil relationships in ecosystems that have developed without significant human disturbance. We characterized foliage, forest floor, and mineral soil nutrients associated with four canopy tree species (Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirbel) Franco), western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.), western redcedar (Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don), and bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum Pursh)) in eight old-growth forests of the Oregon Coast Range. The greatest forest floor accumulations of C, N, P, Ca, Mg, and K occurred under Douglas-fir, primarily due to greater forest floor mass. In mineral soil, western hemlock exhibited significantly lower Ca concentration and sum of cations (Ca + Mg + K) than bigleaf maple, with intermediate values for Douglas-fir and western redcedar. Bigleaf maple explained most species-based differences in foliar nutrients, displaying high concentrations of N, P, Ca, Mg, and K. Foliar P and N:P variations largely reflected soil P variation across sites. The four tree species that we examined exhibited a number of individualistic effects on soil nutrient levels that contribute to biogeochemical heterogeneity in these ecosystems. Where fire suppression and long-term succession favor dominance by highly shade-tolerant western hemlock, our results suggest a potential for declines in both soil Ca availability and soil biogeochemical heterogeneity in old-growth forests.

scholarly journals Influence of forest age on forms of carbon in Douglas-fir soils in the Oregon Coast Range

1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 390-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
James A Entry ◽  
William H Emmingham
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Light Fraction ◽  
Coast Range ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Oregon Coast Range ◽  
Soil C ◽  
Second Growth ◽  
Old Growth Forests ◽  
Young Growth

The amount and type of carbon (C) in a forest soil reflects the past balance between C accumulation and loss. In an old-growth forest soil, C is thought to be in dynamic equilibrium between accumulations and losses. Disturbance upsets this equilibrium by altering the microclimate, the amount and type of vegetation growing on a site, and properties that affect organic matter decomposition. We measured total C and forms of soil C in the L, F, and H layers and in the light fraction of soil organic matter in the 0-10 cm of mineral soil in old-, second-, and young-growth Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) soils in the Oregon Coast Range. Total C in L, F, and H layers and in organic material in the top 10 cm of mineral soil in old-growth forests was higher than in young- or second-growth forests. Old-growth forests had a higher lignin concentration and lower concentrations of sugar, hemicellulose, and cellulose in the L, F, and H layers and in the light fraction of organic material than second- or young-growth forests. Old-growth forests had greater amounts of fats, waxes, and oils, sugar, cellulose, and lignin, in the L, F, and H layers per square hectare and greater amounts of hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin in the light fraction of organic matter in the 0-10 cm of mineral soil per square hectare than young- and second-growth forests. Concentrations of fats, waxes, and oils, sugar, and tannin in the light fraction of organic matter in the 0-10 cm of mineral soil did not differ with forest age.

scholarly journals Mesoscale Variation in Snag and Hardwood Densities and Sizes in Old-Growth Forests in Western Oregon

2012 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian Ares ◽  
Cheryl Bright ◽  
Klaus Puettmann
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Coast Range ◽  
Willamette Valley ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Regional Patterns ◽  
Negative Exponential Distribution ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Old Growth Forests ◽  
Negative Exponential

Abstract Snags and hardwoods contribute to biological, structural, and functional diversity in old-growth forests. In the US Pacific Northwest, only general knowledge about regional patterns is available to determine target density of snags and hardwood trees. To investigate their variability at relevant scales for silviculture, we examined snag and hardwood densities and sizes in 20 old-growth units in northern and southern aspects in the Coast Range and the Willamette Valley foothills of Oregon. Snag densities varied largely between subregions and aspects, with aspect affecting densities more than subregion. In the Coast Range, snag density was 2.8 times greater on northern aspects than on southern aspects, whereas in the Willamette Valley foothills snag density was 1.4 times greater on northern aspects than on southern aspects. Density of snags larger than 101.6 cm in diameter was very low. Hardwood densities were also greater on northern aspects than on southern aspects. The negative exponential distribution of hardwood density frequency by size classes could be explained by cohort growth under a wide range of competitive pressures or repeated-recruitment events. Aspect and subregion should be taken into account when defining management targets. Allowing for flexibility at these smaller spatial scales would better reflect the variability in ecological conditions and land use history that led to the development of old-growth stands.

Northwest Forest Plan–the first 15 years (1994–2008): status and trends of late-successional and old-growth forests

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melinda Moeur ◽  
Janet L. Ohmann ◽  
Robert E. Kennedy ◽  
Warren B. Cohen ◽  
Matthew J. Gregory ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Old Growth ◽  
Status And Trends ◽  
Old Growth Forests ◽  
Northwest Forest Plan

Alternatives to clearcutting in the old-growth forests of southeast Alaska: study plan and establishment report.

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael H. McClellan ◽  
Douglas N. Swanston ◽  
Paul E. Hennon ◽  
Robert L. Deal ◽  
Toni L. de Santo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Old Growth ◽  
Southeast Alaska ◽  
Old Growth Forests ◽  
Study Plan

scholarly journals Our New Cathedrals: Spirituality and Old-Growth Forests in Western Australia

2006 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Worth
Keyword(s):  
Social Movements ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
The State ◽  
The South ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
The Past ◽  
South West ◽  
Old Growth Forests ◽  
Heated Debate ◽  
Policy Proposals

Over the past 30 years in Western Australia (WA), there has been heated debate about the future use of the remaining karri and jarrah forests in the south-west of the State. This debate revolves around policy proposals from two social movements: one wants to preserve as much of the remaining old-growth forests as possible, and an opposing movement supports a continued

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