bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hydrologic Impacts of Logging an Appalachian Watershed Using West Virginia's Best Management Practices
Authors: Kochenderfer James N. , Edwards Pamela J. , Wood Frederica
Published: August 2019

A 39 ha gauged watershed located in north-central West Virginia near Parsons was cut to a 35.5 cm stump diameter and logged using wheeled skidders to evaluate the effectiveness of West Virginia's Best Management Practices (BMPs). Roads initially occupied 10.6% of the watershed, but this percentage is decreasing as much of the original road prism reverts to forest. Reducing basal area by 44% in stems 2.54 cm dbh and larger had a negligible effect on maximum growing season stream temperatures, apparently because the stream remained shaded by residual trees and understory shrubs growing along it. Both growing season peakflows and total stormflow had small but significant increases due to treatment. Dormant season stormflows did not increase significantly. Although mean monthly exports of suspended sediment doubled the first year when the area was being logged, they remained within the range reported for carefully managed areas in the East. Sediment exports returned to pretreatment levels by the third posttreatment year. Long-term projections of current exports rates indicate that sediment exports from harvesting operations (3 entries) during a 100 yr rotation will account for less than 5% of the total sediment exported from the study watershed. Nitrate exports increased significantly during most of the monitored posttreatment years, but fertilizer applied to the roads during grass seeding is believed to have contributed to these increases. Actual concentration values remained low, with maximum concentrations well below standards for potable water. Calcium concentrations also increased during most years, but road liming during seeding probably was responsible for most of this increase. The BMPs used in this study were effective in minimizing adverse impacts to soil and water resources. North. J. Appl. For. 14(4):207-218.
Regional-Specific Algorithmic Stand Density Management Diagram for Black Spruce
Authors: Newton Peter F.
Published: August 2019

A regional-specific algorithmic stand density management diagram was developed for managed upland black spruce (Picea mariana [Mill.] B.S.P.) stands applicable to Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Quebec, and Ontario. Specifically, the IBM-compatible PC-based algorithm (1) graphically illustrates site-specific size-density trajectories for 8 user-specified initial density regimes, (2) calculates and subsequently tabulates periodic yield estimates from 5-50 yr by 5 yr intervals for mean dominant height, density, mean volume, total volume, total merchantable volume, quadratic mean diameter, and basal area, (3) given (2), graphically illustrates empirically derived yield production curves for total merchantable volume per hectare and number of stems per cubic meter with user-specified operability criteria superimposed, and (4) given (3), calculates and subsequently tabulates the minimum time required to attain operability status. The utility of the algorithm is demonstrated within the context of determining site-specific initial densities required to attain user-specified operability criteria. Procedures for acquiring the executable version via the Internet are also included. North. J. Appl. For. 15(2):94-97.
Financial Implications of Selling Public Forestlands in Itasca County, Minnesota
Authors: Mackay Donald G. , Ellefson Paul V.
Published: August 2019

Responding to budgetary pressure, elected officials in Minnesota's Itasca County sought analysis of the financial consequences of selling all or part of the County's more than 250,000 ac of forestland to private owners. Revenues to the County from forestland were assessed through examining the private market for forestland and potential property tax revenues. Also, revenue to the County under County management was reviewed. The net present value of timber to be sold by the County and state in-lieu-of-tax payments to the County were estimated. Further, legal and institutional limits on the sale of public land were evaluated, and citizen input was gathered through a questionnaire and meetings with groups and organizations. The analysis concluded that under a variety of conditions, it is financially advantageous for the County to retain many public tracts, as long as the County continues to sell timber from them. North. J. Appl. For. 16(1):36-42.
Density Management Diagram for Northeastern Red Spruce and Balsam Fir Forests
Authors: Wilson Duncan S. , Seymour Robert S. , Maguire Douglas A.
Published: August 2019

A stand-density management diagram is presented for use in northeastern red spruce and balsam fir forests. The diagram was derived from an extensive archived data set collected during the 1970s from fully stocked stands throughout northern Maine and a more recent study of precommercially thinned stands. The negative exponential relationship between mean stemwood volume per tree and stand density, commonly known as the "self-thinning rule, "was formulated to define a biological maximum stand density. The maximum size-density equation can be used to calculate the relative density of any stand and is accurate for thinned and unthinned natural stands as well as plantations. Equations for estimating quadratic mean diameter and stand top height are also derived for unthinned natural stands only. Data used to fit the self-thinning line are substantially above the A-lines on the familiar northeastern stocking guides, suggesting that these guides underestimate maximum density and thus overpredict self-thinning. Examples illustrate how to use the diagram to predict stand development under commercial and precommercial thinning scenarios, as well as natural stand development without thinning. Relevant site index and volume equations are included in an appendix. North. J. Appl. For. 16(1):48-56.
Approximation, Evaluation, and Extension of the Lake States Composite Taper and Volume Tables
Authors: Burk Thomas E. , Ek Alan R.
Published: August 2019

