uid=HFR,o=lter,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org
all
public
read
doi:10.6073/pasta/a32c212479f2879a184c08d8c5619aa8
Ungulate-Forest Interactions in Partially Harvested Oak-Pine Stands in Central Massachusetts 2009
Edward
Faison
Stephen
DeStefano
David
Foster
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1171-3762
Justin
Compton
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4450-3155
Researcher
David
Wattles
Researcher
2023
English
Ungulates are attracted to forest openings created by natural disturbance and timber harvesting due to the abundance of high quality browse in these openings. Despite the increased activity and browsing of ungulates in forest openings, the importance of browsing relative to abiotic factors such as light on forest regeneration is often unclear. In southern New England, medium-intensity harvesting is the predominant forest disturbance attracting white-tailed deer and moose. Oaks are the foundation hardwood taxon and predominant timber tree in the region and are in decline. Hence, the effects of ungulate browsing on oak forests are of great interest to ecologists, conservationists and forest and wildlife managers. We sampled tree regeneration and ungulate foraging activity across a range of canopy disturbances (35-90% basal area removed) in 34 stands of the Quabbin and Ware River Watershed Forests. Browsing was very high across the plots with about 80% of red maple and oak stems browsed. Taller stems were generally browsed more frequently than shorter stems. Oak regeneration in the smaller size classes was generally lower in stands with higher percent cover of hay-scented fern. The proportion of browsed red maples and oaks generally increased with increasing density of these taxa. Despite intensive herbivory, oaks appear to be regenerating well with increased light in these partially harvested stands.
browsing
deer
herbivory
moose
regeneration
timber harvest
LTER controlled vocabulary
populations
disturbance
human-environment
LTER core area
Harvard Forest
HFR
LTER
USA
HFR default
This dataset is released to the public under Creative Commons CC0 1.0 (No Rights Reserved). Please keep the dataset creators informed of any plans to use the dataset. Consultation with the original investigators is strongly encouraged. Publications and data products that make use of the dataset should include proper acknowledgement.
Creative Commons Zero v1.0 Universal
https://spdx.org/licenses/CC0-1.0.html
CC0-1.0
https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/exist/apps/datasets/showData.html?id=hf201
Quabbin Reservoir, Ware River Watershed. Coordinates based on WGS84 datum.
-72.393
-71.982
+42.541
+42.296
140
380
meter
2009
2009
genus
Acer
species
rubrum
red maple
genus
Alces
species
alces
moose
genus
Betula
species
spp.
birch
genus
Odocoileus
species
virginianus
white-tailed deer
genus
Pinus
species
strobus
white pine
genus
Prunus
species
spp.
cherry
genus
Quercus
species
spp.
oak
complete
Information Manager
Harvard Forest
324 North Main Street
Petersham
MA
01366
USA
(978) 724-3302
hf-im@lists.fas.harvard.edu
Harvard Forest
324 North Main Street
Petersham
MA
01366
USA
(978) 724-3302
(978) 724-3595
https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu
Study Design
Observational study with stratified random sampling by harvest type (thinnings and shelterwoods), composition (oak-pine) and by age (2-11 years). One 20x20 m study plot sampled in each stand. Plots located at least 1km apart.
Sampling protocol
Woody Seedlings. In each 20x20 m treatment, a 4x3 matrix of subplots was laid out in the center of the plot Each circular subplot was 2.25 m in diameter (48 m2 total sampling area per plot). In each subplot all woody stems (at least 5 cm DBH) were tallied, identified, assessed for sign of past browsing (torn or ragged stem), and given a height class (50-99cm, 1-1.5, 1.5-2, 2-2.5, 2.5-3, and greater than 3m). For sprout clumps, stems that shared a common base above the stump were characterized as a single stem, whereas stems that individually attached to the stump were counted as separate. Data from the subplots were summed across the plot.
Trees and Stumps. All trees at least 5 cm DBH and all stumps at least 2.5 cm DBH within the 20x20m plots were measured for diameter and identified.
Harvard Forest Long-Term Ecological Research
Harvard Forest
324 North Main Street
Petersham
MA
01366
USA
(978) 724-3302
(978) 724-3595
https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu
https://ror.org/059cpzx98
pointOfContact
The Harvard Forest Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) program examines ecological dynamics in the New England region resulting from natural disturbances, environmental change, and human impacts.
National Science Foundation LTER grants: DEB-8811764, DEB-9411975, DEB-0080592, DEB-0620443, DEB-1237491, DEB-1832210.
hf201-01-site.csv
site conditions
hf201-01-site.csv
731
9264e5a5c6ad4b98e9bbc52a2e58d36b
1
\r\n
column
,
https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/data/p20/hf201/hf201-01-site.csv
plot.name
unique plot name
unique plot name
year.harvested
year that logging operation was completed in stand where plot was located
YYYY
slope
slope in degrees of hill on which plot is located
degree
1
whole
NA
missing value
aspect
direction in which slope of hill is facing
degree
1
whole
NA
missing value
34
hf201-02-seedlings.csv
woody seedlings
hf201-02-seedlings.csv
156781
c42a9cf0bab95b50fc9335ff259f1e54
1
\r\n
column
,
https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/data/p20/hf201/hf201-02-seedlings.csv
plot.name
unique plot name
unique plot name
species
tree species or genus name
tree species or genus name
height
height category of seedlings in meters
1
0.50-0.99m
2
1-1.49m
3
1.5-1.99m
4
2-2.49m
5
2.5-2.99m
6
greater than 3m
browsed
stem browsed
0
no
1
yes
4938
hf201-03-stumps.csv
stumps
hf201-03-stumps.csv
16586
fefbfe82de6ec676760daa82969b296d
1
\r\n
column
,
https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/data/p20/hf201/hf201-03-stumps.csv
plot.name
unique plot name
unique plot name
species
tree species or genus name
tree species or genus name
diameter
stump diameter
centimeter
0.1
real
NA
missing value
616
hf201-04-trees.csv
overstory trees
hf201-04-trees.csv
13254
0e8928dd208f444c6ea6b83c37af5969
1
\r\n
column
,
https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/data/p20/hf201/hf201-04-trees.csv
site
unique plot name
unique plot name
species
tree species or genus name
tree species or genus name
dbh
diameter at breast height
centimeter
0.1
real
NA
missing value
bark.stripped
presence of bark stripping by moose
0
no
1
yes
stripping.intensity
stripping intensity
NA
no stripping
less than 2/3
bark removed from less than 2/3 of circumference
greater than 2/3
bark removed from greater than 2/3 of circumference
394
conservation
regional
short-term measurement
https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/exist/apps/datasets/showData.html?id=hf115
https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/exist/apps/datasets/showData.html?id=hf174