Effects of variable-density thinning on understory diversity and heterogeneity in young Douglas-fir forests
By: Juliann E. Aukema and Andrew B. Carey.
Contributors: Carey, Andrew B.; Pacific Northwest Research Station (Portland, Or.)
Series: Research paper PNW -- RP-575; Research paper PNW -- 575.
Publisher: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station
Published: 2008
Place of publication: Portland, OR
Language: eng
Number of pages: 20
Subjects: Douglas fir -- Thinning -- Washington (State) -- Pierce County; Forest management -- Washington (State) -- Pierce County; Forest biodiversity -- Washington (State) -- Pierce County; Understory plants -- Washington (State) -- Pierce County; Plant communities -- Washington (State) -- Pierce County
Description: Nine years after variable-density thinning (VDT) on the Forest Ecosystem Study, we examined low understory vegetation in 60 plots of eight stands (four pairs of VDT and control). We compared native, exotic, ruderal, and nonforest species richness among the stands. We used clustering, ordination, and indicator species analysis to look for distinctive patches of plant associations. Native, exotic, ruderal, and nonforest plant species diversity were higher in VDT stands compared to control stands for both forests. Differentiation of the understory into multiple distinct vegetation patches was not definitive, but there were trends toward greater heterogeneity in VDT stands.
Notes: Cover title.

"April 2008."

Includes bibliographical references (p. 16-20).

Also available on the World Wide Web.