USDA Technical Bulletin 1104, "Composite Volume Tables for Timber and Their Application in the Lake States" by Gevorkiantz and Olsen (1955) is used extensively for prediction of individual tree stem volumes in the Lake States region of the United States. Much of the work in the bulletin was done without the aid of contemporary statistical techniques, making it difficult to accurately extend the tables contained therein. Application of cubic spline interpolation and numerical integration provides a means of efficiently utilizing the bulletin's information in modem computer systems while simultaneously extending the tables to a range of utilization standards. Close inspection of this analysis revealed some anomalies and inconsistencies in the original bulletin tables. The inspection also uncovered the implicit use of techniques attributed to more modern biometrics research. Several timber sampling aids requested by field foresters were derived using the system developed. North. J. Appl. For. 16(2):65-71.
Status and Trends of Silvicultural Practices in Minnesota
Authors: Puettmann Klaus J. , Ek Alan R.
Published: August 2019

This article describes the kind and extent of silvicultural practices applied in Minnesota. We surveyed land managers with respect to silvicultural systems and practices employed during 1996. Results were compared to corresponding information from 1991. The study obtained input from ownerships covering approximately 50% of the acreage and timber volume harvested in the state. The statewide harvest volume increased 8% from 1991 to 1996, and the estimated acreage subject to harvesting increased 1%. An increased emphasis on thinning was a significant factor in the rise in total acreage harvested. From 1991 to 1996, clearcutting (> 5 ac) decreased from 89 to 85% of the acreage harvested. Residuals were left on 77% of the acreage clearcut, a level nearly twice as high as in 1991. Reliance on natural versus artificial regeneration increased by 7% since 1991.At the same time, artificial regeneration efforts showed greater emphasis on site preparation rather than later release, especially on land owned by forest industry. Overall, forest management trends in Minnesota are moving toward a more intensively managed but also more diverse forest across ownerships. North. J. Appl. For. 16(4):203-210.
The Effects of Group Selection Harvest Size on Logging Productivity
Authors: Hassler Curt C. , Grushecky Shawn T. , LeDoux Chris B.
Published: August 2019

Because increasing demands are being placed on industry to harvest timber by aesthetically, economically, and ecologically acceptable means, we investigated the effects of a ground-based group selection harvest on logging productivity. Results show that size of opening had little or no effect on skidding productivity. However, significant skidder operator differences existed. Some skidder operators consistently, in shorter periods of time, loaded their machine with larger payloads resulting in larger turn volumes. Group selection unit size, skidder operator, and utilization level had no statistically significant impact on delay times. Results also suggest that additional time spent training skidder operators to hook larger payloads faster could pay dividends in increased daily production and improvements in logging profitability. North. J. Appl. For. 17(2):51-56.
Estimating Management Plan Implementation in Northeast Wisconsin
Authors: Shockley Thomas , Martin A.J.
Published: August 2019

Forest management plans were examined for a random population of nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) landowners in eight counties in northeast Wisconsin. Implementation rates of practices (i.e., percentages of practices within each management plan that were completed, in progress, or not done), were estimated for each NIPF landowner. Only NIPF landowners participating in forest management assistance programs (Wisconsin's state forest tax law programs, or the federal Stewardship Incentive Program) were considered for the study. A total of 464 forest management plans were examined to determine numbers and types of practices prescribed, rates of implementation, and cost-sharing utilization. The results indicated that 78% of practices mandated by law within the state's tax law programs were either completed or were in progress. Other findings show that 36% of recommended practices within the state's tax law programs were either completed or were in progress. The results of the Stewardship Incentive Program study indicated that 21% of practices prescribed in those plans were either completed or were in progress. Commercial timber harvests were the most widely prescribed mandatory practices while planting prescriptions occupied the majority of recommended practices. Cost-sharing was used on 22% of mandatory tax law practices, 6.5% of recommended tax law practices, and 7% of practices in the Stewardship Incentive Program. North. J. Appl. For. 17(4):135–140.
Growth of Saplings after Selection Cutting in Northern Hardwoods
Authors: Donoso Pablo J. , Nyland Ralph D. , Zhang Lianjun
Published: August 2019

We evaluated height and diameter growth of 19 sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) and 20 American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) saplings in a 22 ac northern hardwood selection system stand cut in Fall 1973 to a residual density of 73 ft²/ac, and again in Summer 1993 to 82 ft²/ac. We classified the sample trees according to the proportion of total age represented by the 19 yr period after the 1973 selection cutting: more than 80% (young trees), 67–80% (intermediate trees), and less than 67% (old trees). Young trees reached 1 in. dbh almost one decade sooner than old trees (25.7 vs. 33.8 yr), but the two age groups did not differ significantly in height when they reached that threshold diameter. Young and intermediate-aged trees grew more rapidly in height than older trees, especially during the first 10 yr after cutting (6.1 vs. 4.9 ft during the 10 yr period). Height growth of saplings for the last 9 yr of the first cutting cycle did not differ significantly from that prior to the first cutting (2.4 ft in 5 yr), but differed from the growth during the first 10 yr after the 1973 cutting (2.85 ft in 5 yr). Young trees also took 33% less time to reach 1 in. dbh during the first cutting cycle. Findings show the influence of single-tree selection cutting on the development of small trees, and highlight the importance of matching residual density and cutting cycle length in order to maintain good rates of height and diameter growth among young age classes in uneven-aged selection system stands. North. J. Appl. For. 17(4):149–152.
Survey of Shoot Damage Caused by the Exotic Pine Shoot Beetle in Michigan Pine Stands
Authors: Siegert Nathan W. , McCullough Deborah G.
Published: August 2019

