Landscape-level regeneration adequacy for native hardwood forests of Pennsylvania

Abstract

Studies of advance regeneration and post-disturbance regeneration adequacy were conducted during the recent USDA Forest Service inventory of forest resources in Pennsylvania. The first study examined advance tree-seedling regeneration in stands where stocking levels would suggest that advance regeneration should be abundant. A range of metrics was used to describe regeneration adequacy. Findings indicate that advance regeneration is generally lacking in the State. The results ranged from only 4% to 40% of the sample locations being adequately stocked (based on the most and least stringent metric, respectively). Levels of fern and grass cover were sufficient to make treatment to control herbaceous vegetation an option at 54% of the sample locations. The second study focused on mixed-oak (Quercus spp.) stands that had undergone significant disturbance since the time of the previous inventory. Results indicate that 92% of the mixed-oak stands were adequately stocked with woody species. Stocking of oak species was far below what it was before disturbance. The least stringent metric of oak regeneration showed that only 16% of the sample locations were adequately stocked with oak species.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings, 10th Central Hardwood Forest Conference

Citation

McWilliams, William H.; Bowersox, Todd W.; Gansner, David A.; McCormick, Larry H.; Stout, Susan L. 1995. Landscape-level regeneration adequacy for native hardwood forests of Pennsylvania. In: Gottschalk, Kurt W.; Fosbroke, Sandra L. C., ed. Proceedings, 10th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; 1995 March 5-8; Morgantown, WV.: Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-197. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 196-203