Forty-two years of change in an old-growth and second-growth beech-maple forest of north central Ohio

Abstract

Using data collected in 1964 and 2006, we examined changes in the composition and structure of a second-growth and old-growth beech-maple forest of Crall Woods, located in Ashland County of north central Ohio. Over the 42 years, the old-growth forest (estimated to be at least 250 years old) experienced a significant shift in species composition as American beech, yellow-poplar, and red maple increased in importance while American basswood, sugar maple, and shagbark hickory all declined in importance. Similar changes were observed in the second-growth stand, except that the increases in importance were associated with shade-intolerant (e.g., yellow-poplar) and shade mid-tolerant (e.g., northern red oak) species. Despite the shifts in composition, stand structure remained fairly consistent over the 42 years and was similar between the second-growth and old-growth stand. We suggest that the old-growth stand will continue to have both shade-tolerant and intolerant species over time and that the composition of the second-growth stand will shift toward the more shade-tolerant species. These species will dominate the forest understory as they replace shade-intolerant and mid-tolerant overstory individuals that die.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings, 16th central hardwood forest conference

Citation

Pinheiro, Natalie R.; Goebel, P. Charles; Hix, David M. 2008. Forty-two years of change in an old-growth and second-growth beech-maple forest of north central Ohio. In: Jacobs, Douglass F.; Michler, Charles H., eds. 2008. Proceedings, 16th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; 2008 April 8-9; West Lafayette, IN. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-24. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 204-212.