The exotic pine shoot beetle, Tomicus piniperda [L.] (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) is a Eurasian pest of pines that was first discovered in North America in 1992 near Cleveland, Ohio. It has since been found in at least 72 counties in Michigan, 285 additional counties in 11 other north central and eastern states, and the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. We counted injured shoots along linear transects in ten stands of Scotch (Pinus sylvestris L.), red (Pinus resinosa Aiton), and jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lambert) in lower Michigan (30 stands total) to estimate the frequency of shoot damage attributable to pine shoot beetle, other shoot-feeding insects, weather, and other damaging agents from 1997 to 1999. Fifteen of the stands were located in southwestern counties where pine shoot beetle has been established for at least 8 to 10 yr. The other 15 stands were in northern counties where pine shoot beetle establishment is more recent. In the southwestern stands, pine shoot beetle killed significantly more shoots in Scotch pine stands than in red or jack pine stands, and injured more shoots in Scotch pine stands than all other insects combined. Two of these Scotch pine stands were near an area with an abundance of Scotch pine brood material available to parent beetles. Damage in these two stands averaged roughly 10 to 12 shoots per m2 in 1998 and 1999, compared with 0.6 to 1.6 shoots per m2 in other Scotch pine stands, and less than 0.2 shoots per m2 in nearby red or jack pine stands. Pine shoot beetle was at very low or undetectable levels in northern stands in all years. Shoots injured by three other shoot-feeding insects were occasionally encountered, most often in red pine stands, but caused an insignificant amount of damage. With the exception of the southwestern Scotch pine stands, most of the shoot damage, particularly in northern jack pine stands, was attributable to squirrels or abiotic factors such as wind, ice or snow. North. J. Appl. For. 18(4):101–109.
Field Note—Comparison of Three Dendrometers in Measuring Diameter at Breast Height Field Note
Authors: Moran Leigh Ann , Williams Roger A.
Published: August 2019

Three dendrometers—d-tape, calipers, and Biltmore stick—were used to measure diameter at breast height (dbh), and discrepancies that occurred among these instruments were compared. Three methods of dbh estimation with calipers—the quadratic, arithmetic, and geometric mean of the major and minor axis diameter—were compared. Trees were grouped into four broad dbh classes of 1–5, 6–10, 11–15, and 16–20 in. and three species—northern red oak, sugar maple, and white ash—to determine the effect of tree size and species on discrepancies. The d-tape consistently recorded a larger dbh than the three caliper methods, but was not statistically different nor practically important. The differences in recorded dbh between the d-tape and calipers increased with tree size and were similar among northern red oak and sugar maple trees, but dbh differences in white ash trees were significantly less than in the other two species. The Biltmore stick's accuracy in classifying trees into the same dbh class as determined by the d-tape decreased as tree size increased. When examined by species, the Biltmore stick was less accurate in this regard with northern red oak and most accurate with sugar maple. Because the geometric principle of the d-tape assumes a tree to have a circular shape, its diameter estimation and subsequent basal area will usually be greater than the true diameter and area. The use of calipers reduces this bias, but the differences are not statistically significant.
Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE)-Predicted Soil Loss for Harvesting Regimes in Appalachian Hardwoods
Authors: Hood S.M. , Zedaker, S.M. , Aust W.M. , Smith D.W.
Published: August 2019

Soil erosion from forest harvesting is a major environmental concern. While there has been research comparing soil erosion on clearcut regeneration harvests with that on uncut forests, there has been little focus on the differences among common silvicultural harvests. Forest certification standards that are currently being evaluated for adoption across the country often encourage uneven-aged systems over even-aged or two-aged systems. We estimated soil loss using the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) for forest land on five harvested treatments in the southern Appalachians. Treatments included a clearcut, leave-tree harvest, shelterwood, group selection, and uncut control. Results predicted that the group selection would have approximately 10 tons/ac more soil loss over a 100 yr rotation than the other harvested treatments. The higher rate was primarily from skid trails when the treatment was reentered for harvesting. These results should be considered when weighing the benefits of uneven-aged silviculture over even-aged or two-aged silviculture.
Eastern White Pine Flowering in Response to Spray Application of Gibberellin A4/7 or Procone™
Authors: Pijut Paula M.
Published: August 2019

Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.) is an important forestry species in the northeastern and midwestern United States and in eastern Canada. Induction of early and reliable flowering and cone production will shorten the breeding cycle and aid in the development of genetically improved white pine. The objective of this study was to determine if a foliar spray application of gibberellin A4/7 (GA4/7) or ProCone™ would induce both male and female strobili on young grafted eastern white pine selected for white pine blister rust resistance. Trees were sprayed (500 mg L-1) weekly in 1998 during the period of rapid shoot elongation (mid-May through July), for a total of 11 applications. Flowering data were collected June 15, 1999. Twenty-five out of 53 genotypes produced male strobili. For all genotypes studied, the total number of male strobili clusters per tree (and the mean number ± SE of pollen-cones per cluster) produced with GA4/7, ProCone™, or untreated controls were: 643 (7.1 ± 0.3); 574 (7.9 ± 0.3); and 79 (8.3 ± 0.8), respectively. Twenty out of 53 genotypes produced female strobili. For all genotypes studied, the total number of female strobili per tree (and the mean number ± SE of female strobili per shoot) produced with GA4/7, ProCone™, or untreated controls were: 87 (1.1 ± 0.1); 130 (1.3 ± 0.1); and 33 (0.6 ± 0.1), respectively. Eleven genotypes produced both male and female strobili. Control trees that flowered may have been the result of spray drift. The results indicate that a foliar spray application of GA4/7 or ProCone™ at 500 mg L-1 will induce both male and female strobili, but not on all selected genotypes of eastern white pine.
Logging Options to Minimize Soil Disturbance in the Northern Lake States
Authors: Stone Douglas M.
Published: August 2019

Forest harvesting is likely to have greater impacts on site productivity than any other activity during the rotation. We determined effects of commercial, winter-logging of four aspen-dominated stands on site disturbance and development of regeneration on clay soils in western Upper Michigan. A large skidder caused deep rutting on 20% of a site in a thinning that removed 7.8 m2 ha-1 (34 ft2 ac-1) of basal area, and on 38% of a clearcut site. After the first growing season, 45% of the clearcut had no aspen regeneration, and 82% had less than the recommended minimum of 15,000 (15 k) suckers ha-1 (6 k ac-1). Options that can be utilized to minimize logging impacts include: (1) excluding riparian areas and poorly drained inclusions from cutting units; (2) dry season harvesting; (3) plowing snow from (or packing the snow on) skid trails and landings, permitting them to freeze; (4) felling with delayed skidding until trails and landings have frozen; and (5) application of best management practices (BMP) recommendations such as progressive (back-to-front) harvesting. Each of these should have minimal effects on logging costs and may be economically advantageous. As an interim guide, a minimum of 7.5 cm (3.0 in.) of soil frost is recommended for small equipment and 15 cm (6.0 in.) for large equipment. BMP guides could be effective in communicating management objectives to foresters, sale administrators, contractors, and operators, increasing their awareness of (and sensitivity toward) soil disturbance and thus, contribute to sustaining future productivity.
Field Note–Selecting Plot Sizes When Quantifying Growing Conditions in Understories
Authors: Puettmann Klaus J. , D'Amato Anthony W.
Published: August 2019

While the importance of selecting a neighborhood size for competition studies has been documented, the choice of plot sizes has received little attention when measuring the influence of overstory trees on growing conditions of understory seedlings. Based on data from four sites, we show how plot sizes for measures of overstory cover (using a “cone” approach) and basal area (using an angle gauge) were related. The relationship was a function of the height/diameter ratio of the overstory trees, with taller trees increasing the plot sizes for “cone” plots and trees with larger diameters increasing the plot sizes for basal area plots. Further, we point out that data derived from measurements of diffuse noninterceptance (DIFN) using the “cone” approach varied with the choice of cone opening. Smaller cone openings led to a greater range in DIFN values. Linear correlations between these data and 2 yr seedling height pointed out that the optimal plot size, i.e., cone opening, differs among the sites. The lack of any obvious stand characteristics that would explain these differences indicated the need for further investigations.
Field Note—Comparison of Estimates of Hardwood Bole Volume Using Importance Sampling, the Centroid Method, and Some Taper Equations
Authors: Wiant Harry V. , Spangler Michael L. , Baumgras John E.
Published: August 2019

Various taper systems and the centroid method were compared to unbiased volume estimates made by importance sampling for 720 hardwood trees selected throughout the state of West Virginia. Only the centroid method consistently gave volumes estimates that did not differ significantly from those made by importance sampling, although some taper equations did well for most species.
Profiling Collaborative Natural Resource Initiatives and Active Participants
Authors: Schuett Michael A. , Selin Steve
Published: August 2019

Managers and citizens are becoming more involved in a collaborative management approach to natural resource decision-making. However, a limited amount of research has examined the profile of collaborative natural resource initiatives (CI) and its participants. The purpose of this study was to examine 30 CIs from across the United States and the “active participants” involved with the CIs. Using a mail survey, 647 stakeholders were queried about the CI including mission, size, membership, duration, motives for participation in the CI, and keys to successful collaboration. Reasons for stakeholder involvement included responsibility, concern over natural resource issues, and developing better partnerships. Keys to successful collaboration included six areas: development, information exchange, organizational support, personal communication, relationships/team building, and accomplishments. Practical information of results for stakeholders as well as resource managers involved in collaboration include: understanding participant motives, agreeing on mission, thorough and accurate communications, and developing support and relationships. Suggestions are given for future research on measuring success and including numerous perspectives on collaboration.
28-Year-Old Reproduction on Five Cutting Practices in Upland Oak1
Authors: Heiligmann Randall B. , Norland Eric R. , Hilt Donald E.
Published: August 2019

Knowledge of composition and development of stands following harvesting is prerequisite to forest management decisions. Conventional harvesting in mature upland oaks stands resulted in stands substantially different than the original. Twenty-eight-year-old reproduction following complete clearcutting, commercial clearcutting, diameter-limit cutting, selection cutting, and selection cutting with timber stand improvement indicated that the higher the residual overstory density the lower the frequency, diameter, and basal area of reproduction. Generally the proportion of oak and hickory in reproduction was significantly lower than in the original stand, though enough oak was present to potentially comprise a substantial portion of the final stand. Increased amounts of red maple, particularly on north-facing slopes, were primarily responsible for this change in composition. Reproduction stem quality did not differ between treatments. This information provides a more accurate basis for predicting future stand character and potential products, and for developing alternative management strategies. North J. Appl. For. 2:17-22, Mar. 1985.
The Language of Land Use
Authors: Knopp Timothy B. , Bruder Michael D.
Published: August 2019

A meaningful dialogue among those participating in land-use decisions requires a common language. Land-use terms are characteristically vague and ambiguous. Debate is often unproductive because of prolonged arguments over semantics. Research can contribute to a better understanding of what people mean when they use particular words. One study has shown that certain terms, such as "state forest" or "multiple use," are particularly prone to a wide range of perception. Environmental attributes associated with motorized forms of recreation and logging practices are subject to the most variation. These research results will permit us to better understand what others are saying, to develop more effective educational programs, and to refine the language of land use. North J. Appl. For. 2:9-11, Mar. 1985.
A Nomogram for Predicting Precommercial Thinning Costs in Overstocked Spruce-Fir Stands
Authors: Seymour Robert S. , Gadzik Charles J.
Published: August 2019

A simple, graphical method is described for quickly estimating costs of precommercial thinning in dense, young spruce-fir stands using brush saws. The effects of varying stand densities, labor costs, and prior mechanical swath treatments can be analyzed. Examples from Maine's spruce-fir region illustrate the nomogram's use for prediction and sensitivity analysis of thinning costs.

North J. Appl. For. 2:37-40, June 1985.
Stand Table Projection on the Microcomputer
Authors: Fairweather Stephen E.
Published: August 2019

A well-known growth modeling technique, stand table projection, can be combined with a new data management tool, the electronic spreadsheet, to provide a powerful yet simple-to-use method for predicting future stand structure. Availability of the spreadsheet on a microcomputer provides any forest manager with a means of estimating the future timber resource. Limitations of stand table projection should be kept in mind, however. North J. Appl. For. 2:55-56, June 1985.
Protecting Water Quality in the Midwest: Impact on Timber Harvesting Costs
Authors: Ellefson Paul V. , Miles Patrick D.
Published: August 2019

Costs were evaluated for six forest practices designed to prevent degradation of water quality from 18 timber harvesting operations in the Midwest. Net revenue reductions ranged from 1.2% for redesigning landing and skid trail locations to 26.4% for meeting buffer strip requirements. Nine operations were profitable with application of all six practices. Limited production function information hinders such analyses. North J. Appl. For. 2:57-61, June 1985.
A Method for Predicting Gypsy Moth Defoliation from Egg Mass Counts
Authors: Gansner David A. , Herrick Owen W. , Ticehurst Mark
Published: August 2019

Forest and pest managers have been searching for a practical method for predicting gypsy moth defoliation. We have developed a simple predictor that uses easy-to-gather egg mass counts. North J. Appl. For. 2:78-79, Sept. 1985.
PNIF Management: A Social-Psychological Study of Owners in Illinois
Authors: Young Robert A. , Reichenbach Michael R. , Perkuhn Fred H.
Published: August 2019

The importance of the private nonindustrial forests (PNIFs) to the total forest resources of the country is significant. It is generally recognized, however, that timber production on most PNIFs has been lower than the land's potential, despite many state and federal assistance and incentive programs. A sample of PNIF owners in Illinois was surveyed to identify owner and woodland characteristics, owners' management goals, owner attitudes and beliefs related to timber production, influential social groups, and other relevent data. Timber production ranked low in owners' objectives. Results were studied to identify barriers and incentives which affect timber production and to determine policies and programs which might increase production. North J. Appl. For. 2:91-94, September 1985.
Evaluating Growth and Resistance of Eastern and Western White Pine to White Pine Weevil and Blister Rust in the Northeast
Authors: Pike Carolyn C. , Robison Daniel J. , Maynard Charles A. , Abrahamson Lawrence P.
Published: August 2019

Eastern white pine is highly susceptible to damage from white pine weevil, and to some extent white pine blister rust, in the northeastern United States. Western white pine has shown resistance to the weevil, but is highly susceptible to blister rust in the West. Objectives of this study were to compare the growth and resistance of eastern and western white pine to damage from the weevil and blister rust and to identify families of western white pine suitable for planting in the East. A field trial containing 76 half-sib families of western white pine and two half-sib families of eastern white pine was established in 1983 at two sites, one each in New York and Maine. After 14 yr, tree height and diameters were measured, and resistance to weevil and rust assessed. Tree height and diameters were significantly greater for eastern white pine than western white pine. Western white pine sustained approximately fourfold less weevil damage at both sites, but was more impacted by rust at one site. Cluster and discriminant analyses were used to group families using three variables: height growth, resistance to weevil, and resistance to blister rust. One single group combined superior height growth with moderate resistance to both pests. Selections made from within these families have the most promise for planting western white pine in the East. North. J. Appl. For. 20(1):19–26.
Temporal and Spatial Use of Even-Aged Reproduction Stands by Bird Communities in Central Pennsylvania
Authors: Talbott Susan C. , Yahner Richard H.
Published: August 2019

In 1992, the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry adopted a new forest management practice known as even-aged reproduction with reservation (EAR), which replaces clearcutting on state forestlands. The EAR guidelines mandate the retention of at least 12 trees/ha and 24–36 m2/ha of basal area, representing a diversity of overstory and understory species. During summer 1998, we compared the temporal (breeding season vs. mid-summer) and spatial (edge versus interior) use of EAR stands by birds. In addition, we compared observed vs. expected use of overstory trees in EAR stands. In each of ten representative EAR stands, we sampled birds twice per season along two-edge and two-interior transects. Total species richness and abundance (all species combined), species richness and abundance of ground-shrub foragers, and species richness of canopy-sallier foragers were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the breeding season than in mid-summer. Eight of 20 common bird species analyzed also were significantly (P < 0.05) more abundant during the breeding season (e.g., black-and-white warbler and chestnut-sided warbler), and one species was significantly (P < 0.05) more abundant during mid-summer. Total species richness, total abundance, and abundance of ground-shrub foragers were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in interiors compared to edges of EAR stands. Five species also were significantly (P < 0.05) more abundant in interiors of EAR stands, whereas no species was more common in edges. All species combined and three foraging guilds showed differential use (P < 0.05) of overstory tree species; eight species also differed significantly in their use of abundant tree species. Based on our findings, we believe that EAR stands are excellent substitutes for clearcuts on state forestlands, although we caution that our findings were based only on one yr of data. We recommend the continued retention of a diversity of overstory trees, especially snags and rough-barked trees, in both edges and interiors of EAR stands for use by a variety of bird species during both the breeding season and mid-summer. North. J. Appl. For. 20(3):117–123.
Area-Wide Analysis of Hardwood Defoliator Effects on Tree Conditions in the Allegheny Plateau
Authors: Morin Randall S. , Liebhold Andrew M. , Gottschalk Kurt W.
Published: August 2019

The effects of defoliation caused by three foliage feeding insects, the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), the cherry scallopshell moth (Hydria prunivorata), and the elm spanworm (Ennomos subsignarius), on tree mortality and crown conditions were evaluated using data collected from 1984 to 1999 in the Allegheny National Forest located in northwestern Pennsylvania. While previous studies have focused on the effects of defoliation on trees in individual stands, this study differed in that it used exhaustive maps of defoliation and an areawide network of plots to assess these effects. A geographic information system was used to map the coincidence of USDA Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis and Forest Health Monitoring plot locations with defoliation polygons derived from aerial surveys to calculate cumulative years of defoliation for each pest. Over 85% of the Allegheny National Forest land area was defoliated at least once during the 16-year period from 1984 to 1999. Frequency of defoliation by specific defoliator species was closely associated with the dominance of their primary hosts in stands. Frequency of defoliation was often associated with crown dieback and mortality, but these relationships were not detectable in all species. These results suggest that when impacts are averaged over large areas (such as in this study) effects of defoliation are likely to be considerably less severe than when measured in selected stands (as is the approach taken in most previous impact studies).
Seedling Reproduction Established with Soil Scarification within an Oak Overwood after Overstory Removal
Authors: Zaczek James J. , Lhotka John M.
Published: August 2019

We report on the density and height of seedling reproduction established with and without soil scarification in a mixed-oak two-stage shelterwood after overstory removal. In 1993, shallow soil scarification was conducted to bury recently disseminated northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) acorns collected from another site and disrupt red maple (Acer rubrum L.) seedling reproduction that dominated the understory. The shelterwood overstory was removed in the winter of 1997/1998. The following spring, seedling density decreased in response to harvest activities. However, one growing season after overstory removal, seedling density for most species or species groups had recovered to preharvest levels. At that time (5 years after soil scarification), scarified plots had 16 times more northern red oak (35,119 ha−1), 50% fewer (8,076 ha−1) red maple, and 37% more total (55,432 ha−1) seedlings compared to undisturbed control plots. Other species of oak, which generally lacked mast at the time of scarification, had significantly reduced density (59% less, at 4,405 ha−1), suggesting that scarification treatments should coincide with viable mast or net loss of oak seedlings may result. Five growing seasons after treatment, the greatest proportions of seedlings were in the tallest two height classes (33–122 cm and >122 cm) and were northern red oak. In summary, 5 years after incorporating viable mast into the soil with shallow scarification within a mixed-oak shelterwood and 1 year after overstory removal, scarified areas had more advance reproduction dominated by large and vigorously growing oak seedlings, while undisturbed areas had lower seedling density of primarily large red maple.
Case Study: 36 Years of Dwarf Mistletoe in a Regenerating Black Spruce Stand in Northern Minnesota
Authors: Baker F. A. , Knowles K. R.
Published: August 2019

Current practice in dwarf mistletoe infested black spruce stands calls for eradication of all trees taller than 5 ft. In a stand harvested 36 years ago, fewer than 1 tree per acre taller than 3 ft remained. Since that time, Arceuthobium pusillum has survived and spread to new areas of the stand. From 16 infected trees per acre, the population has increased to 173 infected trees per acre in 1998. As establishment of new seedlings declines, the proportion of infected trees will increase greatly. The projected spread of dwarf mistletoe, and the resulting mortality of black spruce during the remainder of the rotation will cause unacceptable yield losses. Eradication of all black spruce after harvesting is necessary to prevent serious losses from dwarf mistletoe infestation in the new stand. North. J. Appl. For. 21(3):150–153.
A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Michigan Nonindustrial Private Forest Landowners
Authors: Potter-Witter Karen
Published: August 2019

Incentive and assistance programs for nonindustrial private landowners in Michigan were evaluated for their effectiveness in encouraging forest management activities. This article reports on selected results of a comparative analysis of program enrollment, landowner characteristics, and management accomplishments. The analysis was based on data from a survey of 2,230 nonindustrial private forestland (NIPF) owners who were members of the Michigan Forest Association (MFA) or were enrolled in the Commercial Forest Program (CF), the Forest Stewardship Program (FSP), or the Two-Hearted River Watershed (TRW) landowner program in 2000. With a 55% overall response rate, landowners reported on present and past management activities and program enrollment. To address the question of the effectiveness of incentive programs, this comparative analysis tested the hypotheses that forest management activity reported by Michigan NIPF landowners who were enrolled in several types of incentive programs did not differ significantly by program and that management activity was not significantly explained by landowner demographics and parcel characteristics. Landowner program enrollment was compared with respect to tree-planting, timber harvesting, timber stand improvement, wildlife habitat improvement, and soil and water protection. To examine the differences, if any, between landowners who practice forest management and those who do not, explanatory demographic and parcel characteristic variables also were tested for their effect on management activity levels.North. J. Appl. For. 22(2):132–138.
Quantifying Stem Quality Characteristics in Relation to Initial Spacing and Modeling Their Relationship with Tree Characteristics in Black Spruce (Picea mariana)
Authors: Zhang S. Y. , Lei Y. C. , Bowling C.
Published: August 2019

This study evaluated and quantified the relationship of tree growth and stem quality characteristics with initial spacing in black spruce (Picea mariana). The study was based on the oldest and mature black spruce initial spacing trial established in 1950 in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. Results show that initial spacing had a direct effect on tree and stem quality characteristics of individual trees. With increasing initial spacing from 1.8 × 1.8 m to 2.7 × 2.7 m, diameter at breast height (dbh), crown size, tree height, tree volume, tree taper, branch size, and clear log length show a steady increase, but the three initial spacings of 2.2 × 2.2 m, 2.0 × 2.0 m, and 1.8 × 1.8 m show no significant differences in these stem characteristics. The results suggest that black spruce may have a low capacity of responding to spacing unless spaced to 2.7 × 2.7 m. Multiple comparison tests support the results with the exception for crown width. This suggests that crown width may be the best density-size indicator for black spruce. As far as tree growth, stem quality, and initial establishment costs are concerned, this study suggests that an initial spacing such as 2.2 × 2.2 m might be optimum for wood production. In addition, this study shows that wide spacings (e.g., 2.7 × 2.7 m) can result in a significant decrease in stem quality and thus may have significant implications for product quality. Furthermore, relationships between major stem quality parameters and tree and stand-level characteristics were examined. Results of the stepwise regression analysis strongly indicate that crown width is important in determining stem quality. The stem quality parameters all have a high adjusted r2 and a low standard error of estimate when regression is made on tree or stand characteristics using the stepwise regression method.North. J. Appl. For. North. J. Appl. For. 22(2):85–93.
Abundance and Size Distribution of Cavity Trees in Second-Growth and Old-Growth Central Hardwood Forests
Authors: Fan Zhaofei , Shifley Stephen R. , Spetich Martin A. , Thompson Frank R. , Larsen David R.
Published: August 2019

In central hardwood forests, mean cavity-tree abundance increases with increasing stand-size class (seedling/sapling, pole, sawtimber, old-growth). However, within a size class, the number of cavity trees is highly variable among 0.1-ha inventory plots. Plots in young stands are most likely to have no cavity trees, but some plots may have more than 50 cavity trees/ha. Plots in old-growth stands often had 25 to 55 cavity trees/ha, but individual plots ranged from 0 to 155/ha. The Weibull probability density function was used to mathematically describe the variation in cavity-tree abundance for plots in stands of differing size (or age) class. A graph of the cumulative probability of cavity-tree abundance is a particularly easy way for managers to estimate the probability that a stand of a given size class will have any specified number of cavity trees per hectare. Results for individual plots or stands can be combined to estimate cavity abundance probabilities for landscapes. Because the results are presented in terms of plot-size classes (or age classes), this approach to cavity tree estimation is compatible with relatively simple forest inventorysystems.North. J. Appl. For. 22(3):162–169.
Developing Optimal Commercial Thinning Prescriptions: A New Graphical Approach
Authors: Randolph KaDonna C. , Seymour Robert S. , Wagner Robert G.
Published: August 2019

We describe an alternative approach to the traditional stand-density management diagrams and stocking guides for determining optimum commercial thinning prescriptions. Predictions from a stand-growth simulator are incorporated into multiple nomograms that graphically display postthinning responses of various financial and biological response variables (mean annual increment, piece size, final harvest cost, total wood cost, and net present value). A customized ArcView GIS computer interface (ThinME) displays multiple nomograms and serves as a tool for forest managers to balance a variety of competing objectives when developing commercial thinning prescriptions. ThinME provides a means to evaluate simultaneously three key questions about commercial thinning: (1) When should thinning occur? (2) How much should be removed? and (3) When should the final harvest occur, to satisfy a given set of management objectives? North. J. Appl. For. 22(3):170 –174.
Postharvest Needle Retention and Moisture Characteristics of Canaan Fir Compared with Four Other Christmas Tree Species
Authors: Heiligmann Randall B. , Brown James H.
Published: August 2019

The postharvest needle retention and moisture characteristics of precut and fresh cut Canaan fir were compared with those of Fraser fir, blue spruce, Douglas-fir, and Scotch pine for a five-week display period. At the end of the display period cumulative percent needle drop of precut trees averaged 1.5 percent, with no significant differences among species; xylem potential averaged −1.42 MPa, with Scotch pine being significantly lower than blue spruce and Douglas-fir; and needle moisture content averaged 142 percent, with no significant differences among species. For fresh cut trees, cumulative percent needle drop averaged 1.15 percent, with the only significant difference among species being Scotch pine lower than Douglas-fir; xylem potential averaged −1.06 MPa, with Scotch pine and Fraser fir significantly lower than blue spruce, Canaan fir, and Douglas-fir; and needle moisture content averaged 140 percent, with Scotch pine significantly lower than all other species except Douglas-fir. At no time during the display period was there a significant difference in percent needle drop between precut and fresh cut trees of the same species. Significant differences in xylem potential existed between precut and fresh cut trees of the same species at the beginning of the display period but disappeared by the end of the first week. Occasional significant differences in needle moisture content between precut and fresh cut trees of the same species were encountered during the display period, but none existed at the end of the display period. Throughout the display period the xylem potential and needle moisture content of all species followed similar patterns, and the trees did not appear to approach the damage threshold or critical moisture content. Results suggest that Canaan fir's postharvest needle retention is acceptable for a Christmas tree and comparable to four other major species commonly grown and marketed in the northeastern United States. Grower experience supports this conclusion for fresh cut trees (choose and cut market), but not for precut trees (wholesale market). Some reasons are discussed.North. J. Appl. For. 22(4):268–274.
Fall Movements of Allegheny Woodrats in Harvested and Intact Stands in West Virginia
Authors: Hornsby Benjamin S. , Ruiz Alina M. , Castleberry Steven B. , Castleberry Nikole L. , Ford W. Mark , Wood Petra Bohall
Published: August 2019

Populations of the Allegheny woodrat (Neotoma magister) have experienced declines over the last 30 years, particularly in the northern and western parts of their range. Although relatively untested, silvicultural practices that alter forest structure and composition have been hypothesized as having negative impacts on Allegheny woodrat habitat and populations. To investigate the effects of timber harvesting on Allegheny woodrats in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia, we compared home range size and foraging movements between woodrats adjacent to a harvested stand to those in an intact forest stand during fall 1997 using radio telemetry. Mean home range size of all woodrats combined was 0.65 (±0.20) ha. Mean home range, movement rate, and maximum distance traveled from the den did not differ between the harvested and intact stands or between sex or age classes. Home range and foraging movements in fall were considerably smaller than those documented from summer in previous studies. It is likely that home range and foraging movements are affected less by surrounding habitat alterations in fall and winter than in summer because of limited movements away from the outcrop and reliance on cached foods.North. J. Appl. For. 22(4):281–284.